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Join Kerstin Thompson and Mark Jacques at 290 Walsh Street for a focused, one-hour exploration of Robin Boyd’s modernist house and the philosophy behind conserving mid-century architecture. Expect archival photos, material detail, and practical insight into how to preserve design without overwriting it.
Join Kerstin Thompson and Mark Jacques at 290 Walsh Street for a focused, one-hour exploration of Robin Boyd’s modernist house and the philosophy behind conserving mid-century architecture. Expect archival photos, material detail, and practical insight into how to preserve design without overwriting it.
Book with Robin Boyd Foundation
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Operated by Robin Boyd Foundation · South Yarra, Victoria
South Yarra’s Walsh Street offers a rare chance to see Robin Boyd’s 1957 house and to hear new thinking about modernist conservation at a talk featuring Kerstin Thompson and Mark Jacques. The event begins at 290 Walsh Street in South Yarra, Victoria, Australia, where architects, preservationists, and design-minded travelers gather for a one-hour illustrated lecture and guided look at Boyd’s interiors and ideas. Robin Boyd, one of Australia’s most influential modernists, designed the Walsh Street residence in the late 1950s; the talk pairs his domestic clarity with the Black Dolphin Motel project—Boyd’s 1960 south-coast motel that proposed economical, landscape-attuned architecture. Speakers Kerstin Thompson and Mark Jacques bring recent conservation practice into the conversation: Thompson’s reductive renewal tactics, described by her firm Kerstin Thompson Architects, and Jacques’s landscape-led urbanism from Openwork. Together they explore material choices—brick and timber exteriors, a restored tectonic hierarchy—and what 'renew rather than overwrite' means in practice. What makes this experience special is its layering of close observation with broader cultural questions. You’ll learn how original colour palettes and fittings—cork floors, butterfly chairs, timber joinery—are reinstated from archival photographs by Mark Strizic, and how light-touch interventions can reveal structural clarity. The talk also situates the Black Dolphin Motel’s social ambition: commissioned by David Yencken and built to be economical but generous with site and view, it challenges assumptions about mid-century hospitality and conservation. Practical details are clear: tickets include admission to the Loose Leaf exhibition and the event is one hour long. The meeting point is 290 Walsh Street; attendees must be 16 and over. Note restrictions: no external food or drink, large bags are checked, and stiletto heels are not permitted due to cork flooring. Accessibility: as a heritage building, the house cannot be fully modified; those needing tailored mobility support should contact [email protected]. Why visit beyond the talk? South Yarra is an approachable slice of Melbourne design culture—street-level modernism, compact laneways, and galleries nearby—so the event doubles as a walking prompt to explore local public space. For travelers interested in architecture, conservation, or design history, this is a concentrated lesson in how to read, care for, and photograph modernism up close. Bring curiosity, a notepad, and shoes that respect heritage interiors; expect to leave with fresh perspectives on what it means to conserve mid-century architecture for the twenty-first century. Kerstin Thompson brings decades of award-winning practice and academic leadership—her firm KTA has national and international recognition, and she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia and awarded the Australian Institute of Architects Gold Medal. Mark Jacques contributes urban design and landscape expertise from Openwork and academia, framing the house and motel as civic gestures that connect building, landscape, and daily life for visitors.
The event runs for approximately one hour and includes access to the Loose Leaf exhibition.
Attendees must be 16 years and over.
No; as a heritage building, Walsh Street cannot be fully modified for universal access—email [email protected] for tailored support.
Photography is generally permitted for study purposes—avoid flash and tripods; follow any on-site instructions from staff.
No; external food and drink are not permitted inside the heritage property.
The meeting point is 290 Walsh Street, South Yarra; arrive early to check large bags as required.
Robin Boyd Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to preserving and promoting the life, work and legacy of Australian architect Robin Boyd. Based in South Yarra, Victoria, the Foundation manages Boyd’s 1957 Walsh Street residence and archives, delivering guided tours, talks, walking tours and creative workshops that connect visitors with modernist architecture and Melbourne’s built history. The Foundation offers a range of experiences: guided tours of the Walsh Street house, evening events such as Sunset Cocktails at Walsh Street, themed talks on modern design and conservation, neighbourhood walking tours through South Yarra, and drop-in drawing sessions that pair architectural insight with sketching and photography. Each program is led by experienced guides, architects and guest speakers who present research-based commentary and curated access to Boyd’s preserved home and materials. As a custodian of a significant heritage property and archive, the Foundation collaborates with conservation specialists, historians and design practitioners to ensure accurate interpretation and careful site stewardship. Its events are rooted in documented scholarship on post-war modernism and local architectural history, providing reliable context for students, professionals and the general public. Visitors can expect small-group formats, focused storytelling and opportunities to photograph and study Walsh Street’s distinctive modernist features. The Foundation’s stewardship of the property, structured programming and partnerships with experts underpin its reputation as an authoritative resource on Robin Boyd and mid-20th-century Australian design. Public programs are scheduled seasonally and include limited-capacity events, making bookings recommended for visitors seeking guided access to Walsh Street and related exhibitions and archival displays.
Book with Robin Boyd Foundation