A brief history of the National Gallery of Australia, including the design competition, designs, location, collaboration of the chosen architect (Colin Madigan of Edwards, Madigan and Torzillo) with the gallery director, James Sweeney, approval by relevant statutory bodies, and the political upheaval that stalled progress.Original manuscript of an article published as ‘What’s become of our new gallery?' in "The Sunday Australian", 11.04.1971.Typewritten, (p/copy), quarto, 9 pagesnational gallery of australia, colin madigan, edwards, madigan and torzillo, james sweeney, art gallery design, canberra, robin boyd, manuscript

Discusses the reasons for Sydney's and Melbourne's new airports. Discusses the transformation from picturesque landscape to a growth of unordered supplementary structures surrounding airports (motels, sheds, storage rooms, petrol stations, shopping mall). Boyd predicts this "shanty town" image will only get worse, and critiques the image of Australia first presented to international visitors.Original manuscript of an article published in "The Sunday Australian", 27.06.1971Typewritten (c copy), quarto, 8 pagesNumbered in 13 paragraphstullamarine airport, international airport, melbourne's shanty town, robin boyd, manuscript

Boyd praises Reyner Banham's book titled "Los Angeles: The Architecture Of Four Ecologies" published in 1971. Boyd describes Banham's unconventional, positive attitude toward Los Angeles as an architectural love story. Boyd notes that Banham is somewhat idealistic about Los Angeles but declares the book a successful and interesting balance between history and architecture.Original manuscript of an book review published as 'Los Angeles: architectural love story' in "The Sunday Australian" on 04.07.1971.Typewritten (c copy), pencil edits, quarto, 7 pagesreyner banham, los angeles, historian, modern architecture, age of technology, robin boyd, manuscript

In this book review, Boyd critiques Cyril Pearl's book, "So You Want to Buy a House" (published by F.W. Cheshire). Boyd discusses Pearl's style of writing on home life and a scatter of other subjects and gives a negative review on the type of humour and lack of research.Original manuscript of a book review of a book by Cyril Pearl titled 'So you want to buy a house ... and live in it' in 1961. The piece was published as 'Book review: So you want to buy a house'.Typewritten (c copy), quarto, 6 pagescyril pearl, caricature, puns, comedy writing, robin boyd, manuscript

Makes comparisons between Australian cities and American and European cities. Melbourne and Sydney are heading in the same direction as Los Angeles. A possible future the city containing entertainment and culture, with the suburbs having open space and gardens but with access to city life.Typewritten (c copy), quarto, 3 pagescity, cities, suburbs, melbourne, sydney, american cities, european cities, urban planners, robin boyd, manuscript

Discusses twentieth century architecture and the evolution of modern architecture. Describes present architecture in three categories, namely vernacular, professional and creative. Examples of house designs within the new architecture are given.This manuscript was published as a book titled "The New Architecture" (The Arts in Australia Series), Longmans, Melbourne, 1963.Typewritten (c copy), pencil edits, quarto, 18 pagesmodern architecture, australia, young architects, creative architecture, new architecture, robin boyd, manuscript

This text summarises the differences in architecture and proposes, unlike in other art forms, that architecture has a mainstream which has consistency in it, yet is also ever changing. The term 'modern architecture' is becoming suspect and obsolete. Visual art is inevitably involved with social evolution. It discusses utilitarian and creative architecture. Boyd proposes architecture is between science and art, and that architecture by itself means the architecture of this age.Typewritten, quarto, 11 pages (Note: Mentions the 1960s, possibly implying it was written late 1960s-1970/1971)modern architecture, social evolution, utilitarian architecture, creative architecture, mcluhan era, glutternberg era, henry russell hitchcock, paul rudolph, philip johnson, kenzo tange, archigram, sydney opera house, reston, robin boyd, manuscript

