A Singular Vision, Harry Seidler - Helen O'Neill

Judges' Comments

This resonant, entertaining and important biography recounts the life of the Vienna-born architect whose obsessive dedication to modernism had such a profound effect on Australian cities.

Helen O’Neill describes Seidler’s flight from Nazi Germany, his years in both Canada and the United States, and his unlikely settling in Australia, where his parents had migrated.

This is a respectful and careful biography, but O’Neill also provides much information about Seidler’s controversial opinions and ruthless drive. We get a vivid picture of the architect as he engaged so passionately in often acrimonious battles about the built landscape, particularly of Sydney. O’Neill writes compassionately and with discretion about this great figure, and while the writer had access to family papers, she does not resile from describing difficult episodes with clarity.

Seidler comes to life in this biography, and we begin to understand his strong personality through the descriptions of the work he created. He was an authoritarian personality who was unbending in some ways, as was some of his important work in concrete. This is an important work that provides a strong basis for discussion about built environments and their uses. It’s also an impressive portrait of a singular human being.

About the Author

Helen O'Neill's work has been published in Australia, the US and the UK.  Her books include the critically acclaimed, award-winning bestseller Florence Broadhurst: Her Secret and Extraordinary Lives, based on the life and art of the brilliant wallpaper and fabric designer Florence Broadhurst, and David Jones' 175 Years.