Iwan Iwanoff - Honorary Herculoid and Perth Architect - Six More Examples

City Beach is a nice area. Blue Indian Ocean views abound. Fresh air.  Short drive to the city. Swather of  modernist homes from the 60's, 70's, and 80's. Eyes on the road! Nestled in former sandy hills, Iwan Iwanoff produced some amazing abodes in Perth's western suburbs. Tombidis House, Wembley Downs, 1972.

Like many other Iwanoff's, the entrance is grand, and the letter-box is from Amzot - home of The Herculoids. What came first, this house, or the Herculoids? Anyone?

A Japanese punk band named "Mach Pelican", who lived in Perth for a while, had song about City Beach. I am sure Toshi san would have enjoyed visiting the next two houses, located in the songs name-sake suburb. No, I am not going to write the Japanese pronunciation of City Beach. Wright House, City Beach, 1975.






Maxwell House, City Beach, 1967. Good, to the last drop.

Balcatta. Home to lighting outlets, tool hire establishments, and well, not much else. Tucked behind a bland Balcatta wall, blocking almost the entire house from the street, is this example of a more compact Iwanoff. Entry way stacked brick treatment is yet another example of Amzotion influence. Piccini House, Balcatta, 1968.

When your local strip is an Iwanoff, your suburb instantly becomes a lot cooler. This two building strip-shop/office complex in Shenton Park is one of two examples of Iwanoffs commercial work in this post. Shops, Medical Center, Shenton Park, 1968.

North Fremantle provides the other commercial premises example.  Although, I would be more than happy to residentialise this rather minimalist commerical box. Hi Fi Recording Studio, North Fremantle, 1968.

My kind of doorway.

Many more Iwanoff's to come...

Iwan Iwanoff - Brutal Mike Brady vs Frank Lloyd Wright

Brutalism. Iwanoff brutalised Northam in the 70's. The Northam Town Council Offices (1974) and Library (1971) complex. Yes, this is in the country town of Northam, and yes - the good people of Northam, after settling in with the library complex, decided three years later to commission perhaps the single most brutal small scale building in Australia.

The Golovin House, 1959, Mount Lawley, clearly shows the Mike Brady side of Iwanoff. The site itself is modernism in a sea of federation (...not that theres anything wrong with that). This neighbourhood has been part of my stomping ground for some time. As a friend told me, who grew up on the same street: "I didn't know it was an Iwanoff, I just knew it as the house I would buy if I won lotto... "

Ramp to your front door? Yes please!

The next Iwanoff house is located in Coolbinia, the garden suburb to the west of Mount Lawley. Tough to get a good shot, as there is a huge For Sale sign up at the moment. I am unsure of the name, or construction year of this project. Your own Iwanoff - for 1.275 million. Ouch.

The highlight of the day was getting an extensive interior tour of the Iwanoff Tomich House (1972), located in City Beach. Iwan Iwanoff himself lived in this house. The current owners are clearly proud to live in such a masterpiece, and are also in awe of the talent of Iwanoff. Now that I have seen the four story spiral staircase, fish-scale-like brass interior finishes, and cathedral-like summer/winter lounge room, "in awe" is just the beginning.

A multi-story staircase surrounded by a glass and clinker brick tube takes you to your own private viewing platform - an eagles nest at the highest point of City Beach. You can see the highest point of the house in the photo below - the windowed box. Almost 360 degree ocean and interior views. Iwanoff really went to town on this one, inside and out. Mind-blowing.

The vault-like front door, replete with stainless steel facia. Although this door provided the gateway to the most amazing house, the same gateway also emenated sadness, as I discussed Iwan Iwanoff's death with the current owner, who was unaware of the fate that became of Iwanoff. As with Cameo, the Communards, and the Timex Social Club, for Iwan Iwanoff, 1986 was a brutal, brutal, year.