The Butterfly House

Designed by Peter McIntyre in 1955, the Butterfly House in Kew, Victoria, challenged conservative postwar architecture in Australia through the use of bold colour and experimental design.

Peter McIntyre founded his first architectural practice in 1950 and has held numerous positions as a tertiary educator. He has been the recipient of many awards including the 1990 RAIA Gold Medal. He designed the Butterfly House in response to a difficult and steep site, never intending it to become his family home.

The home of architects Peter and Dione McIntyre ... symbolised the spirit of the new Melbourne house in the mid-1950s ... Form and colour raised the spirits of the converted and deliberately jarred the unconverted into recognition that war was declared on conservatism

Robin Boyd, Australia's Home.

Published on 
Phyllis Murphy in her East Malvern apartment, Melbourne, c1950
Wallpaper

Beyond the wallpaper: the life and work of Phyllis and John Murphy

A significant donation of more than 3,000 wallpaper samples to the Caroline Simpson Library reflects just one facet of the remarkable careers of Phyllis and John Murphy, partners in life, architecture and heritage conservation

Exterior of the engine room at The Mint at the completion of the adaptive reuse project, the wall stabilised and now protected by the new structure

The Mint project: Sydney’s adaptive reuse triumph

Sydney’s urban landscape is a testament to both the city’s rich history and examples of forward-thinking vision. Among the most compelling examples of this fusion of past and future is the revitalisation of the Mint complex

Cartoon drawing of Louis Sullivan and Frank Lloyd Wright

The Wasmuth Portfolio

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Wasmuth Portfolio, is regarded as one of the most influential architectural treatises of the 20th century

View of the Australian Ballet 'The sleeping beauty (detail)' [right] and the Opera Australia 'Mariana Hong in Falstaff (detail) ' and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra 'People's choice concert (detail) [left] stairwell banners - The People's House marketing & installation photoshoot

Sydney Opera House: inspired design

Kieran Larkin, Senior 3D Designer at Museums of History NSW, talked to us about some of the highlights and challenges of designing the landmark exhibition The People’s House: Sydney Opera House at 50, on display at the Museum of Sydney until March 2024