Replay Ep 116: Alistair McLean - The Appeal of Mid-Century Modern Homes

Over the last 5-10 years, there has been a real surge in interest to embrace the character in homes built between 1950 and 1980, especially with those in their 30s and 40s. It’s a style that makes them reminiscence about their family home or their grandparents’ home, but is also an era that’s got the character but without the hefty price tag of a period home of the 1800s-1930s. Today, we are going to talk about the appeal of the retro and mid-century homes with dr retro! An expert architect.

 

Alistair mclean is the principal of secret design studio, a small boutique design consultancy focused on mid-century design including architecture and interiors. Alistair’s practice is based in melbourne, though he helps clients across australia with design advice that is in sympathy with their mid-century homes through his ‘dr retro’ consultations.

 

If you'd like to hear the answers to questions such as;

1. Firstly, what is a mid-century or retro home?
   1. What’s the difference between mid-century and mid-century modern?
   2. What era do you consider to be retro?
2. What age group of buyers are keen on buying homes from the 1950s to mid 1980s to renovate?
3. What elements and structural attitubes do they love about them?
4. Where does a new owner start with a renovation to a mid-century home?
5. We recently saw on ‘the block’ that a neil clerehan designed home was renovated, trying to be in keeping with the architect’s original vision. Which architects could fetch a premium?

 

Then listen to our Replay Episode 116!