Deakin’s magnificent mid-century mansion
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Everyone knows what the iconic dodecagon building on top of Red Hill (now housing the award-winning Lunetta) looks like. But did you know there is matching house on Beauchamp Street in Deakin to go with it?
The home doesn’t have 12 sides, admittedly, but as far as mid-century magic goes, it’s a stunning example, having been created by Melbourne-based Czech architect Miles Jackl in 1967 for the Vidovic family, who also ran the restaurant.
The current owners have maintained the stunning heritage of this dramatic home, revelling in filling the rooms with classic pieces and art to match the era. It comes together in a family home that literally oozes mid-century magic.
There have been some sensitive and sympathetic upgrades in the kitchen and bathrooms, which do not impact the pedigree of the home and only serve to complement its aesthetic.
Being forced to move back to Melbourne for work, this family is loath to leave, having relished the chance to live in a home which is immortalised in the coffee table book 100 Canberra Houses and has also garnered coverage in Home Beautiful.
It’s easy to see why.
With a dramatic and wide street frontage, the flat-roofed home has immediate curb appeal. Ramp that up the second you open the double doors to a grand formal reception room with high ceilings and distinctively panelled with blackbean hardwood doors with feature square handles. Then take in the miles and miles of original parquetry flooring.
Built around a courtyard with sunlight streaming in through floor-to-ceiling windows, there are so many beautiful details it’s hard to know quite where to start. The glass and wood panels around the kitchen are stunning features, while a floating ceiling with lighting adds dimensions to the open plan family and living room.
Turn the corner and you are faced with a view of the pool straight out of a Slim Aarons photographic catalogue. An overhanging balcony from above gives views from the master suite, while a lower floor rumpus room with a downstairs bathroom means a kid’s pool party need not leave any wet footprints on those magnificent wooden floors above.
Lidia Vidovic loved entertaining and fashion, and her walls of mirrored wardrobes in the main suite are a testament to this. The ensuite bathroom has been completely maintained with gold hardware imported from Italy and its own chandelier.
But that’s not to say this home is stuck in a time warp. Its upgrades include ducted heating, split systems and an electric heat pump for the heated pool. There are solar panels, a refreshed kitchen with integrated appliances, crisp white benchtops, and dual sinks.
Indeed, this home combines historic features with what feels like a very modern family layout – three bedrooms, a separate study that has the makings of a perfect guest bedroom, a separate parents’ retreat, and a downstairs area with full bathroom for kids or teens to retreat.
It’s open, airy, filled with light, and the living spaces largely face an internal courtyard with a flourishing lemon tree and established gardens. It is also in a blue-ribbon location, on a quiet street just minutes from Canberra Grammar, Canberra Girls Grammar, Deakin shops and all the amenities of the inner south.
With bespoke original joinery and lighting, this house is a part of Canberra’s architectural heritage and prospective owners will understand its importance to the city. Its current owners attest to its ease of living and functionality.
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Photography by Andrew Ly, Nineteen Creative
