Design Legacy: 5 Lessons Pettit+Sevitt Taught Us About Architecture
How the Australian builders brought modern design, popular taste and affordable houses to Australia's suburbs
Rebecca Gross
23 May 2015
Design writer and historian. I write about contemporary architecture and design, and I study cultural history through the lens of architecture, design and visual culture. I have a Masters in the History of Decorative Arts and Design from Parsons The New School for Design, New York. My latest book is called "Ornament is not a crime: Contemporary Interiors with a postmodern twist."
Design writer and historian. I write about contemporary architecture and design,... More
During the 1960s and 1970s, home building company Pettit+Sevitt led the way in architect-designed project homes, creating what may be considered the first original Australian architectural house. Modern, popular, and functional, Pettit+Sevitt houses have assumed iconic status in the annals of Australian suburban homes.
Project homes are pre-designed houses built to order, and the repetition of design and fabrication is intended to make them both an economical and efficient option. Pettit+Sevitt engaged renowned architects such as Ken Woolley and Russell Jack to design modern homes specifically suited to the Australian landscape. Their general design approach was what Ron Sevitt described in The Canberra Times, November 29, 1966, as “educated, rational, contemporary architecture”, as they reconfigured their series of standardised designs to suit each clients’ individual needs and site conditions.
Below are five lessons Pettit+Sevitt taught us about architecture and how they remain relevant today.
Project homes are pre-designed houses built to order, and the repetition of design and fabrication is intended to make them both an economical and efficient option. Pettit+Sevitt engaged renowned architects such as Ken Woolley and Russell Jack to design modern homes specifically suited to the Australian landscape. Their general design approach was what Ron Sevitt described in The Canberra Times, November 29, 1966, as “educated, rational, contemporary architecture”, as they reconfigured their series of standardised designs to suit each clients’ individual needs and site conditions.
Below are five lessons Pettit+Sevitt taught us about architecture and how they remain relevant today.
Pettit+Sevitt at a Glance
Founders: Brian Pettit and Ron Sevitt. Architects include Ken Woolley, Michael Dysart, Robin Boyd, Harry Seidler, Russell Jack, Neil Clerehan and landscape designer Bruce Mackenzie.
Design philosophy: Simple, functional and affordable modern homes that use space cleverly.
Distinctive style: Rational planning and open layouts; modern design; natural features and exposed beams; designed to blend in with the terrain; prefabricated and standardised parts.
Selection of residential projects: Lowline, Split Level, Courtyard, Two Storey, Hillside, Pavilion.
Honours include: Architect Ken Woolley’s designs won more than 14 NSW Royal Australian Institute of Architecture Awards and the Sulman Award for architecture.
Founders: Brian Pettit and Ron Sevitt. Architects include Ken Woolley, Michael Dysart, Robin Boyd, Harry Seidler, Russell Jack, Neil Clerehan and landscape designer Bruce Mackenzie.
Design philosophy: Simple, functional and affordable modern homes that use space cleverly.
Distinctive style: Rational planning and open layouts; modern design; natural features and exposed beams; designed to blend in with the terrain; prefabricated and standardised parts.
Selection of residential projects: Lowline, Split Level, Courtyard, Two Storey, Hillside, Pavilion.
Honours include: Architect Ken Woolley’s designs won more than 14 NSW Royal Australian Institute of Architecture Awards and the Sulman Award for architecture.
A brief history
Everyone wanted to own their own home in the 1950s and 1960s – a prosperous period in which home ownership was actually within reach of a great percentage of the population. According to Judith O’Callaghan and Charles Pickett in Designer Suburbs: Architects and Affordable Homes in Australia, houses quickly became a commodity or consumer product as the popular media and major retailers promoted home ownership as fitting to the ‘Australian way of life.’ Project houses offered an economical and contemporary option that combined affordable construction and architectural ideas suited to a modern suburban lifestyle.
Brian Pettit and Ron Sevitt established Pettit+Sevitt in 1961 and quickly led the market in architect-designed project houses. They targeted young professionals and worked with renowned architects such as Ken Woolley and Russell Jack (among others) to create a series of standardised house designs that catered to a range of domestic living options. They established exhibition centres in Sydney’s northern suburbs and sold and produced more than 3500 houses nationwide.
In 2009, Ron’s wife, Val Sevitt, relaunched the company with her children, and with Ken Woolley revising some of Pettit+Sevitt’s designs for today’s market.
While the following architectural lessons are not unique to Pettit+Sevitt, the company brought them within accessible and affordable reach of more homeowners in the 1960s and 1970s.
Everyone wanted to own their own home in the 1950s and 1960s – a prosperous period in which home ownership was actually within reach of a great percentage of the population. According to Judith O’Callaghan and Charles Pickett in Designer Suburbs: Architects and Affordable Homes in Australia, houses quickly became a commodity or consumer product as the popular media and major retailers promoted home ownership as fitting to the ‘Australian way of life.’ Project houses offered an economical and contemporary option that combined affordable construction and architectural ideas suited to a modern suburban lifestyle.
