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LIPPINCOTT HOUSE
21 GLENARD DRIVE EAGLEMONT, BANYULE CITY
LIPPINCOTT HOUSE
21 GLENARD DRIVE EAGLEMONT, BANYULE CITY
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Victorian Heritage Register
LIPPINCOTT HOUSE SOHE 2008
On this page:
Statement of Significance
What is Significant?
Set under a wide roof with deep eaves and gables, the Lippincott house has a rectangular form with a basic open plan layout. Constructed in 1917 of brick, the lower section of the external wall is a stepped and splayed to sill level. Above sill level the wall is solid brick in a variation of rat trap bond with projecting headers. Above the windows the wall is slightly recessed and rendered. Internally the walls are flush brickwork with the reinforced concrete window heads exposed in some rooms where in others the wall above the window head is a plain rendered frieze.
The house is distinguished externally by the textured brickwork, the deep overhanging roof and the windows which form a deep band around the corners of the house. The individual window panes are of a simple but elegant geometric pattern. The expressionistic fireplace with its integrated concrete hood and mantle is a prominent feature of the living room.
The design of the window panes, the expression of materials, the roof form and the ingenuity of the design all reflect links to the Prairie Style of Arts and Crafts architecture of the mid west USA. This style was brought to prominence by Frank Lloyd Wright and both Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin were exponents.
Roy Alstan Lippincott came to Australia in 1914 with Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin, who had come to work on Griffin's design for Australia's new capital, Canberra. Apart from working for the Griffins, Lippincott was also married to Griffin's sister Genevieve.
Lippincott first worked with both Griffin and Mahony in the office of Herman Von Holst in Chicago after graduating from Cornell University in 1909. Von Holst had taken on Frank Lloyd Wright's unfinished work in 1909 when Wright left his family and practice for Europe with the wife of one of his clients. Von Holst, realising he needed someone who knew Wright's work well, employed Wright's long time assistant Marion Mahony to undertake the work. Mahony brought Walter Burley Griffin into the office as someone who also knew Wright's work well. Like Mahony Griffin had held a position of some responsibility in Wright's office. It is understood that Lippincott undertook the supervision of Wright's Robie House during its construction at this time.
Lippincott had assisted Griffin with the designs for Canberra in Chicago eventually leaving Van Holst's office and becoming Griffin's head draftsman. In Australia Lippincott was junior partner in the practice working on various projects.
In 1917 Lippincott built this house in the Glenard Estate in Eaglemont, the design of which is believed to be a collaboration between Lippincott, Griffin and Mahony. Burley Griffin and Mahony were to later buy the neighbouring block and build their own house, Pholiota (H0479), there.
The Lippincotts only lived in the house for four years before Lippincott and Edward Bilson won the competition for the design of the Auckland University College Arts building in 1920 and moved to New Zealand in 1921, where they remained until 1939.
How is it Significant?
The Lippincott house is of architectural and historical significance to the State of Victoria
Why is it Significant?
The Lippincott House is of architectural significance as an outstanding example of Prairie Style school of arts and crafts architecture. It is rare to find such an example in Victoria, particularly one so well realised and intact.
The Lippincott house is of historical significance due to its associations to Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin who were influential in architecture, design and town planning in Australia in the early twentieth century.
Set under a wide roof with deep eaves and gables, the Lippincott house has a rectangular form with a basic open plan layout. Constructed in 1917 of brick, the lower section of the external wall is a stepped and splayed to sill level. Above sill level the wall is solid brick in a variation of rat trap bond with projecting headers. Above the windows the wall is slightly recessed and rendered. Internally the walls are flush brickwork with the reinforced concrete window heads exposed in some rooms where in others the wall above the window head is a plain rendered frieze.
The house is distinguished externally by the textured brickwork, the deep overhanging roof and the windows which form a deep band around the corners of the house. The individual window panes are of a simple but elegant geometric pattern. The expressionistic fireplace with its integrated concrete hood and mantle is a prominent feature of the living room.
The design of the window panes, the expression of materials, the roof form and the ingenuity of the design all reflect links to the Prairie Style of Arts and Crafts architecture of the mid west USA. This style was brought to prominence by Frank Lloyd Wright and both Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin were exponents.
Roy Alstan Lippincott came to Australia in 1914 with Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin, who had come to work on Griffin's design for Australia's new capital, Canberra. Apart from working for the Griffins, Lippincott was also married to Griffin's sister Genevieve.
Lippincott first worked with both Griffin and Mahony in the office of Herman Von Holst in Chicago after graduating from Cornell University in 1909. Von Holst had taken on Frank Lloyd Wright's unfinished work in 1909 when Wright left his family and practice for Europe with the wife of one of his clients. Von Holst, realising he needed someone who knew Wright's work well, employed Wright's long time assistant Marion Mahony to undertake the work. Mahony brought Walter Burley Griffin into the office as someone who also knew Wright's work well. Like Mahony Griffin had held a position of some responsibility in Wright's office. It is understood that Lippincott undertook the supervision of Wright's Robie House during its construction at this time.
Lippincott had assisted Griffin with the designs for Canberra in Chicago eventually leaving Van Holst's office and becoming Griffin's head draftsman. In Australia Lippincott was junior partner in the practice working on various projects.
In 1917 Lippincott built this house in the Glenard Estate in Eaglemont, the design of which is believed to be a collaboration between Lippincott, Griffin and Mahony. Burley Griffin and Mahony were to later buy the neighbouring block and build their own house, Pholiota (H0479), there.
The Lippincotts only lived in the house for four years before Lippincott and Edward Bilson won the competition for the design of the Auckland University College Arts building in 1920 and moved to New Zealand in 1921, where they remained until 1939.
How is it Significant?
The Lippincott house is of architectural and historical significance to the State of Victoria
Why is it Significant?
The Lippincott House is of architectural significance as an outstanding example of Prairie Style school of arts and crafts architecture. It is rare to find such an example in Victoria, particularly one so well realised and intact.
The Lippincott house is of historical significance due to its associations to Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin who were influential in architecture, design and town planning in Australia in the early twentieth century.
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PHOLIOTA
Victorian Heritage Register H0479 -
ST JOHNS ANGLICAN CHURCH
Victorian Heritage Register H0197
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RESIDENCE
Victorian Heritage Register H2082
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