The Jack House

The design and layout of the Jack House challenged the conventional style of 1950s Australia. Oriented away from the street, the house embraces the natural landscape and has been described as robust, modest and unfussy.

Russell Jack studied building construction and freehand drawing by correspondence during his years in the Royal Australian Air Force. He graduated from Sydney Technical College and in 1952 gained experience working for architectural practices overseas. The Jack House was designed and built as his family home, winning the prestigious Sulman Award in 1957. Interior design expert, Annalisa Capurro, purchased the house in 2009 and is only the second owner of the house. She was proactive in listing the Jack House on the NSW State Heritage Register.

This house is modest and functional, it is human and nurturing, and has provided warmth and shelter to Jack and his family for 50 years.

Karen McCartney, 50/60/70 Iconic Australian Houses: three decades of domestic architecture

Gallery of photos

Details from the house designed by Russell Jack. Photographs by Michael Wee for the publication 50/60/70 Iconic Australian Houses: three decades of domestic architecture, by Karen McCartney.