Do you live in an Australian Women's Weekly home?

Monday, August 4, 2008
Photo by AWW

As our diggers returned from World War II, Australia faced the greatest building boom in history. Rallying to the needs of the nation's families, The Australian Women's Weekly produced a 68-page book of home-plans, which were well before their time.

Drafted by 11 leading architects from Australia and America, with the plans printed from the 1940s, the revolutionary houses included many features which have been neglected in recent decades, but are being re-visited today.

The homes which we'd be proud to live in even today include features such as:

  • wide-roof overhangs to protect the extensive glass areas from the sun, but allow the winter sun to penetrate deeply into rooms.
  • rooms placed so they can be used for more than one purpose
  • houses shaped in "L" and "U" shapes, called solar houses, to capture the sun.
  • houses with large glass areas to provide an indoor-outdoor link.

As the book's editor Eve Gye wrote, "this book will prove of vast national importance if it helps to prevent exploitation of our people by speculators like those responsible for the flood of poorly planned, poorly designed and badly constructed houses that followed World War I."

The book was available at the magazine's Castlereagh Street office in Sydney for one shilling and sixpence — and it's been keeping all our staff fascinated. And we'd all love to know more. What year was this book published? Were you one of the architects?

And better still, do you live in one of the houses designed for The Australian Women's Weekly?

We'd love to hear from you. Tell us below...




advertisement
    Features
    Pictures
    Video
    Baking soda, bicarb soda, baking powder. what is the difference?Question: What is the difference between baking powder, baking soda and bicarbonate of soda? What are their different applications? Prince William worried about sleepless nightsPrince William has said he is "very much looking forward" to becoming a father, but admits he is worried about the sleepless nights that await him. Megan Gale on Nicole: Stop bullying our brightest starReacting to the negative media coverage at home of her compatriot Nicole Kidman's appearance on the red carpet here in Cannes, Megan Gale has launched a broadside against the tall poppy syndrome. How to cook a soft-boiled eggThere is a great debate and many points of view on how to boil the perfect egg. However, there are a few points that all the experts agree on. Kindred spirits: Rachel Ward & Bryan BrownThey met and fell in love on the set of The Thorn Birds. Today, more than 25 years later, Rachel Ward and Bryan Brown tell Susan Chenery why they were made for each other and why he is happy to let her call most of the shots.

    What your kids are really up to online

    What your kids are really up to onlineIt's no shock that tweens — children between the ages of eight and 12...More >

    Carey Mulligan: From schoolgirl to superstar

    Carey Mulligan: From schoolgirl to superstarShe shot to fame playing a precocious schoolgirl in 2009 hit An...More >
    The best warming winter soupsThe best warming winter soups Horoscopes by Jessica AdamsHoroscopes by Jessica Adams

    Weekly newsletter

    Recipes in your inboxWe send you the latest recipes from the Weekly plus all the week's best bits to your inbox.
    Sign up now >
    ww |

    topics

    Handy hints(740)/ Expert advice(530)/ Books(451)/ natural health(438)/ Royals(389)/ diet(369)/ Food(358)/ Recipes(349)/ Royal Family(321)/ Health(284)/ Celebrities(253)

    Also on Ninemsn