{"product_id":"pettit-sevitt-the-modernist-project","title":"Pettit + Sevitt The Modernist Project","description":"\u003ch3 class=\"p1\"\u003ePettit + Sevitt The Modernist Project\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eArchitecture, design and the story of an Australian mid-century housing icon.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eThe illustrated history of influential Australian project home builder Pettit + Sevitt. Now available for pre-order. Official release is 1 November 2026.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eFounded in Sydney in 1961, Pettit \u0026amp; Sevitt were pioneers of a burgeoning project home industry. Their mission was to make it possible for Australians to buy an architect-designed home at a price they could afford. This became an important modernist movement that shaped how Australians built their homes and thought about design.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eWorking with five of Australia's most renowned architects including Ken Woolley, Michael Dysart, Russell Jack, Neil Clerehan and Harry Seidler, they created homes that were modular, functional and beautiful in their simplicity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003ePettit \u0026amp; Sevitt display villages became weekend attractions and their houses won numerous architectural awards. They introduced people to the possibility of design as part of everyday life and reflected a growing confidence in Australian domestic architecture. Their houses, and those of their contemporaries, became associated with what would be known as the 'Sydney School', a loosely defined group of architects whose work embraced natural materials, economical spatial planning and responsiveness to Australia's unique landscape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eAlongside archival photography, house plans and sketches, this 480 page book presents selected contemporary Pettit \u0026amp; Sevitt homes that continue to be enjoyed, restored and adapted. It is both the history of an ambitious modernist enterprise, a valuable resource and a record of Pettit \u0026amp; Sevitt's enduring place in Australian architecture, design and suburban life.\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"p1\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"s1\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"s2\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eReviews\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e‘It is timely to bring this to press as we struggle with a housing crisis and what comes next. \u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003ePettit \u0026amp; Sevitt The Modernist Project reminds us that the real architectural project, to bring good design to \u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003eeveryone without sacrificing quality, is still possible. These homes celebrated the belief in a ‘good life’ on distinctly \u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003eAustralian terms and showed that, as a country, we can commit to good ideas when we want to.’\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eProfessor Anthony Burke, School of Architecture, University of Technology Sydney \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eHost of ABC TV’s Grand Designs Australia, Restoration Australia and Radio National\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e‘Superb reportage. Detailed, broad and beautifully illustrated. A fascinating architectural and cultural history.’\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eDr Davina Jackson, architectural writer, editor and curator\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e‘Who would have thought that Pettit \u0026amp; Sevitt inspired Marc Newson, one of the world’s top designers. Kathryn has \u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003eunearthed profound threads in this Australian housing story. A monumental work of research and an enjoyable \u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003eread.’\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eSam Marshall, Wilkinson Award winning architect, educator and writer\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e‘Kathryn Franco’s deep understanding of Pettit \u0026amp; Sevitt houses shines through in this meticulously researched \u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003ebook about the designers and builders who changed Sydney’s suburbs forever.’\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eJulie Power, award winning journalist, \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eSydney Morning Herald\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e‘This book beautifully catalogues the ways Pettit \u0026amp; Sevitt designs matched the rising spirit of Australian identity \u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003eand the increasing understanding of our unique landscape. More than just good houses, they mark a turning point \u003c\/i\u003e\u003ci\u003ein how we see living in Australia.’\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eTone Wheeler, President of the Australian Architecture Association \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003eAdjunct Professor, University of NSW, author and commentator\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e","brand":"Piper Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51282448613543,"sku":"9780980834796","price":120.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2405\/0589\/files\/FrontCover_Pettit_SevittTheModernistProject_c_KathrynFranco-PiperPress.png?v=1788216569","url":"https:\/\/piperpress.com.au\/products\/pettit-sevitt-the-modernist-project","provider":"Piper Press","version":"1.0","type":"link"}