J. H. Esmond Dorney’s 1970s family home has earned global recognition from Docomomo International.
Dorney first constructed what is now known as Dorney House in 1978. The home sits atop an abandoned fort in Porter Hill, Tasmania, and remains one of the great modern houses of Australia. A humble masterpiece, the circular house features open plan living arrangement with sunken lounge and stunning 360 degree views of Hobart.
Dorney house is admired by many eminent Australian architects, many of whom have visited the heritage-home, including Glenn Murcutt and Carey Lyon.
The sunken lounge at Dorney House.
Image:
Ray Joyce
Born in 1906, J. H. Esmond Dorney trained under Walter Burley and Marion Mahoney Griffin before completing his first project in 1929. His portfolio between 1929 and 1940 featured a diverse range of building typologies from Old English revival (tudor) to streamline moderne. During this period, he predominantly designed flats located in Melbourne’s St Kilda, Elwood, South Yarra, Sandringham and Toorak.
After being drafted in World War II, Dorney relocated to Tasmania where he completed what are now seen as his most revered works. During this time, he transitioned to a modernist style, that was distinguishable by asymmetrical compositions and functional design elements.
Dorney’s Tasmanian projects are seminal to the field of architecture, with the Dorney House being one of his most recognizable and influential works. His Melbourne apartment complexes have also had an enduring affect on the character and aesthetic of Melbourne’s bayside suburbs, however, two separate bushfire incidents resulted in the devastating loss of a significant amount of documentation regarding his Melbourne projects.
A site steeped in history, Dorney House continues to be held in high regard by many within and outside the architecture profession. Ironically, it was actually the third home to be established by Dorney on the Fort Nelson site. The first house was built in 1949, the second in 1966, followed by Dorney House, which was constructed in 1978. Being that the property is located in bushland, both of the earlier homes were destroyed by separate bushfires.
Dorney House was acquired by the City of Hobart in 2006 for $5.5 million.
Source: Architecture - architectureau
