The Historical Significance of the Ivanhoe Project: Two Families Share View 

Our Ivanhoe project, the former Beddison Swift House, was originally built in 1963. Two years after construction it was published in the widely read magazine Australian Home Beautiful in a two-page spread, entitled ‘Two Families Share View’:

This dual house, at 3 Crown Road., Ivanhoe, was designed by Guilford Bell and Neil Clerehan Pty. Ltd., to house a family and grandparents.

The site sloped to the rear overlook Merri Creek [misidentified?] and the Latrobe golf course. The family is Mr and Mrs O. R. Beddison and their children, and the grandparents are Mr and Mrs D. Swift.

As the unit was two-storeyed, the slope was graded to varying levels to minimise the contrast between the rear unit and the single-storeyed front unit occupied by the grandparents. These units were off-set and main rooms placed to the rear to the get the view. Both bedrooms and bathrooms of the front flat overlook the garden, so these rooms were given full-height glazed double doors. Toilet and passage of this unit were lit and ventilated by a dome-light, and the kitchen, living and dining rooms open planned.

Hall, large living-dining room and kitchen are on the ground floor of the rear unit, and three bedrooms and a store-dressing room are on the first floor. The store room can convert to an additional shower room later. All necessary pipes and vents have been built in. This storey’s hall and dressing room are lit and ventilated by plastic roof domes.

All internal timber is limed natural-finish mountain oak. Wall construction is Besser sandstone veneer. Both units draw hot water and heating from an oil-fired system. There are many built-ins and shelves. Roof is steel decking with fibreglass insulation.

A common soundproofed hatch in the dividing wall between the two units houses the telephones for both units so either phone can be answered from either unit.

Garden paths, and approaches to the terrace at the rear of the front unit have been ramped instead of stepped between the different levels for easy negotiation by Mr and Mrs Swift.

The above extract from the original magazine article is from the Banyule Hertiage Study 2020.

Discover further insights into our meticulous renovation of the Ivanhoe project, formerly known as the Beddison Swift House, by following this link.

Explore our journey of being shortlisted for two prestigious Houses Awards in 2024 by clicking here.

For an in-depth exploration of the Beddison Swift House by Neil Clerehan and Guilford Bell, delve into the enlightening Houses Revisited article available here.

Additionally, uncover more details in the ARCHITECTUREAU article accessible through this here.