A request received in the past week from a location scout in Sydney, looking for that perfect Mid-Century foyer around town…

“It is meant to be a function centre but could be an office building with a grand entrance. The brief is ‘modernist’ in feel…”

Let us know Sydneysiders if any of your little-known favourites spring to mind, pass them on and maybe you’ll see them down the track on the big (or small) screen in all their Modernist glory!

Confusing times for real estate agents we know. Clearance rates are plummeting, up is down, down is up but sometimes the level of agent befuddlement with regard to their own property qualities astounds even us hardened property vultures. So it was with seething stomachs we read this recent opening pitch for this stunningly designed and mint condition Modernist home in Melbourne’s golden suburb of Toorak…

“Superbly situated with a north-facing orientation in a prized cul-de-sac walking distance to Toorak Village, this stylishly refurbished c1967 residence designed by Ake Jodell represents an exciting opportunity to rebuild or develop (STCA).”

So it seems they are selling this place based on it’s suburb Modernist design attributes and architect pedigree only to ensure it’s disfigurement or demolition? As the kids like to say – WTF?!

As a short activity, let’s see how this kind of sales spiel would transfer with other works of vision and creativity, for example at Southeby’s Auction House;

“Superbly crafted with subtle blue glaze and gold trim, this c.1830 Qing Dynasty vase represents an exciting opportunity to smash it with a hammer and use the pieces for your next mosaic project.”

Or maybe a high end fashion sell-off;

“Superbly crafted with a hand woven Italian silk, this stylishly hemmed c.1967 dress, designed by Yves Saint Laurent represents an exciting opportunity to rip it apart at the seams and sew yourself a nice deb frock.

How about Christies?

“Superbly painted with a true master’s hand, this dramatic c.1967 artwork of angels in the Australian bush, by Arthur Boyd represents an exciting opportunity to tear it out and use the frame for something else.

Or Shannon’s Prestige Motor Auctions;

“Superbly built with classic English detailing, this stylishly refurbished c.1950 ‘Silver Dawn’ Rolls Royce represents an exciting opportunity to dismantle it part by part for use in your other car.”

You catchin’ the drift yet, you Real Estate dolts!

To see the lovely house in question and hopefully save it from it’s advertised fate, take a look at our Real Estate Page – Victoria.

On the market this week is one fantastic 1950’s home in a snazzy pocket of Hobart.  Busting with the promise of full restoration as a Mid-Century wonderland with a north facing aspect, a killer view and large gardens but as always at precarious risk of redevelopment. Apple Isle MA readers get on it! Because at the present Mid-Century homes in Tasmania are the devil, but eventually may become the tiger.

In Victoria we see some glorious Mid-Cenutry Modernist architecture in the guise of a magnificent Jodell designed home in Toorak (also see our post ‘Real Estate Agents: sell by design, aim to destroy’) and an intriguing home in Ballarat, seemingly all original and raring to go set on a classic bush block to boot.

We’d also like to thank regular MA reader Neal for passing through a collection of new places in WA and note we’ve added some new coastal rippers in Mollymook NSW and Mermaid Beach QLD check em!