WHEN it was built in 1967, Lyons House at Port Hacking was a stylish and radical look to the future.
Now, 47 years later, it is expected to be placed on the State Heritage Register for the benefit of future generations.
Lyons House is the only intact example in NSW of a private home designed by eminent Australian architect Robin Boyd.
Boyd (1919-1971) was a leader in the Modern Movement of architecture in Australia, and his work ranged from designing Australia's first project home to the Australian pavilions at Expo 68 at Montreal and Expo 70 at Osaka.
The original fabric of Lyons House as designed by Boyd is intact and is still occupied by the man who commissioned it, Dr William Lyons.
The land the house was built on was the site of the original homestead in the area, which had been demolished.
Dr Lyons bought the vacant land in 1966.
He met Boyd to discuss the project.
"He sent preliminary drawings two weeks later and basically that was the design that became the house," Dr Lyons said.
"I wanted a swimming pool and I wanted privacy. The swimming pool is the basis of the house.
"It is built into the podium of the house and the living areas are free standing, like aircraft wings.
"There are four bedrooms and a study built like a Japanese pavilion with sliding doors. The house is finished in raw timber, western red cedar.
"The way it is designed it doesn't need much air-conditioning in summer.
"Narrow lourve windows near the ceiling funnel air through the house.
"I like the continuous flow of the living areas.
"The light is always somewhere in the house, as the sun moves around it during the day."
Dr Lyons said the house was designed to look inwards at the pool, but also to take advantage of its sweeping views of Burraneer Bay and out to Port Hacking.
He described the house as a one-off and far ahead of its time.
It was photographed by the great Australian photographer Max Dupain.
"It is 47 years old and nothing has drastically changed," he said.
"This type of house is not everybody's cup of tea; if you want your house to be a castle where you pull up the drawbridge and shut out the world then this is not for you.
"The house is very minimal and you live up above the trees. It is very open.
"I had four teenage children when I moved in and raised another two children who were born and grew up here. So it has functioned in many ways, and we are still here and want to stay here.
"It has stood the test of time for me and mine."
