Woolley House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Woolley House |
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Woolley House, 34 Bullecourt Ave, Mosman
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| Location | 34 Bullecourt Avenue, Mosman, Mosman Council, New South Wales, Australia |
| Built | 1962 |
| Architect | Ken Woolley |
| Architectural style(s) | Sydney School |
| Owner | Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales |
| Official name: Woolley House | |
| Type | State heritage (built) |
| Designated | 25 May 2001 |
| Reference no. | 1514 |
| Type | House |
| Category | Residential buildings (private) |
| Builders | Pettit, Sevitt and Partners |
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The Woolley House is a special home in Mosman, Australia. It's listed as a heritage site, meaning it's an important part of history. Designed by famous architect Ken Woolley and built in 1962, this house is a great example of the "Sydney School" style of architecture. It even won the Australian Institute of Architects NSW Chapter Wilkinson Award, which is the top award for houses in New South Wales! In 2003, the house was given to the Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales to help protect it.
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A Home with History
The land where the Woolley House stands was once part of a larger property. This bigger block, at 11 Bickell Road, had a beautiful old bungalow and a prize-winning garden. In 1958, a part of this land was split off to create the spot for the Woolley House.
The original garden at 11 Bickell Road was full of amazing trees. These included Jacaranda, Sydney red gum, and sweet gum. The part of the land that became the Woolley House site was steeper and more natural. It had large Sydney red gums and lots of natural bush.
Ken Woolley's Early Work
The Woolley House shows off Ken Woolley's early ideas before he joined a big architecture firm in 1964. Woolley was a very talented architect. He also designed the State Office Block and the Fisher Library at the University of Sydney.
In the 1950s, most easy-to-build-on land in Sydney was already used up. So, builders started looking at trickier spots, like the steep, bushy land where the Woolley House is. This meant they needed new house designs that could fit these sloped areas.
The Sydney School Style
This challenge led to a new way of designing homes, known as the "Sydney School." These houses were often split-level, meaning they had different floor heights. This helped them fit onto sloping land without needing too much digging.
Inside, these homes felt very open and connected, even with different levels. They used natural materials like wood, bricks, and tiles. The colors were usually simple and natural, letting the materials shine. This style created cozy and unique spaces.
The Sydney School style became very popular, especially around Sydney. It allowed architects to create beautiful, natural-looking homes that fit perfectly into the Australian landscape. Ken Woolley's designs, including the Woolley House, were very important in shaping this style. He even designed homes for a company called Pettit and Sevitt, making this style available to more people.
The Garden and Its Creators
The garden around the Woolley House is also special. The stone walls in the garden were built by a landscape architect named Bruce McKenzie. He was a pioneer in creating "bush gardens" that blended with Sydney's natural environment. McKenzie is famous for his large public projects, so his work on a private garden like this is quite rare.
The owners who bought the house in 1985 loved the bush setting. They helped native plants grow back, keeping the natural feel of the garden. In 2014, a plaque was placed on the house to remember Yuana Hesketh, a former owner who cared deeply for the house and its garden.
What Makes the Woolley House Special
The Woolley House design is like a series of garden terraces, with timber roofs that follow the slope of the land. The house uses a clever system of 12-square-foot units that connect to form the main living space.
The design uses natural materials like dark tiles, cedar wood, and painted bricks. These materials create a warm and inviting feeling. The living areas are open, but different ceiling heights and directions make each space feel unique. This smart design makes the house feel much bigger than it is.
The Site
The house sits on a steep hillside covered with rocks, trees, and ferns. While it once had views of Middle Harbour, the trees have grown, making it feel like the house is nestled in a natural bush setting. This natural look is part of what makes it a great example of the Sydney School style.
The garden has winding paths and stone walls, some built by Bruce McKenzie. The current owners have continued to care for the "bush" setting, adding native plants.
The House Design
The house's design is based on the idea of garden terraces, with timber roofs that slope with the land. The main parts of the house, like the bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen, open from a central area.
Each part of the house steps sideways and downwards, following the land's shape. The roofs also follow this pattern, creating narrow skylights that make the roof seem to float. The house uses a special measurement system: each section steps aside by four feet (one-third of its width) to match the land's curves. The same measurement is used for vertical steps between sections.
