Lyons House, Sydney

Most archaeological evidence relates to Indigenous occupation in the area from about 3000 – 2000 years ago. People living between the south of Botany Bay and Nowra were of the Dharawal language group. The northernmost clan of the Dharawal speakers located near Kurnell, including those around the Port Hacking River, were the Gweagal.[2] The indigenous people living in this area enjoyed many food resources and the mild climate of the area. Many midden sites provide evidence of the use of sea foods as well as reptiles and mammals from the bushland. Fish hooks were made from turban shells and fishing lines and nets from bark and native grasses. Timber provided bark for huts, canoes, coolamons, and lomandra leaves were woven together to make bags.[2] In early 1770 Dharawal people of the southern coastal area between Nowra and Kurnell observed a large "white bird" (oral tradition of the local people) or floating island. This was Captain Cook's ship, the Endeavour, as it passed along the coast towards the headlands of Botany Bay (Kamay). The Endeavour lay anchor opposite the location of a small bark hut "village" on the southern shores of present-day Kurnell, a few kilometres north of present-day Port Hacking. It is understood that Cook's bold arrival and landing was a severe breach of Indigenous etiquette.[3] The location of the Endeavour's landfall and Cook's claim of the east coast of the continent for Britain is now commonly known as Captain Cook's Landing Place and has been included on the National Heritage List within the "Kurnell Peninsular" listing.[1]

The land where Lyons House stand forms part of the historic property owned by Thomas Holt known as the Holt-Sutherland Estate.[4] In 1815 Governor Macquarie had made a grant of 700 acres of land to James Birnie at Kurnell, just north of Port Hacking. In 1821 a grant of 1000 acres was made nearby at Quibray Bay to John Connell. The first Crown Land sales took place in the Caringbah-Miranda area in 1856–88. At this time John Connell's grandson, John Connell Laycock, bought large tracts of land in the area including the present day site of Fernleigh in South Caringbah.[5] John Connell Laycock was a Member of the NSW Parliament where he was friendly with Thomas Holt. Laycock escorted Thomas Holt around his shire properties and Holt liked what he saw.[6] In 1861 Thomas Holt purchased some 4,600 acres of land between the George's River and Port Hacking. In the following years he consolidated his holdings, more than doubling this original acreage. In September 1881 some 12,200 acres were leased to the Holt-Sutherland Estate Land Company, which dominated the development of the area for many years. A Richardson & Wrench land sale map in 1901 offering to subdivide part of the Holt Sutherland Estate shows the site of 5 acres now containing Lyons House as "not for sale" and owned by a Mr Simpson.[4] The earliest aerial photographs of the site, taken in 1930, show a building there. Aerial photographs of 1961 evidence the site as bushland. By 1970, aerial photographs show the construction of the current building known as Lyons House.[4][1]

Australian architect, author and critic Robin Boyd (1919–71), was one of the most influential Australian architects of the twentieth century. In 1969 Boyd was awarded the gold medal by the R.A.I.A. He was a Life Fellow of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects and an Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. He gave the prestigious Boyer Lecture in 1967 and in the same year was granted an Honorary Doctorate of Letters by the University of New England.[7] An impressive architect in his own right, Robin Boyd is possibly more famous for his writings both as an architectural historian and as a cultural commentator (for example, The Australian Ugliness). He authored or co-authored twelve books and also wrote prolifically for journals, newspapers and magazines. At the time the Lyons House was conceived and built, Boyd was heavily influenced by Japanese design. In 1962, Robin Boyd had published a biography of Kenzo Tange, a work which discusses Japanese architecture generally as well as the work of Tange himself. In 1968 Boyd published New Directions in Japanese Architecture.[8] He died in October 1971, aged 52.[1]

In 1967 the orthopedic surgeon Dr William Lyons, was seeking an architect to design a home for the block of land he had recently bought in Port Hacking. Following an unsuccessful interview with Harry Seidler, Dr Lyons wrote to Robin Boyd in Melbourne, expressing his admiration for his writings and asking if he could recommend an architect in Sydney. Boyd responded by saying that he would be happy to take on the commission since he would be passing through Sydney regularly on his way to and from Montreal where he was designing the Australian Pavilion for World Expo.[9] In addition Boyd engaged Bill Smith of McConnell Smith & Johnson to administer the building contract on a day-to-day level.[10] Robin Boyd and Dr Lyons worked on the design for the Lyons House in a collaborative manner,[10] both in person and by correspondence (which Dr Lyons has carefully retained). Dr Lyons remarked, "You give an architect a problem, not an answer.".[8] Geoffrey Serle later commented:, 'These were very congenial clients, with artistic and intellectual interests in keeping with Boyd's, as were a large proportion of his customers who had singled him out on the basis of his radical reputation.'[11][12][1]