Brian Pettit and Ron Sevitt established Pettit+Sevitt in 1961 and quickly led the market in architect-designed project houses. They targeted young professionals and worked with renowned architects such as Ken Woolley and Russell Jack (among others) to create a series of standardised house designs that catered to a range of domestic living options. They established exhibition centres in Sydney’s northern suburbs and sold and produced more than 3500 houses nationwide.
In 2009, Ron’s wife, Val Sevitt, relaunched the company with her children, and with Ken Woolley revising some of Pettit+Sevitt’s designs for today’s market.
While the following architectural lessons are not unique to Pettit+Sevitt, the company brought them within accessible and affordable reach of more homeowners in the 1960s and 1970s.
LESSON 1: Take a rational approach to architecture
Pettit+Sevitt and the architects with whom they worked with took a rational approach to floor plans and house layouts, with an emphasis on designing houses that German architect Eva Buhrich once described in The Sydney Morning Herald as having “originality, roominess, and flexibility”, and representing “good value for the price”.
Each style of house could be tailored to the conditions of the land and the view. Additionally, flexible floor plans enabled each house to be expanded, contracted, or rooms to be moved around to suit the land, the view, or the occupants’ way of life.
Pettit+Sevitt and the architects with whom they worked with took a rational approach to floor plans and house layouts, with an emphasis on designing houses that German architect Eva Buhrich once described in The Sydney Morning Herald as having “originality, roominess, and flexibility”, and representing “good value for the price”.
Each style of house could be tailored to the conditions of the land and the view. Additionally, flexible floor plans enabled each house to be expanded, contracted, or rooms to be moved around to suit the land, the view, or the occupants’ way of life.
A CONTEMPORARY EXAMPLE: This addition to a cottage in Fremantle seeks to improve the relationship between the existing house and the backyard. It focuses on creating both interior and exterior living space within the home so that the owners have flexibility in how they use the spaces and how they relate to their garden and courtyard.
See more photos from this project
See more photos from this project
LESSON 2: Design for modern, functional living
Pettit+Sevitt houses popularised open-plan living, minimal corridors, the concept of the family room, and introduced the ensuite bathroom to project houses. These features had previously only been seen in individually designed houses.
Woolley’s ‘Lowline B’, built in 1966 in Staddon Close, St Ives, Sydney, reveals the simple and functional layout – a bedroom zone to one side of the entrance and a living zone with living, dining and kitchen area to the other side of the entrance. The Lowline B won the first Project House Design Award in 1967.
Pettit+Sevitt houses popularised open-plan living, minimal corridors, the concept of the family room, and introduced the ensuite bathroom to project houses. These features had previously only been seen in individually designed houses.
Woolley’s ‘Lowline B’, built in 1966 in Staddon Close, St Ives, Sydney, reveals the simple and functional layout – a bedroom zone to one side of the entrance and a living zone with living, dining and kitchen area to the other side of the entrance. The Lowline B won the first Project House Design Award in 1967.
A CONTEMPORARY EXAMPLE: This long and slender house takes on a similar form to the Pettit+Sevitt Lowline B with symmetrical massing and windows maximising light, ventilation and a great view. Inside, the house is similarly laid out according to function with three spatial zones: the main house, the guest quarters and a multi-purpose level. Additionally, like the Lowline B, the entry porch acts as circulation to maximise interior space.
See more photos from this project
See more photos from this project
LESSON 3: Architectural detail is accessible even in low-budget homes
Pettit+Sevitt emphasised ‘top-flight’ architectural design even in low-budget homes. In fact, these architectural details became so stylistically consistent across its series of houses that many Pettit+Sevitt homes could be identified by these elements.
These include exposed beams and ‘natural’ features; simple lines and flat or skillion roofs; a galley kitchen with ‘off the floor’ cupboards and the latest kitchen appliances. And as you’ll note from the picture above, these haven’t changed 40 years on and are still as functional, modern and stylish as ever.
Pettit+Sevitt emphasised ‘top-flight’ architectural design even in low-budget homes. In fact, these architectural details became so stylistically consistent across its series of houses that many Pettit+Sevitt homes could be identified by these elements.
These include exposed beams and ‘natural’ features; simple lines and flat or skillion roofs; a galley kitchen with ‘off the floor’ cupboards and the latest kitchen appliances. And as you’ll note from the picture above, these haven’t changed 40 years on and are still as functional, modern and stylish as ever.
A CONTEMPORARY EXAMPLE: The addition to this Victorian workers’ cottage features an efficiently planned kitchen playfully divided into different colours to reduce its bulk. This simple use of colour and effective planning elevates to the design, appearance, and functionality of the kitchen and could easily be introduced to low-budget homes and renovations.
Take a tour around this house
Take a tour around this house
LESSON 4: Design to blend in with the terrain
If you’ve followed the Design Legacy series on Houzz, you’ll note that each profiled architect – Robin Boyd, Peter Muller, and here, Pettit+Sevitt – designed and/or built houses in the mid-20th century that worked specifically with the conditions of the site and the indigenous Australian landscape.