The outside and some inside walls are made of "clinker bricks." These bricks were once considered imperfect, but Ken Woolley loved their natural texture and colors. The inside of the house shows off its wooden frame, with panels made of oiled tallowwood.
The house has special timber panels with insect screens for fresh air. The floors were originally cork and matting, but the matting has been replaced with carpet.
Condition and Changes
The Woolley House is in excellent condition. The owners have taken great care of it, keeping it very close to its original design. Any repairs or changes have been done with the original architect's advice.
Wilkinson Award, 1962
The Woolley House won the Wilkinson Award in 1962, which is the highest award for housing in New South Wales. Ken Woolley himself described the house as having a "garden terraces stepping down a hillside" theme. He used natural materials and a direct, honest style.
Woolley explained that the house wasn't just a simple example of "New Brutalism" (another architectural style). He saw it as connected to older "Bungalow Style" houses found in Mosman. This idea of connecting to the past was different from the popular "Modernism" of the time.
He also mentioned that there wasn't really a "Sydney School" group trying to create a consistent style. Instead, it was a group of architects who liked using natural materials and direct design. They even had an unpublished idea called "Natural Materialism," which meant all building materials should be used in a way that showed their true nature.
The Woolley House shows Woolley's ideas from 1961. At the same time, he was working on other big projects like the State Office Block and Fisher Library. The house is designed on a grid system, with 12-foot square units that are staggered. This creates a complex but ordered design.
Woolley chose clinker bricks for the house because they had a beautiful texture and color, like old European brickwork, and they were cheap. He made sure the bricklayers used the smoother side of the bricks to create a nice finish.
The house uses different types of wood, like Canadian Pine for the frame and Tallowwood for windows and doors. All the timber was either clear or stained with a dark oil. The kitchen, entry, dining room, and laundry have cork tiles, and the lowest floor is Tallowwood.
The main living space is very large for a house of its size. The roof is made of terracotta tiles with a bluish-brown glaze. The house's colors and textures, seen through the surrounding trees, change with the seasons, making it a truly unique home.
Why the Woolley House is Important
The Woolley House is a very important example of Ken Woolley's early work. He became one of Australia's top architects. It's also a key example of the "Sydney School" of architecture. This style used natural materials and fit houses onto steep, sloping sites. It greatly influenced how other houses were designed in Sydney and across Australia. The idea of creating "bush garden settings" was a big part of this style.
The Woolley House is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register because:
- It's an early and classic example of the Sydney School.
- It's strongly connected to Ken Woolley and shows his early, creative ideas.
- The garden is a rare example of Bruce McKenzie's private landscape work.
- It shows great design and technical skill.
- It helped develop new building techniques.
- It's one of only a few "one-off" Sydney School designs by Ken Woolley.
- It's a great example of domestic architecture and landscape design from the 1960s and 1970s.
About Ken Woolley (1933–2015)
Ken Woolley was a very important Australian architect who passed away in 2015. Even when he was young, his designs were recognized as special. By the time he was 30, he had designed many famous buildings in Sydney, including Fisher Library and the Woolley House.
Woolley studied at the University of Sydney. After graduating, he traveled and worked in London, learning about different modern architectural styles. In 1964, he joined a partnership, and over his career, he designed thousands of homes. He won the Wilkinson Award three times for his own homes!
He saw himself as a "late modernist," influenced by famous architects like Alvar Aalto and Le Corbusier. He was also interested in how architecture could fit into its local area.
Woolley designed many well-known buildings, including:
- The Australian Embassy in Bangkok
- Parts of the Sydney Opera House
- The Park Hyatt Hotel in Sydney
- The State Library of Victoria extension
- Buildings for the Olympics 2000 at Homebush Bay
- The Sydney Airport Control Tower
In the 21st century, he worked on projects like the refurbishment of the Queen Victoria Building. He also taught at universities and was part of many architectural juries. Woolley was very interested in architectural theory and was writing a book when he died.
He received many awards for his work, including the Order of Australia in 1988 and the Gold Medal from the Royal Australian Institute of Architects in 1993. He was truly a giant in Australian architecture.
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