In 1964, Robin and Patricia Boyd spent several weeks on a world tour - Boyd took a leading role at the International Design Conference in Aspen and he also visited Chicago, Yale University, and New York’s World Fair. The Boyds then travelled on to England, Finland (especially to see Tapiola), Russia and India to see Le Corbusier's Chandigarh, and also Hong Kong and Thailand.Colour slide in a mount. West Marina Balconies, Marina City (1963-67), Chicago, Illinois, USA. (Architect: Bertrand Goldberg .)Marina City, Chicago / West Marina Balconiesslide, robin boyd

In 1964, Robin and Patricia Boyd spent several weeks on a world tour - Boyd took a leading role at the International Design Conference in Aspen and he also visited Chicago, Yale University, and New York’s World Fair. The Boyds then travelled on to England, Finland (especially to see Tapiola), Russia and India to see Le Corbusier's Chandigarh, and also Hong Kong and Thailand.Colour slide in a mount. West Marina Roof level, Marina City (1963-67), Chicago, Illinois. (Architect: Bertrand Goldberg .)Marina City, Chicago / West Marina Roof Levelslide, robin boyd

Colour slide in a mount. Image of Theatre, Marina City (1963-67), Chicago, Illinois, USA. (Architect: Bertrand Goldberg .)Theatre Marina City (Handwritten)/Encircled 4slide, robin boyd

Robin Boyd was invited to be a judge on the AIA-Sunset Western Home Awards Program (see correspondence item D416). Robin and Patricia Boyd travelled to California in July 1965. They also visited Japan.Colour slide in a mount. Golden Gate Village, Marin City Public Housing, California, USA, 1961. (Architect: Aaron Green.)Made in Australia / 8 / JUL 65Mcalifornia, slide, robin boyd

Colour slide in a mount. View of city, unknown location, USADate: / Subjectslide, robin boyd

Searing critique on the public apathy of the environment in which we live, as well as the dichotomy of the professional view of the city and suburbs. Boyd imagines what Melbourne might be like in year 2001.Original manuscript of an article published as 'Melbourne 2001 AD' in "The Australian", 05.03.1969. This is the second of a series of three articles about Melbourne published on consecutive days (see D022 and D024).Typewritten (c copy), quarto, 7 pagesmelbourne, trams, flies, road congestion, robin boyd, manuscript

McKay discusses in first two documents questions about what is a house and what do residents want from a city at large. In the last he discusses national housing policy and how it has evolved since 1944.Original manuscript of an ideas for other chapters (written by Ian McKay, Hugh Stretton and John Mant) in "Living and Partly Living", Nelson, Sydney 1971. In the book, Ian McKay authored "The House", Hugh Stretton authored "The City" and John Mant authored "National Housing Policy".Typewritten Typewritten (p’ copy) Typewritten (p’ copy), quarto, 1 page, 1 page, 3 pagesnational housing policy, commonwealth housing commission report 1944, commonwealth state housing agreement 1956, ian mckay, manuscript

Discusses future cities and speculates on future trends. Looks back at ideas on the future of housing held by Boyd and his contemporaries in the 1950s and discusses how the reality of housing in the 1970s differs.Typewritten, quarto, 9 pagesfuture cities, apartments, suburban sprawl, modern houses, australian families, prefabrication, density, tensile construction, habitat 67, caravans, fred hoyle, tange, habitat 67, moomba, robin boyd, manuscript

A pointed critique of having two competing cities, Melbourne and Sydney, and the experience of driving the Hume Highway, staying at motels.Published as "The night between cities" in "London Magazine" (London), Vol.3, July 1963, pp. 45-50.Typewritten (c copy), foolscap, 7 pages. (Two copies)sydney, melbourne, motels, hume highway, robin boyd, manuscript

Speech addresses urban planning, points to Canada and New Zealand as possible exemplars, prophetic predictions for the future (2017) like Archigram and the 'electronic era of the anti-city'; Boyd advocates strongly for high density.Speech for the Australian Planning Institute Jubilee ConferenceTypewritten, quarto, 25 pagesExtra handwritten notessydney, monorails, town planning, australia square, perth, melbourne, bernard evans, canada, new zealand, toronto, montreal, expo 67, archigram, los angeles, robin boyd, manuscript

Outlines positive actions undertaken by local councils in Victoria.Typewritten, quarto, 6 pageslocal councils, preservation, robin boyd, manuscript

