Inside The Home of Modernist Architect, Sir Roy Grounds
Teleisha Thomas
November 2025Sir Roy Burman Grounds is one of Australia’s most celebrated architects. He is known for exploring the mid-century movement in Australia and designing landmark buildings including the National Gallery of Victoria. Knighted and awarded the RAIA Gold Medal in 1968, he remains one of Australia’s foremost architectural modernists.
Before his larger architectural marvels, he created three experimental houses each built around a single shape: a triangle, a circle, and a square. Playing with this geometry, the square house, recently sold by Jellis Craig Stonnington, surprisingly feels more circular, due to its round internal courtyard. In this article, we sat down with the home's most recent occupants to discuss what it has been like to live in this historical example of modernist design.
From the street, the building appears as an austere brick volume with minimal openings, just entry and service doors punctuate the façade. Above the solid walls, a continuous band of windows separates the roof plane from the perimeter, washing interior spaces with diffused daylight.
Every room orbits the central courtyard, creating a constant visual connection to the heart of the home. How has this unique spatial relationship influenced your daily experience of living here?
Daily living is surprisingly easy, yet remarkably special. Constantly looking into the lush bamboo in the courtyard makes every moment feel connected to nature.
Where do you find yourself gravitating to at different times of day, and how does the light change throughout those moments?
There are times of the year where the morning sun hits directly on your pillow —it’s a beautiful way to wake up. In the afternoon, sun shines through the living room, providing incredible visuals through the bamboo. The fire pit in the courtyard is perfect for evening drinks, and there is a special reverberation in the courtyard that makes it feel intimate.
Grounds designed the entire dwelling around a radical geometric idea: a square floor plan embracing a circular glazed courtyard at its heart.
Have you discovered any unexpected qualities or behaviours of the space over time?
The use of space is exceptional. The hidden cupboards and doors only reveal themselves the longer you live there. They are the perfect balance of aesthetic and practicality. Sir Roy used the house as a bit of a test case for future projects, which is very exciting. This included his designs for a built-in dining table, large front door, hidden pocket doors, and internal courtyard.
Has living here changed your understanding of Roy Grounds’ vision or influenced the way you think about architecture?
It has made me love and appreciate modernist architecture much more. Visiting a place like Palm Springs, a mecca for modernist design has made me realise that Sir Roy was a true visionary and up there with the best modernist architects.
How has the home’s heritage been maintained?
The house was restored back to its original condition in the early 2000s with reference to original drawings and papers stored at the State Library. It was fastidiously done, down to the perfection of the offset tiles in the bathrooms to the cork wall in the dining area. Every aspect was brought back to life. A lot of the original built-in cabinetry was precision-made, along with the original door handles.
What are three words to describe this property?
Tranquil, harmonious, contemplative
The floor plan arranges rooms along radial walls that extend toward but never quite reach the courtyard perimeter, preserving sightlines across the glazed central space.