Pettit+Sevitt oriented their houses on an angle towards the main street to maximise the natural features of the site and to introduce landscaping that was part of the overall concept. The company engaged landscape designer Bruce Mackenzie to carefully preserve and protect the native vegetation, particularly during construction. This helped lay the foundations for not only conserving the indigenous environment, but also highlighted landscaping in the development and design of the home.
Pettit+Sevitt identified the split-level design (pictured above) as being the best house to work well, and economically, on the uneven housing blocks commonly available in northern Sydney suburbs at the time of development.
If you’ve followed the Design Legacy series on Houzz, you’ll note that each profiled architect – Robin Boyd, Peter Muller, and here, Pettit+Sevitt – designed and/or built houses in the mid-20th century that worked specifically with the conditions of the site and the indigenous Australian landscape.
Pettit+Sevitt oriented their houses on an angle towards the main street to maximise the natural features of the site and to introduce landscaping that was part of the overall concept. The company engaged landscape designer Bruce Mackenzie to carefully preserve and protect the native vegetation, particularly during construction. This helped lay the foundations for not only conserving the indigenous environment, but also highlighted landscaping in the development and design of the home.
Pettit+Sevitt identified the split-level design (pictured above) as being the best house to work well, and economically, on the uneven housing blocks commonly available in northern Sydney suburbs at the time of development.
A CONTEMPORARY EXAMPLE: This Canberra house also employs a split-level design to overcome a challenging, diagonally sloping site. The architects sought to maintain and enhance the beauty of the site, and strategically sited living spaces to catch the sun, maximise views and preserve vegetation.
Take a tour around this house
Take a tour around this house
LESSON 5: Use prefabricated and standardised parts to be economical
Pettit+Sevitt utilised factory principles to house construction by using prefabricated and standardised parts. This enabled the company to reduce waste, assemble the houses on site faster, and ultimately sell and build more affordable houses.
Pettit+Sevitt utilised factory principles to house construction by using prefabricated and standardised parts. This enabled the company to reduce waste, assemble the houses on site faster, and ultimately sell and build more affordable houses.
A CONTEMPORARY EXAMPLE: Overlooking the ocean in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, this house was designed to be partially manufactured in a factory and assembled on site, achieving cost and time savings and a high-quality finish.
See more photos from this project
See more photos from this project
Pettit+Sevitt’s legacy has certainly not come to an end. Recently relaunched with several new designs by Ken Woolley, the Pettit+Sevitt house still maintains its focus on good design, functional living, and efficient planning.
In addition, many homeowners continue to renovate, update or extend existing Pettit+Sevitt homes. This house pictured is an extension to a Pettit+Sevitt home located on a steeply sloping site in Hornsby, Sydney. The addition includes a new living pavilion that maintains the simple lines, functional simplicity and modern character of the original Pettit+Sevitt home.
TELL US
Have you lived in, or do you currently live in, a Pettit+Sevitt house? If so, we would love to see your high-resolution pictures in the Comments section.
MORE FROM THIS SERIES
5 Lessons Robin Boyd Taught Us About Architecture
5 Lessons Peter Muller Taught Us About Architecture
In addition, many homeowners continue to renovate, update or extend existing Pettit+Sevitt homes. This house pictured is an extension to a Pettit+Sevitt home located on a steeply sloping site in Hornsby, Sydney. The addition includes a new living pavilion that maintains the simple lines, functional simplicity and modern character of the original Pettit+Sevitt home.
TELL US
Have you lived in, or do you currently live in, a Pettit+Sevitt house? If so, we would love to see your high-resolution pictures in the Comments section.
MORE FROM THIS SERIES
5 Lessons Robin Boyd Taught Us About Architecture
5 Lessons Peter Muller Taught Us About Architecture
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Eichler homes in America are along the same lines, and equally as sought after over there. Pettite and Sevitt used the same philosophy as Eichler - employing architects to design homes. Here in W.A. we now we have a small cadre of builders in our project homes who obviously do not use architects, and the result is they all look virtually the same floor plan, with minor changes from each other, and rely on their display homes to display pretty interior furnishings which distract from the fact that so many of these houses are stuck in the master bed with 2 or 3 very minor bedrooms era. These rooms have space for a single bed and a very small wardrobe. Great for young kids, but kids have a habit of growing up, wanting space for their computers and games, and to have friends for sleepovers.
Have yet to see even 1 project house which has factored in our current average family sizes and present lifestyles, or produced homes suitable for our ever growing ageing population who are cashed up, but have nothing on offer for them.
Great article and love the site. I own a Type C Three bedroom P&S home in Coffs Harbour, its intact and has been featured in a study of post WW11 History. The home was Built in 1972 and designed by Ken Wooley. It was the local display home for P&S. Its simple but in extremely good condition. We are doing light restoration work and will be offering the gorgeous little home as a furnished rental to visitors to our region soon.
We have just bought a home in Murray Bridge and think it might have some architectural interest. It seems to reference Pettit and Sevitt in several ways. We'd appreciate expert comment.