A look at Melbourne within a two month span: before and after and opposing views. Discusses Melbourne's good and poor buildings, planning, arts, aesthetics etc. Melbourne does however maintain an image and individuality when compared with other cities.Original manuscript of an article published as ‘Melbourne: The symbol of Australia’s split personality’in "The Australian", 01.09.1964. Typewritten (c copy), pencil edits, quarto, 4 pagesmelbourne, urban character, city, architecture, buildings, australian image, australian culture, robin boyd, manuscript

Discusses American technological advancement and American tendency to look forward; Australia is 15 years behind and should be more forward looking; Australian private affluence and public poverty, motor cars, expressways and roads. America is described as looking to a future beyond cars; Boyd proposes that Australia skips expressway building. Discusses tourism, the Australian accent, imagining 2000AD, Archigram's Plug-In City, anti-city, integrate bush into the city - the gumtree aesthetic.Typewritten (c copy), quarto, 29 pages. (Two copies plus one incomplete version with 13p)Incomplete one contains pencil editsfuture, america, henry ford, automobiles, road development, destruction of old buildings, destruction of nature, tourism, great barrier reef, australian accent, globalisation, isolationism, canada, new zealand, archigram, athens, los angeles, suburbia, heidelberg school, diggers, robin boyd, manuscript

An incomplete article which discusses what is total design and how there is no agreement; how technology leads architecture and significance of appearances; the monumental tradition of older architects' approach, and, in opposition, Pop architecture, which puts visual fun into cities. Boyd suggests that what is required is require order, variety and deliberate taste, not sterility.Preview of 1972 RAIA ConventionTypewritten (one with pencil edits) & c copy. Incomplete one has pencil and pen edits, quarto, Two 2p, one pp 4-7 pages.total design, royal australian institute of architects, raia national convention 1972, cities, monumental tradition, pop architecture, taste, robin boyd, manuscript

Discusses how Australian cities can be improved economically, environmentally and aesthetically; stresses good planning, accessibility, affordability. Refers to a chapter by Boyd.Typewritten (c copy) some edits, quarto, 26 pagesaustralian cities, planning, accessibility, affordability, ownership, free contract, developers, robin boyd, manuscript

Comparison of Canberra and Surfers Paradise as potential cultural capitals of Australia. Canberra represents one end of the spectrum of traditional architectural morals of sophistication and orderliness; Surfers Paradise represents the opposite end of the spectrum, that is extreme Pop, fun and flashiness.Original manuscript of an article published as ‘Trad modern, pop modern’ in "The Sunday Australian", 25.4.1971. Typewritten (p/copy), quarto, 9 pagesTop of page 1 handwritten where and when published, page numbers, minor correctionscanberra, surfers paradise, australian culture, morris lapidus, australian cities, 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

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

A short speech about the responsibility of architects to our changing cities and a way to achieve dignity in their practice.This is the original manuscript of Robin Boyd's suggested draft for the Governor's address at the opening of Architects Convention in Melbourne, 29.03.1965.Typewritten (c copy), pencil edits, foolscap, 2 pagesarchitects responsibility, governor's speech, robin boyd, manuscript

This is a manuscript associated with the Royal Australian Institute of Architects Convention, "Civic Architecture, the Architect and Society" which discusses city development. Boyd argues that an Australian architectural style is growing with the contemporary generation of architects departing from international modern architectural influences from which they studied. Boyd explains how a pattern of Australian architecture can be seen through materiality and the expression of structure.Typewritten (c copy), foolscap, 4 pages (two copies)Minor handwritten edit on both copiesroyal australian institute of architects, convention, technology, australian cities, urbanism, australian architecture, international modern architecture, walkabout, robin boyd, manuscript

Boyd asks "What sort of cities do we want?" Various alternatives were discussed at the 14th Royal Institute of Architects convention 1965. The theme of the convention was Civic Development, accompanied by a public exhibition "Man in the Street". A fairly clear definition of the ideal shape for our urban character emerged. It was accepted that congestion, dullness and ugliness would become even more of a problem. Boyd offers a bird's eye view of the nature of our cities as we move progressively outwards.Original manuscript of an article published as ‘New life for Cities. The choice – metropolitan excitement or Canberra order?' in The Australian, 10.4.1965.Typewritten (c copy), quarto, 6 pagesroyal institute of architects convention 1965, australian cities, arthur odell, john overall, robin boyd, manuscript

Boyd writes about his opinion on Le Corbusier's Chandigarh and compares the qualities between the newly built city with Canberra. While Boyd praises Le Corbusier's plan, he also comments on the contrast of the grand buildings (Secretariat, Parliament and High Court) situated among the poverty that is ever present, which ultimately affects the image of Chandigarh. This manuscript of Boyd's weekly newspaper column in 'The Australian' was published with the title 'The City of Sordid Splendor' on 28.06.1964. Original manuscript of an article published as 'The City of Sordid Splendor' in 'The Australian' 28.06.1964Typewritten, quarto, 5 pagescanberra, chandigarh, le corbusier, punjab, india, robin boyd, manuscript, ohm2022, ohm2022_16