Before engaging the architect, Dr. Lyons spent a year thinking about how he actually lived. He produced a short brief that focused on elements such as a pool to be integrated into the house design, maximisation of views and separation of living areas.[12] The family kept six cars at that time and ease of parking was another consideration in the design. Dr Lyons' first wife was musical and provision was made for this with original plans showing a grand piano in a music room and a rise in the floor level between the family room and the dining room, which enabled a "stage effect" (Dr Lyons' words) for small performances.[12][1]

The style of Lyons House is described as Late Twentieth Century Organic style with a strong influence of the Post-War Melbourne Regional style[13] of which Boyd was a key-practitioner in the post-World War II period. The NSW Institute of Architects' nomination for the house in 1999 described it as, a "rational structuralist" design approach. (RAIA,1999). The Lyons House is an excellent example of Robin Boyd's innovative approach to design and structure. The suburb was well developed at the time of construction in 1968 and views of the bay were obstructed by other housing. When Robin Boyd visited the site for the first time, he asked to stand on the roof of Dr. Lyons' car, took in the superb views and said 'We'll have to go up.'.[14] Boyd also recognised that excavating into solid sandstone for a pool would be expensive so he proposed that the pool be built above ground and the house built in wings around it to maximise views and allow for cars to be parked beneath cantilevered wings. The emphasis was not on how the house appeared from the outside but on the views out from within.[15] Dr Lyons noted Boyd did his drawings quickly, based on these initial ideas, within a few weeks. Dr Lyons tells a story about his musical wife wanting to have a place for her Queen Anne dressing table; when Boyd's best compromise was to propose building it a special box for it projecting out from the bedroom, she gave in and Boyd was appreciative of what he called the "armistice".[15] Given the nature of the brief, the site and the architect, the structural solution was always going to be a dominant part of the design. The diagonal timber struts used to support the cantilevered upper floor are an important part of the design, as are the projecting rafters. Such details are consistent with Boyd's theory of structural expression: "Architecture is good building and building is good structure. Therefore it seems axiomatic to me that the main elements of the structure should be as apparent in a work of architecture as the words, sentences and paragraphs in a work of writing. Understanding the building is essential to a proper enjoyment of it".[16] Boyd chose the materials and finishes including the use of clinker bricks internally and externally.[15] The fabric and finishes provide an important means by which Boyd's design intentions are brought to fruition. The dark clinker bricks of the ground floor provide a solid visual grounding for the overhanging Oregon timber-finished first floor walls (stained grey to be in harmony with surrounding gum trees). These were materials which Boyd believed to be 'rather "back to the forest" - a natural look which suits Australia.'[17] Despite the apparently "basic" nature of the rough-sawn exposed timber construction throughout, the detailing is superb and testament to the building workers' skill. The builder Bob Ellis had worked with Alan Jack & Cottier and had helped build Jack House in Wahroonga. The extensive use of timber exudes a warmth to the building that Boyd was keen to create: 'I continue to shun artificial, decorative warmth, while finding pleasure in the sight and touch of almost any material that is not trying to look like another one.'[18] The influence of Japanese architecture is also apparent, particularly in the interior with its sliding doors with frosted glass, the almost tatami-mat appearance of the carpet and in the exterior deep eaves. Boyd's design is also based upon rigid planning. A nine-foot grid forms the basis for the proportions used in this home and is strictly enforced, ensuring a visual consistency throughout its many aspects and vistas. Dr Lyons followed up Boyd recommendations of Marion Hall Best for advice on the interiors and Bruce Mackenzie for the landscape design. Dr Lyons also sought out Leslie Walford for advice on lighting design. Hall Best was arguably the leading interior designer in Australia at the time. She has been described as "a woman who thinks architecturally and has a conscious regard for the value and importance of space".[19] She said: "I have a great respect for the architect, for the spatial values of the house. I feel responsible to carry through the ideas that have their beginning in a line drawn on a plan. I never want to lose the bones of an idea by overwhelming it with decoration." In Lyons House, hall Best's enduring design contribution is the use of simple match-stick blinds which allow for light to come in and for residents to see out, but not for people to see in. The blinds are unobtrusive in rooms where there are so many windows that using curtains would have been all-dominating. Such blinds were used by Hall Best in the courtyard of her own Sydney home.[12] Leslie Walford was another leading interior designer of the day, who also wrote a column for The Sydney Morning Herald. Similarly Bruce Mackenzie was arguably Australia's leading Modern Movement landscape architect of the late 20th century. It is interesting that Mackenzie specified some exotic species for the landscape design as well as natives. Mackenzie is best known for his later design work which focused exclusively on Australian native plantings. The Lyons House has been documented and critically acclaimed in several books and journals as an example of Robin Boyd's strong design philosophy and response to site conditions.[20] Although he designed many residences in Victoria, Lyons House is the only significant work by Robin Boyd to survive intact in NSW.[10] Boyd's other known design in NSW, the Black Dolphin Hotel commissioned by David Yencken in Merimbula on the South Coast, has been severely impacted.[21][1]

