Robin Boyd was commissioned to write 'New Directions in Japanese Architecture' following recommendation by Walter Gropius. It was published by Studio Vista in 1968. The book was well-received and influential around the world.

Softcover

Robin Boyd has signed the half-title page and the title page

japanese architecture, modern architecture, 20th century, walsh st library

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 travelled to the USA and Britain for several weeks. He attended the opening of the new Australian Chancery in Washington DC, where he had designed an innovative exhibition with cylindrical display cases and sound recordings.

Colour slide in a mount. Paley Park, 3 E 53rd Street New York. Early example of a NYC “Pocket Park”. (Architects: Zion Breen Richardson landscape architects.)

Made in Australia / 23 / JUL 69M2

slide, robin boyd

Penleigh Boyd, Robin and Patricia Boyd's son, writes “Prior to 1950 Robin, like most other amateur or hobby photographers, took black and white printed photographs. The oldest slides date from 1950 when Robin and Patricia travelled to Europe on Robin’s Robert Haddon Travelling Scholarship.” In 1948 Robin Boyd was awarded ‘joint first place’ in the Robert Haddon competition for his design of Mildura art gallery. The scholarship helped fund their first overseas trip. Robin and Patricia were passengers on the Greek ship “Cyrenia” departing in May 1950, passing through the Suez Canal and landing in Genoa five weeks later. For six months, they travelled extensively throughout Europe (predominantly driving themselves) - France, Italy, United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Spain.

Colour slide in a mount. Doge's Palace, Venice, Italy

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haddon travelling scholarship, haddon, robin boyd, slide

Colour slide in a mount. Newspaper real estate advertisement, Toorak, Melbourne, Australia

Made in Australia / Encircled 1 (Handwritten)

slide, robin boyd

Colour slide in a mount. Image from a magazine of the interior, apartment, Quamby flats, Glover Court, Toorak, 1940-1. (Architect: Roy Grounds.)

Made in Australia / G9 (Handwritten) / 17 (Handwritten)

slide, robin boyd

Colour slide in a mount. Image of the plan of a 14th century stone building, location unknown

Made in Australia / 4 (Handwritten) / 4 (Handwritten)

slide, robin boyd

Colour slide in a mount. Peter and Dione McIntyre House, Kew 1955. (Architects: Peter and Dione McIntyre.)

-

slide, robin boyd

Colour slide in a mount. House, unknown location, possibly California, USA

Made in Australia / 10 / JUL 65(?)

slide, robin boyd

Colour slide in a mount. Magazine image of Sarasota High School Dining Room perspective (1958-1960), Sarasota, Florida. (Architect: Paul Rudolph.)

Encircled 19 (Handwritten)

slide, robin boyd

Colour slide in a mount. Coastline, possibly Queenland, Australia

Made in Australia / 12 / DEC 68M8

slide, robin boyd

In April-May 1971, Robin and Patricia Boyd travelled to Honolulu, east coast USA and London. In London he was one of the judges for the Commonwealth-wide entries for the redevelopment of Whitehall and the Palace of Westminster. He was also researching overseas libraries, as background for plans for a new State Library of Victoria.

Colour slide in a mount. Barbican Centre, London, England, 1965-76. (Architects: Chamberlin Powell & Bon.)

Made in Australia / 21 / AUG 71M1

slide, robin boyd

Colour slide in a mount. Streetscape Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Made in Australia / 31 / JUN 67M6 / Encircled 18 (Handwritten)

slide, robin boyd

Colour slide in a mount. War veterans housing, location unknown, Australia

Made in Australia / 8 / MAY 64M / Encircled 31 (Handwritten) / Encircled 11 (Handwritten) / War Vets Housing (Handwritten) / See also No 2 (Handwritten)

slide, robin boyd

Colour slide in a mount. Kentuck Knob (Hagan House) Chalk Hill, Pennsylvania, USA, 1956 . (Architect: Frank Lloyd Wright .)

Date: 04819 / Subject / Encircled 29 (Handwritten) / C (Handwritten)

slide, robin boyd

Robin Boyd travelled to the USA and Britain for several weeks. He attended the opening of the new Australian Chancery in Washington DC, where he had designed an innovative exhibition with cylindrical display cases and sound recordings.

Colour slide in a mount. Streetscape, Washington DC USA

Made in Australia / 11 / JUL 69M6

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. American Park, Expo '70, Osaka, Japan

Made in Australia / 30 / MAY 70M3 / 34 (Handwritten)

expo 70, osaka, robin boyd, slide