Boyd starts with a vivid description of the pomp surrounding the announcement of the name for Australia's national capital on 12 March, 1913. The history of the development of a national capital, and its design is given, along with the significance of the public landscaping. Includes captions for three Canberra views."The City Among The Hills", in The Book of Melbourne and Canberra, The Griffin Press, Adelaide 1966, pp 32-33.1 Typewritten, 2 Typewritten (c copy), quarto, 12 pages. (Two copies)Reverse P10 has caption in pencilcanberra, walter burley griffin, leslie wilkinson, national capital development commission, canberra landscape, ebenezer howard, garden city, robin boyd, manuscript

Boyd discusses the future planning of two major symbolic national buildings - Parliament House and the National Centre (an arts centre).Original manuscript of an article published as 'Symbol City' in The Australian on 28.11.1964.Typewritten (c copy), quarto, 5 pagescanberra, parliament house, national centre, chandigarh, brasilia, robin boyd, manuscript, national capital

Boyd discusses skyscrapers and the city, wondering what the next steps are after Mies Van Der Rohe's 'glass and steel'. He then considers two buildings under construction as potential answers: Harry Seidler's Pitt Street Building in Sydney and Yuncken Freeman's Royal Insurance Building.Original manuscript published as 'Something out of the Box' in 'The Australian' on 23.09.1964.Typewritten (c copy), pencil edits, quarto, 7 pagesroyal insurance building, yuncken freeman, skyscraper, mies van der rohe, harry seidler, robin boyd, manuscript

A review of the two books 'The New Architecture and the Bauhaus' by Walter Gropius and 'Garden Cities of Tomorrow' by Ebenezer Howard, on the occasion of their reissue as paperbacks.Original manuscript published as "Ahead of the trend" in the 'The Australian' on 05.06.1965.Typewritten (c copy), quarto, 5 pagesadelaide, bauhaus, canberra, deutscher werkbund exhibition, elizabeth, garden cities, walter gropius, ebenezer howard, letchworth, lewis mumford, welwyn, yallourn, robin boyd, manuscript

Description of first grid drawn of Melbourne by Robert Hoddle and design impetus; naming of gridiron streets; Charles Troedel prints/The Melbourne Album, F. Cogne drew Melbourne scenes on lithographic stones; Harold Freedman drew same scenes of Melbourne 1964/65; comparative discussion of Melbourne then and now; between 1865-1965 substantial buildings erected and demolished; cable tram; strength and delicacy of Melbourne style; first tree planting; first electric tram 1927; lifting of building height limits 1956; list of representative buildings; Melbourne unlike other capitals as it was not conceived as a capital city.Published as a chapter titled 'The Town at Port Phillip' in 'The Book of Melbourne and Canberra', The Griffin Press, Adelaide 1966Typewritten (c copy), quarto, 14 pagesjohn batman, john fawkner, robert russell, robert hoddle, charles troedel prints/the melbourne album, f. cogne; cable trams; building height limits; tree planting; electric tram 1927; representative buildings, robin boyd, manuscript

Discussion of the history of the 'glass box', i.e. the glazed curtain wall skyscraper and its appearance and demise in Australia. Also discusses the phenomenon of multi-storey car parks, and RMIT student designs for Victoria Market.Published as "Death notice: The End of the Glass Box/Birth Notice: A New 3-D Style for a City" in 'The Australian' on 13/11/1965.Typewritten (c copy), quarto, 8 pagesaustralia square, bates, smart & mccutcheon, john a la gerche, walter gropius, ici house, mcconnel, smith and johnson, harry seidler, sydney opera house, un secretariat, bogle and banfield, peter mcintyre, robin boyd, manuscript

In this handwritten text of a speech to the Victorian Fabian Society, Boyd addresses the question: Is Australia Ugly? He argues that the issue with Australian cities is primarily in the realm of urban design rather than architecture. Boyd outlines the types of ugliness in the urban domain, comparing attitudes to Australian cities to those elsewhere, particularly the United States.Speech to Victorian Fabian SocietyHandwritten, quarto, 15 pages, missing pages 11-16.victorian fabian society, george johnson, eric westbrook, steven murray-smith, fred ledgar, south eastern freeway, lyndon johnson, robin boyd, manuscript