Boyd quickly surveys the first generation of modern architecture. The talk then concentrates on where modern architecture turned next: the "search for new richness on the surface and a search for new excitement in form". He focuses on the second generation of modern architects: Edward Stone (surface search) and Eero Saarinen (excitiement search). Several of their influential buildings are critiqued by Boyd. This document was the basis for a lecture titled "The Contemporary Situation in Architecture" (item D521, with edits).

Typewritten, quarto, 16 pages

international style, mies van der rohe, frank lloyd wright, edward stone, eero saarinen, le courbuier, felix candela, matthew novicki, eduardo catalano, hugh stubbins, raymond and rado, jorn utzon, toro-ferrer

Boyd quickly surveys the first generation of modern architecture. The talk then concentrates on where modern architecture turned next: "the search for new richness on the surface and a search for new excitement in form". Boyd focuses on the second generation of modern architects: Edward Stone (surface search) and Eero Saarinen (excitiement search). Several of their influential buildings are critiqued by Boyd. This document includes the whole of the typed manuscript titled "The Crisis in Architecture" (item D522, with edits), and includes two handwritten pages at the start and ends with a handwritten statement about "architectural poetry".

The text and annotations indicate this was a lecture with slides.

Typewritten and handwritten sections, an amalgamation of documents, quarto, 18 pages

Underlinings, pencil additions, indications for slides

international style, mies van der rohe, frank lloyd wright, edward stone, eero saarinen, le courbuier, felix candela, matthew novicki, eduardo catalano, hugh stubbins, raymond and rado, jorn utzon, toro-ferrer

This a single page of the first page of the script of Fischer's Ghost story (item D518).

Typewritten, quarto, 1 page

Some edits

fisher's ghost, john farley frederick fisher, george worrell, john georg lang

This is a draft of the document (item D518), which relates the story of Fisher's Ghost, starting with housemaid Margaret (later married to John Farley) before her sentence of transportation for life from Britain to Australia. It appears to be a script to be accompanied by music. A page with the last few sentences are missing. (See items D518 and D520.)

Handwritten, quarto, pencil, 7 pages

fisher's ghost, john farley frederick fisher, george worrell, john georg lang

This document appears to be a script to be accompanied by music, perhaps for radio, to run for 15 minutes. It relates the story of Fisher's Ghost, starting with housemaid Margaret (later married to John Farley) before her sentence to transportation for life from Britain to Australia. (See items D519 and D520.)

Typewritten, quarto, 6 pages

Heavily notated in pencil and black and red pen.

fisher's ghost, john farley frederick fisher, george worrell, john georg lang

This is a review of Robin Boyd's book 'The Puzzle of Architecture'.

Photocopy of the article.

the puzzle of architecture, walsh st library

This is a review of Robin Boyd's book 'The Puzzle of Architecture'.

Newspaper clipping.

the puzzle of architecture, walsh st library

This is a review of Robin Boyd's book 'The Puzzle of Architecture'.

Newspaper clipping.

the puzzle of architecture, walsh st library

This is a review of Robin Boyd's book 'The Puzzle of Architecture'.

Book review in Issue No 157 of Cross-Section, published by The University of Melbourne Department of Architecture.

the puzzle of architecture, walsh st library

This is a review of Robin Boyd's book 'The Puzzle of Architecture'. It makes particular note on Boyd's commentary on Canberra.

Newspaper clipping.

the puzzle of architecture, walsh st library

Robin Boyd wrote two books on Japanese architects and architecture - “Kenzo Tange” published by George Braziller in 1962 and “New Directions in Japanese Architecture” published by Studio Vista in 1968. During the 1960s he travelled several times to Japan to research these books and as part of his role as Exhibits Architect for the Australian Pavilion at Expo ‘70 in Osaka.

Colour slide in a mount. Inner gateway and inner garden, Katsura Imperial Villa, Kyoto, Japan

Japanese Gardens (2) / Katsura Imperial Villa / Inner Gateway & Inner Garden / Nippon Bunker Film Co. Tokyo Japan/ 2402 / 2/ 1960

japan, slide

Final account for the construction of 290 Walsh Street from the builder John Murphy. This document is owned by the Murphy family and was provided to the Robin Boyd Foundation for digitisation.

Final account for the construction of 290 Walsh Street.

This wrought iron "ladder-frame" bookcase is located in Penleigh's bedroom. A second "ladder-frame" bookcase with a drop-down table is located in Suzy's bedroom (item F096). They were both designed by Bruce Anderson - in the past they have been incorrectly attributed to Clement Meadmore. This type of furniture was featured in 'The Age' Small Homes Service and a similar one was featured in 'The Age' Dream Home Exhibition in 1955. From 1947 to 1953, Robin Boyd was the director of The Small Homes Service, set up by the Royal Victorian Institute of Architects in conjunction with "The Age' and he produced a weekly article for 'The Age'.

Wrought iron black frame with 10 ladder slots, and 3 cross brace frames, with 6 timber shelves. Shiny metal feet, nothing covering top of metal frame.

bruce anderson, walsh st furnishings, robin boyd, small homes service

Robin Boyd met architect Neil Clerehan at the end of 1943 when they were both in the army. They worked together on Victorian Small Homes Service and were friends.

Watercolour of a mining building in an outback landscape.

