Aquarius is a nine-storey, bland, blonde brick, block of apartments at 50 Roslyn Gardens, Elizabeth Bay designed by Harry Seidler AC OBE (1923-2006).

Aquarius was not its original name. Its original name was Rushcutters Bay Apartments but may have been changed in deference to its water views.

Aquarius is Latin for “watercarrier” or “cup-carrier”, and its ancient astronomical symbol is a representation of water.

It was built in 1965 and compared to other building of its time has an idiosyncratic charm.

Its raw concrete elements have since been softened by beige painting.

Its entrance is via a dramatic, sky walk on its western side. Residents and guests enter via this bridge.

Some apartments are split level but all exhibit Seidler design signatures including north-facing aspects and cross ventilation. Not a millimetre is unused, utilising European design parameters.

Potts Point and Elizabeth Bay have the highest density of Seidler buildings. He and his wife Penelope lived in one of his buildings, Ithaca Gardens (built 1969),12 Ithaca Road. Others, also part of Seidler’s oeuvre, include Gemini (1969), 40 Victoria Street, International Lodge, 100 Elizabeth Bay Road and Ercildoune, 85 Elizabeth Bay Road.

Architectural critic Laura Harding says “… buildings from this modern period … [are] our potential heritage”.

Seidler was the son of a Jewish clothing manufacturer. He fled Austria to England 1938 as antisemitism increased and then to Canada, arriving in Australia in 1948 at the invitation of his parents.

He designed Rose Seidler house, Australia Square, the Horizon apartments and Blues Point towers among about 115 other buildings.

He won five prestigious Sulman medals and other gold medals.

He said “Modern architecture is not a style it’s a methodology of approach” adding “good design doesn’t date. Apartments are a machine for living”.

See and hear more about what he meant by this last statement in this snippet, “A machine for living”:

By Andrew Woodhouse
Heritage Solutions