Book review of "Kenzo Tange, 1946-1969. Architecture and Urban Design", edited by Udo Kultermann, Praeger Publishers, 304 pp $29.50. Boyd praises Tange's unapologetic adherence to modernism and his adaptation of le Corbusier's ideas to tradition. He appraises the book's merits and problems (explanatory and not analytical writing, building omissions).Architectural Forum, Vol. 135, No.3, October 1971, p8. Book review by Robin Boyd of 'Kenzo Tange, 1946 - 1969, Architecture and Urban Design', edited by Udo Kultermann, Praeger Publishers,Typewritten (c copy), quarto, 3 pageskenzo tange, japanese architecture, modern movement, le corbusier, creative realism, expo, skoplje, yugoslavia, hiroshima, children's library at hiroshima, shizuoka olympic arena, tokyo, nichinan, robin boyd, manuscript

Discusses the new skyscrapers changing our skyline and classifies them into two types - development buildings and name buildings.Original manuscript of the article ‘Big boxes with holes – for high profits or for prestige’ published in The Sunday Australian on 01.08.1971.Typewritten (c copy), quarto, 8 pagesmodern architecture, skyscrapers, development buildings, name buildings, sculptural competitions, clean and uncomplicated, marland house, robin boyd, manuscript

Self-reflective piece exploring some people's disposition to certain skills. Boyd argues that the hand has a character of its own.Typewritten, pencil edits, quarto, 2 pageshand, h p schoenheimer, the beast with five fingers, robin boyd, manuscript

Gives four reasons why the introduction of creative design was a "dismal failure", ranging from conservative department store buyers to an unsupportive government. (It is not clear if this is Boyd's view or that of Alcorso, the managing director of a textile company.)Typewritten (c copy), quarto, 1 pagemodern design, textiles, robin boyd, manuscript

Describes Canberra as a city that has minimal architectural character, as it is mainly characterised by its natural landscape and roadways. The new phase in Canberra refers to several civic projects that will serve to define Canberra as a national capital.Original manuscript of the article 'A New Phase for Canberra' published in Sunday Australian, 05.09.1971.Typewritten (c copy), quarto, 9 pagescanberra, urban planning, walter burley griffin, capital circle, capital hill, campbell park, australian architecture, harry seidler, robin boyd, manuscript, national capital

Boyd discusses the role of Sydney and its Strategic Plan. He touches on floor space ratio but focuses on the goal of enticing residents to return to the inner city as the real challenge of the plan.Original manuscript of the article ‘Sydney’s Sneaky Strategic Plan’, published in The Sunday Australian, 15.8.1971.Typewritten (c copy), quarto, 11 pagesThe last page is a redraft of the third last page.sydney, strategic plan for sydney, urbanisation, decentralisation, city, suburbs, master plan, harry seidler, floor space ratio, inner city residential, robin boyd, manuscript

Since 1954, Australian architecture has been reflecting American architecture, ignoring Japan, Sweden, Italy etc. Discusses second force architecture and Giancarlo De Carlo. Mention of J M Richards and Peter Blake, who give an account of modern architecture -- its trials in its youth and its traumas in middle age.Original manuscript of the 'A Second Force at Work’ published in The Sunday Australian, 12.9.1971.Typewritten (c copy), pencil edits, quarto, 13 pagesaustralian architecture, american architecture, second force architecture, j m richards, peter blake, giancarlo de carlo, robin boyd, manuscript

A speech describing the modern architecture movement, its different styles.Typewritten (c copy), quarto, 9 pagesmodern architecture, modernism, anti-classicism, walter gropius, harold desbrowe-annear, robin boyd, manuscript

Boyd argues that there is little that is truly avant-garde or revolutionary in architecture. Boyd defintes 'antiarchitecture' as architecture which rejects aestheticism, an approach explored by constructivists, Archigram and Venturi. Boyd indicates that he suspects that architecture can never fully escape aestheticism.Original manuscript of the article published in The Architectural Forum, Vol. 129, No. 4, November 1968, pp. 84-86.Typewritten (c copy), quarto, 6 pagesAnnotation on p2radicalism, venturi, archigram, reyner banham, buckminster fuller, new brutalists, constructivism, john m johansen, paul rudolph, charles moore, japanese metabolism, george nelson, aestheticism, robin boyd, manuscript

