MODERNIST ADELAIDE
"You have Stuart Symons doing his modernist architecture tours. That doesn't happen in every city in Australia. To be able to showcase and talk about great twentieth-century buildings in Adelaide is jewel-like. It’s a great asset that you have."
– Kevin McCloud, Grand Designs
Upcoming Events
Multiple DatesFri, 03 MayPony and Cole03 May 2024, 6:30 pm – 9:30 pmPony and Cole, 6 Manton St, Hindmarsh SA 5007, Australia
Sun, 12 MayCrack Kitchen12 May 2024, 10:00 am – 11:20 am GMT-7Crack Kitchen, 13 Franklin St, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia
Sat, 18 MayPayinthi (Prospect Library)18 May 2024, 1:00 pm – 25 June 2024, 2:00 pmPayinthi (Prospect Library), 128 Prospect Rd, Prospect SA 5082, Australia
Sat, 25 MayRobin Boyd Foundation25 May 2024, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pmRobin Boyd Foundation, 290 Walsh St, South Yarra VIC 3141, Australia
MODERNIST ADELAIDE – THE BOOK
Modernist Adelaide: 100 Buildings 1940s–1970s is the first book to provide a large-scale survey of Adelaide’s mid-century architecture. This beautiful publication celebrates 100 examples of Adelaide’s iconic modernist buildings, many of which have featured in the popular Modernist Adelaide tours, presentations and events. Buy your copy here.
MEET STUART SYMONS
Modernist Adelaide was founded by mid-century architecture and design enthusiast Stuart Symons to celebrate Adelaide’s modernist architecture through tours, events, publications and online. Stuart was awarded the City of Adelaide Prize Commendation 2021 and South Australian Emerging Historian of the Year 2019 in recognition of his engagement with the community about Adelaide’s modernist architectural heritage. He is a member of the Society of Architectural Historians and Docomomo Australia.
TOURS + EVENTS
Through city walking tours, exclusive house tours and events, Modernist Adelaide tells the story of the rise of modernist architecture in South Australia in the context of its growth internationally – unearthing a richness and value in these buildings and our city. More than 3000 people have attended over 100 Modernist Adelaide architecture tours and events, and a further 10,000 people have viewed Modernist Adelaide photography exhibitions.
PRESENTATIONS + EXHIBITIONS
Modernist Adelaide researches, visits, photographs and profiles Adelaide’s modernist buildings and presents them online regularly through Facebook and Instagram and through public presentations, publications, media articles and photography exhibitions. Recent sold-out talks include The David Roche Foundation, City of Adelaide, Adelaide Hills Council, Australian Decorative & Fine Arts Societies, Queen Adelaide Club, Adelaide Society of Collectors, Rotary, libraries and historical societies.
FESTIVALS + PROGRAMS
Modernist Adelaide has featured in major cultural programs including the London Festival of Architecture, Australian Institute of Architects’ Festival of Architecture & Design, National Trust’s Australian Heritage Festival, South Australia’s History Festival, Adelaide Fringe, Society of Architectural Historians Australia & New Zealand Annual Conference, South Australian Living Arts Festival (SALA) and programs with the JamFactory, City Archives and State Library of South Australia.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
I acknowledge and pay respects to the Kaurna people, the traditional custodians whose ancestral lands we gather on in the Adelaide region. I acknowledge the deep feelings of attachment and relationship of the Kaurna people to country and respect and value their past, present and ongoing connection to the land and cultural beliefs. – Stuart Symons