In 2014, Lyons House continues to be occupied by the original client, Dr Lyons, and his family.[1]

As at 22 April 2014, The exterior and interior of the house is in excellent condition.[1]

Lyons House remains highly intact internally and externally. When considered for listing on the SHR in 2014 the house had been in continuous habitation by the original client and his family for 45 years. Many of the modern materials had required replacement over time and some adjustments were required for the interiors. These works have been done with care and sympathy so as to conserve the original design qualities and intention. An overhanging cantilever roof was added to the south west corner of the house under the supervision of McConnell Smith and Johnson. The house initially had cork covered floors but now it is mostly carpeted. The original carpets were a chocolate brown, but have been replaced by carpet with a lighter colour. There is a replacement cork floor in the kitchen. The cork tile floor of the bathroom has been replaced with tiles. The Klip-Lok roof has been replaced (like for like). Although Boyd's plans called for the use of Jarrah timber for the deck of the pool, this couldn't be obtained at the time of construction and Tallowwood was used instead. That timber has since been replaced with Blackbutt when Tallowwood could no longer be obtained. The mirror wall in the dining room was not part of Boyd's design. Boyd preferred open space but Lyons wanted a TV nook next to the kitchen. A relative suggested using a mirror wall to divide the space and the Lyons have been happy with that solution. Some of the original Mackenzie plantings, which included both native and exotic species, did not do well (e.g. native rosemary, Westringia fruticosa hedges). These have been replanted with replacements which provide a similar effect in terms of scale and appearance. Because of a need for privacy / screening relative to neighbours on the south, earlier shrub plantings on that boundary have been replaced with lily pilly (Syzygium spp./cv.). Repainting the pool is an anxious exercise as the water needs to be drained, and its weight is part of the house's balance. Nonetheless this can be done and has been done several times.[1]

• Andersen & Hamilton (2006). Kamay Botany Bay Oral History.
• Architectural Projects (2013). Sutherland Shire Community Based Heritage Study Review.
• Australian Heritage Commission (1999). Lyons House, Interim Listing on the Register of the National Estate.
• Boyd, Robin (1982). The Walls Around Us, 2nd ed., updated by Trevor Howells.
• Boyd, Robin (1967). 'The State of Australian Architecture' in journal Architecture in Australia, June.
• Boyd, Robin (1963). The Australian Ugliness.
• Boyd, Robin; Strizic, Mark (1970). Living in Australia.
• Burdon, David (2013). Lyons House, National Trust listing update.
• Burns, Karen; Edquist, Harriet, eds. (1989). Robin Boyd - The Architect as Critic (exhibition).
• Devine, Mathhew; Burtenshaw, Natasha (1999). Lyons House nomination for SHR. Royal Australian Institute of Architects, NSW Chapter.
• Statement of Heritage Significance & Statement of Heritage Impact For: Extensions to an Existing Marina at Burraneer Bay Marina. Envirospace. 2012.
• Freeland, J. M. (1968). Architecture in Australia.
• Goad, Phillip (1992). 'Robin Boyd' in Transition, no.38.
• Hayes, Babette; Hersey, April (1970). Australian Style.
• Hays, Ian (1999). Lyons House, National Trust entry.
• Heritage Division. "Kamay Botany Bay National Park, NSW SHR entry".
• Heritage Division, NSW Office of Environment & Heritage (2014). Site visit and informal interview with Dr Lyons, 20 February 2014.
• Jahn, Graham (1997). A Guide to Sydney Architecture.
• 444 Sydney Buildings. Royal Australian Institute of Architects, NSW Chapter. 1971.
• Serle, Geoffrey (1995). Robin Boyd – A Life.
• Staas, Robert (1999). 'The Lyons House at Dolans Bay' in Architecture Bulletin.
• Sutherland Shire Council; Architectural Projects 2012 (2012). Lyons House, heritage listing for the Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2006, updated 2012.
• Tuck, Dan (2008). La Perouse Headland: A Shared History.
• Turnbull, Geoffrey (1973). 'Robin Boyd' in Building Ideas, March.
• Perumal Murphy Wu Architects Pty Ltd (1992). Sutherland Shire Council Heritage Study.

This Wikipedia article was originally based on Lyons House, entry number 01930 in the New South Wales State Heritage Register published by the State of New South Wales and Office of Environment and Heritage 2018 under CC-BY 4.0 licence, accessed on 2 June 2018.