Emery, Edith. 1995. A Twentieth Century Life: An Autobiography. Artemis. Accessed March 8, 2022. https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cat02831a&AN=UTas.b1336711&site=eds-live.
Edith Emery (1909-2004) was a modernist architect in Hobart. An émigré from Austria, Emery was also a qualified doctor, teacher, linguist, artist and author. Her deep interest in people, cultures and travel was the catalyst for the fascinating and fulfilling life she led. She believed that architecture was “tying you to people, allowing you to make them happier, their lives fuller, let them find contentment because of a house which suited their lifestyle, temperament and purse.”
Emery began her career in the 1950s and was remarkably under-recognized during her lifetime. Although architecture was seen as purely a male profession, Emery design numerous dwellings that engaged with key ideas that were central to Tasmanian modernist architecture.
In 1958, Emery designed her family home at Longview Avenue in Sandy Bay, Hobart. Known for its expansive butterfly roof, the house has recently been adapted by Taylor + Hinds architects. The home is a display of Emery’s attention to detail and forward-thinking. Framing views of the Derwent River, the careful alterations ensure the home’s essence remains.
To honor Emery’s legacy, the Tasmanian Institute of Architects named the state’s annual highest award for residential architecture – alterations and additions, the Edith Emery Award.