Buhrich House II facts for kids

Buhrich House II is a special home in Castlecrag, New South Wales, Australia. It is listed on a heritage register, which means it's an important historical building. The house was designed by Hugh Buhrich and built in 1972. It is still owned by the Buhrich family. This unique house was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on May 25, 2001.

Discovering Buhrich House's Past

Who Built Buhrich House?

Hugh August Buhrich designed and built Buhrich House II between 1968 and 1972. He built it for himself and his wife, Eva Buhrich. They had bought land in Castlecrag years before. Their first house in the area was designed in 1939–49.

How Did the Buhrichs Find the Land?

The Buhrichs bought the land for this house at 375 Edinburgh Road in the 1950s. This land was part of the original Castlecrag area. It was planned by a famous architect named Walter Burley Griffin. For many years, Hugh Buhrich's helper, Bill Chambers, lived on the site. He lived in parts of a house designed by Griffin in the 1920s.

What Else Did Buhrich Build Here?

In 1961, Buhrich built a boatshed by the water at the property. He later built a large 35-foot boat there. When they built their main house in 1968–72, they kept a two-story building designed by Griffin. This older building, called a "Knitlock" structure, was then connected to the new house.

Were There Any Changes to the House?

In 1982, Hugh Buhrich's son, Clive Buhrich, who was also an architect, made some changes. He added new areas under the house. These spaces were originally planned as a garage and storage. Other than these changes, the house has stayed mostly the same.

Who Was Hugh Buhrich?

Hugh Buhrich was born in Hamburg in 1911. He studied architecture in several European cities. One of his important teachers was Hans Poelzig. Hugh and his wife, Eva Bernhard, moved to Australia in 1938 to escape the Nazis. They came to Canberra with help from a group called the Quakers.

Hugh Buhrich worked as an architect in Sydney from 1945 to 1991. He mainly designed homes. He and Eva opened an office in Sydney in 1945. They were officially recognized as qualified architects in the 1960s. Eva Buhrich was also an architect, but she mostly worked as a journalist in Australia.

Exploring Buhrich House's Design

What Makes Buhrich House Special?

Buhrich House is built right on the waterfront in Castlecrag. It even includes a part of an old "Knitlock" building by Walter Burley Griffin. Unlike many other houses of its time that used natural materials, this house looks different. It was designed to stand out from its surroundings. This design makes the house seem to float above the steep, rocky land.

How Does the House Look from Outside?

It can be hard to see the house from the outside. It almost seems to disappear into the landscape. The house sits high above the water on a steep cliff. It is surrounded by overgrown gardens and stone steps. These steps and retaining walls are part of Griffin's original natural design ideas.

The outside of the house features strong concrete walls and sandstone walls. The sandstone was even taken from the site itself! It has large metal-framed glass walls and sliding doors. There are also unique sculptural parts. For example, a "floating" wooden wall with slats appears to hang in glass frames. This wall is actually held up by thin pipes.

What About the Roof and Deck?

The north side of the house has a fully glass wall. This gives amazing views of the water through the trees. The heavy, wavy roof looks like one continuous shape. It seems to float above the windows. The roof is covered in copper.

There's a deck with no handrail that can be reached by a spiral concrete staircase. This stair hangs over a steep drop to the water. The house was built to look a bit rough, like a "Yangtse junk" boat. It mixes ready-made parts with unique, handcrafted elements.

What's Inside the House?

The inside of Buhrich House feels very connected to the outdoors. The main living area has a raised kitchen and dining space. From here, you can look over the living room, through the trees, and out to the water. The kitchen is beautifully made from wood. It looks like a piece of furniture placed within the living space.

A stone fireplace adds a sculptural touch. A wavy tapestry, also designed by Buhrich, hangs on the "floating" wall. This tapestry is a backdrop for the dining table, which seems to hang in the air. All the furniture, both built-in and movable, was chosen to look like sculptures within the house. The chairs were designed by Buhrich himself, and some dining chairs are by Eames.

How Are the Rooms Arranged?

The living areas are separate from the bedrooms and bathroom. A glass hallway next to a garden connects them. The two bedrooms and a study are simple white rooms with modern built-in furniture. The bathroom between these rooms is very unique. The bath and sink are molded as one piece with the wall. It's made of shiny red fiberglass. This bright red bathroom creates a stunning contrast with the glass wall that opens to the water and trees outside.

What About the Old Griffin Building?

The small, two-story Griffin building is next to the carport at the top level. It is made of "knitlock" concrete blocks with a sandstone base. You can enter this old building from inside the modern Buhrich House. The lower part of the Buhrich House has been partly closed off to create more living areas. These new areas are not connected to the main house from the inside. A wooden walkway, similar to the upper deck, leads from the lower level to the boatshed by the water.

How Is the House Doing Today?

As of 2001, the house was in excellent condition. It still looks very much like it did when it was built. The changes made to the lower level do affect its original look a little.

Key Dates for Buhrich House

• 1920s: The original Griffin building was constructed.
• 1961: Buhrich built the boatshed.
• 1972: Buhrich built the main house.
• 1982: Changes were made to the lower part of the main house.

Why Buhrich House Is Important

A Modern Masterpiece

Buhrich House is considered one of Australia's best modern homes. It has been featured in major architectural magazines. It is known for its special mix of everyday items and handcrafted features. The way it uses space and forms, and how it fits into the site, is truly unique. It shows a timeless blend of art, craft, and architecture.

The Buhrichs' Legacy

This house was the home of Hugh and Eva Buhrich, who were architects from Europe. Hugh was a highly respected architect, even if not widely known. Eva was famous for her architecture articles in The Sydney Morning Herald. This house shows Hugh Buhrich's architectural style later in his career.

A Unique Architectural Style

The house is important for its beautiful design. It is like a sculpture on the waterfront. Both the inside and outside have a strong sculptural feel. The materials, structure, and furniture all work together to create a unique, natural-looking design.

Hugh Buhrich brought new ideas about Modernism to Australia when he moved here in 1938. His work is as important as other famous architects like Harry Seidler. Buhrich House shows a strong example of modern design in Australia. It is different from the "Sydney School" style, which used more natural materials.

A Special Place in Castlecrag

Buhrich House is also important because it's another great example of modern design in Castlecrag. This suburb was first planned by another famous architect couple, Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin. It's likely that Griffin would have seen Buhrich House as a perfect modern addition to his original vision for the area.

Buhrich House II was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on May 25, 2001, because it met several important criteria.

• It shows the history of New South Wales. The house combines different historical layers. It has a piece of Griffin's 1920s "Knitlock" structure mixed with a unique 20th-century building from 1972.
• It shows great creative and technical skill. The house is known for its bold and original sculptural design. It is modern without following typical architectural rules. It shows the architect's international training and his experiments with building and materials.
• It can teach us about history. The house was built using a mix of ready-made items, like aluminum sliding doors, and unique handmade parts. Examples include the fiberglass bathroom and the wavy ceiling in the living area.