Boyd proposes that the architect can play an important role in the community, engaging through: 1. his own work; 2. in voluntary professional activity in the RAIA; and 3. in private community activity, eg giving advice to charities and giving public talks. He argues that although architects are often no longer project leaders (a role now taken by big builders and developers) they nonetheless are, and should remain, moral and artistic leaders.Original manuscript of article published in Bulletin, 2 Oct 1971. The Bulletin page is attached.Handwritten (pencil), quarto, 1 (handwritten), 1 torn out page of the Bulletin Reviewraia, architectural professional conduct, volunteering, robin boyd, manuscript

Overview of residential architectural styles from 1925 to 1965 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of "Home Beautiful" magazine. Discussions include the future of housing technology, Californian Bungalow design and the future of the 'modern house'.Original manuscript of 'Is our frozen house design about to thaw', published in Australian Home Beautiful, Vol, 44, No. 10, October 1965, pp. 4-11.Typewritten (c copy), quarto, 23 pages. (Two copies)home beautiful, queen anne, californian bungalow, charles greenhill, walter burley griffin, harold desbrowe-annear, home beautiful, modernism, robin boyd, manuscript

Discussion of three important changes in Australian architecture in the past ten years: loss of supremacy of Melbourne, the greater confidence and determination to build well, and greater experimentation and individual expression.Typewritten (c copy), quarto, 6 pagesaustralian architecture, melbourne, australian style, robin boyd, manuscript

Factual article outlining the purpose and history of the Victorian Institute of Architects, Victorian Architecture Medal. Boyd discusses the selection process, history of the Victorian Street Architecture Medal and the VIA medal it has become, and notable winners of the medal.Typewritten (c copy), quarto, 3 pagesvictorian institute of architects, victorian architecture medal, victorian street architecture medal, robin boyd, manuscript

Extols the virtues of Waikiki as a holiday destination/escape machine, the less-than-Good Taste of the resort combined with its virtues/religious dogma of American middle-class vacation standards. Boyd describes a day of the typical young American hotel occupant, and Honolulu's uniform air of confidence attracting American tourists. This manuscript was published in 'The Sunday Australian' with the title ‘Why I love Waikiki’ on 23/05/1971.Original manuscript of ‘Why I love Waikiki’ published in 'The Sunday Australian', 23/05/1971.Typewritten (1 c copy and 1 p/copy), pencil edits, quarto, 11 pagesSent 12 May 71 - in pencil on front pagewaikiki, honolulu, american tourism, second rate californian architecture, american middle-class vacation standards, robin boyd, manuscript, ohm2022, ohm2022_16

Boyd argues that Australia needs confidence in creative thinking so our products can cut through established formulas to contribute to our growth as a nation. He outlines four stages of architectural development in every community, and describes Canada in these terms. He posits that Australia overall is only at stage two (imported sophisticated), Brisbane/Hobart/Adelaide at stage one. Boyd argues the Australian dream of individual identity is impossible now, to move to stage 3 Australia needs to be encouraged to have confidence in Australian artists of all kinds, allowing creative people to flourish, be themselves. He indicates that Canberra is close to third stage, with architecture designed by international figures in 1960s but now Australian John Andrews brought out to do an architecturally creative office complex in Belconnen - Canberra, signalling growth of a national identity.Typewritten (c copy), pencil edits and additions, quarto, 7 pages - p12-18confidence in creative thinking, australian national identity, four stages in architectural development, canberra architecture, john andrews, robin boyd, manuscript

Robin Boyd was on the judging panel for the American Institute of Architects, in conjunction with Sunset magazine, "Best houses" in the West Coast USA in 1965. Interesting commententary is given about the 364 houses entered and the award-winning houses. Some conclusions about what is new in planning are drawn. Comparisons are made with the best Australian houses and landscape architecture of 1965. This manuscript of Boyd's weekly newspaper column in 'The Australian' was published with the same title on 31/07/1965.Original manuscript of an article published in The Australian, 16/10/1965.Two copies. One typewritten (c copy), pencil edits and additions. Second typewritten (p/copy). Both quarto, 7 pages.american institute of architects, california, sunset magazine, house design, 1965, landscape design., robin boyd, manuscript, ohm2022, ohm2022_16

