Ridge House, Graeme Gunn & Merchant Builders (1967) Toorak

Courtyards provide light, privacy and a tempered outdoor living environment. They are ideally suited to Melbourne’s climate, our outdoor lifestyle and the rapidly increasing density of our inner city and suburbs.

The first known use of courtyards was in the central Jordan Valley circa 6000 BC. They were of fundamental importance in the earliest Chinese dynasties and during the Inca period and have been used for centuries in Chinese, Islamic and Indian architecture. Courtyards were embraced by Melbourne architects during the 50s, 60s and 70s.
Courtyards are less popular now, but they can provide significant benefits to improve the environmental and social sustainability of houses. This open day encourages a reappraisal of their use, offering the opportunity to see six exemplary houses where courtyards play a key role in structuring and enriching the domestic setting.

This is a self guided tour. Details of the addresses of all houses will be provided with your ticket.

Tickets must be pre-purchased using the PDF booking form linked from the event webpage. Tickets for individual houses will not be available. Book early as these events are expected to sell out – ticket numbers are limited. Tickets and address details will be sent by email the week preceding the event.

All houses will be open between 10.00am and 4.00pm for viewing at your leisure.
Entry to most houses will involve significant numbers of steps.

• Salter House, Walter Burley Griffin (1928) Toorak
• Hill Street House, Roy Grounds (1953) Toorak.
• Walsh Street’ Robin Boyd (1958) South Yarra.
• Fenner House, Neil Clerehan (1964) South Yarra.
• Ridge House, Graeme Gunn & Merchant Builders (1967) Toorak.
• 1/2 House, Michael Markham (2002) South Yarra.

General Public $90.00
Foundation Members: $70.00
Students: $40.00