House, Castlecrag

Today we went on a guided walk around the northern Sydney suburb of Castlecrag. The peninsula was bought and designed for housing by American architects Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin in 1925. Marion worked with Frank Lloyd Wright and was an accomplished painter.

Walter Burley Griffin is probably best known for his winning submission for the design of Canberra, Australia's capital city. Although Marion was instrumental in the design plans for Canberra, this is seldom acknowledged.

For Castlecrag, the Griffins envisioned homes that promote a sense of community and blend in with the environment, like Arts and Crafts architecture. Natural stone and local timber are features.

Several well known architects designed homes in Castlecrag, including Eric Nicholls who was Walter Burley Griffin's partner. The main shows an Eric Nicholls house which has been modified, like so many of the houses in the area.

Today's was a most interesting excursion lasting two and a half hours. It took us through challenging topography and original stone paths that traverse the area and remain as Griffins' legacy.

Ready for bed. Stay well all.

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