Discusses the new brutalism, as a revival of the rebellious spirit of early modern architecture, in the context of Reyner Banham's book "The New Brutalism", with the subtitle ethic and aesthetic. Boyd discusses the arguments of Banham and the new brutalism in the context of the subtitle. It concludes with a code to characterise the modern movement.Original manuscript of an article published in Architectural Review Vol 142, No 845, July 1967. pp. 9–11 and reprinted as ‘El triste fin del Nuevo Brutalismo’ in 'Cuadernos Summa Nueva Vision' (Buenos Aires), No’s 24/25, May 1969, pp. 51-53.Two copies. One typewritten (c/copy) pencil edits Second typewritten (p/copy). Both quarto, 14 pagesle corbusier, reyner banham, smithson, peter and alison smithson, modernism, brutalism, robin boyd, manuscript

Discussion of Architectural professional techniques (organisation of the profession, from the societies, registration etc and the growth in the profession, office practices) public and private practices (eg Commonwealth Department of Works,), research and regulations (eg building research, CSIRO), and theory and practice (the vernacular, the professional and the creative).Original manuscript of an article published as 'Architecture in Australia’ in RIBA Journal, Vol.78, No.1, January 1971, pp.11-20.Typewritten (p/copy), quarto, 22 pagesaustralian architecture, royal australian institute of architects, the architecture profession, package dealing, australian architecture students association, public and private practice, commonwealth department of works, building research, csiro, building regulations, john andrews, robin boyd, manuscript

Boyd discusses the German Pavilion at Expo 67, designed by Frei Otto. He gives a detailed description of its construction, components, structural system and building challenges. This manuscript published with the title ‘Germany’ in 'Architectural Review', Vol 142, No 846, July 1967. Original manuscript of an article published as ‘Germany’ in Architectural Review, 'Architectural Review', Vol 142, No 846, July 1967, pp 129-135.Typewritten (p/copy), quarto, 7 pagesexpo 67, german pavilion, frei otto, matched structures, tensile structures, compressive structures, prehensile structures, mesh, membrane structures, robin boyd, manuscript, ohm2022, ohm2022_31

Book review of a series of talks by Buckminster Fuller.Original manuscript of an article published as 'Last Leonardo' in The Bulletin, 23.01.1971.Typewritten (p/copy), quarto, 4 pagesbuckminster fuller, utopia or oblivion, robin boyd, manuscript

Boyd discusses the themed pavilions and some of the country pavilions at Expo 67.Typewritten (p/copy), quarto, 6 pagesexpo 67, pavilions, robin boyd, manuscript, ohm2022, ohm2022_31

Boyd discusses the achievement of Moshe Safdie in the design and dream of Habitat 67. He outlines the history, philosophy and sociological objective of cluster housing.Original manuscript published as 'Experimenting with boxes: Habitat's cluster' in Architectural Forum Vol.126, No.4, May 1967 pp. 35-41.Typewritten (p/copy), quarto, 9 pageshabitat 67, moshe safdie, expo 67, le corbusier, urbanism, unite d'habitation, reyner banham, alison and peter smithson, kenzo tange, clusters, russian apartments, cluster housing, robin boyd, manuscript

Boyd outlines the history of Canberra's design and construction. He argues that Canberra's strength is its planning and axially-based landscaping, but that it lacks the buildings which make the Le Corbusier's Chandigarh interesting. Boyd is highly critical of Chandigarh as an urban environment and concludes that for non-architects, planning and connection to nature is more important than buildings.Original manuscript published as 'Canberra Master Plan: Walter Burley Griffin' in World Architecture 4, John Donat (ed.), Viking Press 1967, pp 202-205.Typewritten (p/copy), quarto, 6 pageswalter burley griffin, canberra, john overall, lake burley griffin, oscar niemeyer, le corbusier, chandigarh, city beautiful, garden city, urban planning, robin boyd, manuscript