Adieu, Modernism – Harry Seidler passes

Rose Seidler House (1948-1950), a Bauhaus-styled home in Sydney built for his mother.

Renowned architect Harry Seidler has died in his Sydney home, aged 82. Considered to be the earliest exponent of Bauhause and Modernist principles in Australia, Seidler worked and studied with some of the world's best-known Modernist architects including Walter Gropius, Josef Albers, Marcel Breuer and Oscar Niemeyer.

A Sydney Morning Herald article reveals Seidler's steadfast devotion to the Modernist ethic.

We ask Seidler of his inspiration when designing tall buildings. He looks taken aback. “Inspiration?” he says incredulously. “Architecture is not an inspirational business, it's a rational procedure to do sensible and hopefully beautiful things; that's all.” [28 September, 2002, p 4.]

---