On the reverse side "Neil Clerehan, 1945" on top left in blue pen, and "No 8" on bottom right in pencil.

neil clerehan, robin boyd, ohm2022, ohm2022_29

Robin Boyd was appointed Exhibits Architect for the Australian Pavilion at Expo ‘70 in Osaka and travelled to Osaka several times in 1969-1970. Boyd designed the innovative Space Tube, which had over 25 exhibition boxes, projecting from it. Amongst the topics covered were Australian scientific innovation (including brain research, immunology, Antarctic research, Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Power Scheme, rainmaking, and the night sky), Australian sport, house interiors, car manufacturing, Australian music and art, and Japanese-Australian relations.

Colour slide in a mount. USA Pavilion roof, Expo 70, Osaka, Japan (Architect: Davis Brody, with designers Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv)

Made in Australia / 10 / MAY 70M3

expo 70, osaka, robin boyd, slide

The Arkaba Hotel won various architectural awards.

Colour slide in a mount. Arkaba Hotel, Fullarton, Adelaide, South Australia, 1964. (Architects: Dickson and Platten Architects.)

Made in Australia / 3 / JUL 69M6

slide, robin boyd

Colour slide in a mount. Church of the Holy Eucharist, 1241 Dandenong Road, East Malvern, 1962. (Architects: Alan Robertson and Associates.)

Made in Australia / 36 / JAN 65M

melbourne, slide

The Arkaba Hotel won various architectural awards.

Colour slide in a mount. Arkaba Hotel, Fullarton, Adelaide, South Australia, 1964. (Architects: Dickson and Platten Architects.)

Made in Australia / 5 / JUL 69M6

slide, robin boyd

The Arkaba Hotel won various architectural awards.

Colour slide in a mount. Arkaba Hotel, Fullarton, Adelaide, South Australia, 1964. (Architects: Dickson and Platten Architects.)

Made in Australia / 6 / JUL 69M6

slide, robin boyd

Colour slide in a mount. Norwood', Brighton, Victoria, 1892 (now demolished). (Architect: Phillip Treeby.)

Made in Australia / Encircled 4 (Handwritten) / A (Handwritten) / Encircled 20 (Handwritten) / IST Choice (Handwritten) / Victoria Mansion (Handwritten)

slide, robin boyd

Colour slide in a mount. Aerial view of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Made in Australia / 5 / MAY 69M2

slide, robin boyd

Robin Boyd developed a close friendship with the founder of the Bauhaus in Weimar Germany, Walter Gropius, who had moved to the USA in the 1930s. Through this connection, Boyd was invited to be the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Bemis Professor at the School in the North American academic year 1956-7. Robin and Patricia Boyd, with their youngest daughter Suzy, were based in Cambridge, Massachusetts for the year. Boyd gave some lectures at MIT and he was also invited to give lectures at many other universities, allowing him to travel widely within the USA, especially on the East Coast. This gave him the opportunity to meet architects like Frank Lloyd Wright, Eero Saarinen, Paul Rudolph and many others, and visit the offices of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, and places like Taliesin and the General Motors Technical Center Detroit. On the way home, the Boyds visited London, Berlin, Paris and Le Corbusier’s Ronchamp Chapel in France.

Colour slide in a mount. Chapelle Notre-Dame du Haut, Ronchamp, France, 1955. (Architect: Le Corbusier.)

Encircled 37 (Handwritten)

mit bemis professorship, mit, robin boyd, slide

Colour slide in a mount. House, possibly Australia

Mount Made in Englaand

slide, robin boyd

Colour slide in a mount. Sketch for the Chapel for Divinity School, Richmond, California, USA

Made in Australia / Encircled 3 (Handwritten) / Chapel for Divinity / School / Richmond California/ Hunter ----- (Handwritten)

slide, 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. 999 Green St, Russian Hill, San Francisco, California, USA (1964-1965) . (Architect: Joseph Eichler.)

Made in Australia / 12 / JUL 65M

california, slide, robin boyd

Colour slide in a mount. Aerial view of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Made in Australia / 6 / MAY 69M2

slide, robin boyd

Robin Boyd was appointed Exhibits Architect for the Australian Pavilion at Expo ‘70 in Osaka and travelled to Osaka several times in 1969-1970. Boyd designed the innovative Space Tube, which had over 25 exhibition boxes, projecting from it. Amongst the topics covered were Australian scientific innovation (including brain research, immunology, Antarctic research, Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Power Scheme, rainmaking, and the night sky), Australian sport, house interiors, car manufacturing, Australian music and art, and Japanese-Australian relations.

Colour slide in a mount. Canadian Pavilion, Expo 70, Osaka, Japan. (Architect: Arthur Erickson, with Geoffrey Massey)

Made in Australia / 3 / MAY 70M3 / 7 (Handwritten)

expo 70, osaka, robin boyd, slide

Colour slide in a mount. Houses with power pole columns, unknown location, possibly Australia or California

Made in Australia / 7 / JUL 65M

slide, robin boyd

Colour slide in a mount. Real estate advertising, central Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Made in Australia / 8 / MAY 69M2

slide, robin boyd

Robin Boyd was appointed Exhibits Architect for the Australian Pavilion at Expo ‘70 in Osaka and travelled to Osaka several times in 1969-1970. Boyd designed the innovative Space Tube, which had over 25 exhibition boxes, projecting from it. Amongst the topics covered were Australian scientific innovation (including brain research, immunology, Antarctic research, Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Power Scheme, rainmaking, and the night sky), Australian sport, house interiors, car manufacturing, Australian music and art, and Japanese-Australian relations.

Colour slide in a mount. Takara Beautilion, Theme Pavilion, Osaka Expo '70, Japan. (Architect: Kisho Kurokawa.)

Made in Australia / 45 (Handwritten)

expo 70, osaka, robin boyd, slide