The Other Moderns Sydney’s Forgotten European Design Legacy

While Harry Seidler is one of Australia’s most famous architects, little is known of his European-born contemporaries. The Other Moderns uncovers the work of Sydney’s forgotten émigré architects, interior designers, and furniture makers working from the 1930s to 1960s, and reveals their groundbreaking impact on modernist design. Highlighting the direct connections between Sydney and the European design centers of Vienna, Berlin, and Budapest, the book provides a new understanding of modernism. Profiling the work of architects like Henry Epstein and Hugo Stossel, along with Gerstl Furniture, The Other Moderns tells the story of the network of architects, designers, property developers, retailers, and photographers working together to bring a distinctly European style to mid-century Australia. Richly illustrated with rare photography, including stunning images from Austrian-born photographer Margaret Michaelis, and furniture from the collection of Hotel Hotel Canberra, the book explores the work of this unacknowledged group of style makers for the first time.

Rebecca Hawcroft is a cultural heritage professional with 20 years working in the heritage and museums sector. Rebecca is the guest curator for the Sydney Living Museums’ Moderns exhibition in August – November 2017.