Peter McIntyre was just 19 when he bought riverfront land in Studley Park, where he later built his own home, the River House c.1955. Today, at 98, he still practices architecture from that same iconic house. McIntyre was not alone in Studley Park, as a wide swathe of young Australian and European emigre architects were all working side-by-side to create their own unique interpretations for how the evolving Modernist ideals could best integrate into the Australian landscape.
Framed on three sides by the Yarra River, Studley Park holds one of the world's densest concentrations of Modernist houses. Walk down almost any street within the area, and you'll pass one architect-designed home after another, built in the decade following World War II, including work by Robin Boyd, Anatol Kagan, McGlashan Everist, and Kevin Borland.
Author Jake Taylor and photographer Jack Lovel spent three years documenting these homes for Riverside Modern, photographing each house as it stands today, without staging: an honest record of how these families actually live in architecture built for a different era.
Jake Taylor is a registered architect practicing across Melbourne and San Francisco, with a focus on residential projects and a deep interest in midcentury architecture. jaketaylorarchitecture.com @jaketaylorarchitecture
Jack Lovel is a Melbourne-based architectural photographer whose work has featured in Wallpaper*, Dwell, Dezeen and Monocle, known for a clean, graphic style that captures an architect's intent with honesty and precision. jacklovel.com @jack.lovel
Riverside Modern, with contributions also by Philip Goad, John Wardle, Rachel Hurst and Albert Mo, was published by Thames & Hudson in September 2026. riversidemodern.com.au @riversidemodern
A book signing follows the presentation.
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