Sydney, Australia · 1950s–1980s
Pettit
&
Sevitt
Pioneers of affordable modernist living. Builders of a Sydney dream. Now documented, one suburb at a time.
"Good design shouldn't
cost more. It should
just be better."
The Pettit & Sevitt philosophy · circa 1961
01
The Company
Pettit & Sevitt reshaped Sydney's suburban fringes between the 1950s and 1980s. At a time when project homes meant conservative brick veneers, they offered something radical — flat roofs, floor-to-ceiling glazing, and open-plan living at an accessible price.
They were part of the Sydney School: a uniquely Australian modernism that responded to light, landscape, and climate rather than importing European ideas wholesale.
Their advertising was as distinctive as the homes themselves. Shot by Max Dupain, the campaigns became classics of Australian graphic design — stark black and white photographs, bold type, and an unapologetic confidence in modernist ideals.
The Styles
Single Storey
Lowline
Low-pitched roof, strong horizontal emphasis, deep connection to the ground plane. The most iconic P&S silhouette — hugging the landscape rather than competing with it.
Multi-Level
Split‑level
A response to sloping terrain rather than a fight against it. Dramatic interior volumes and staggered floors — spatial drama that flat sites simply couldn't offer.
03
This Archive
PS Archive is an independent community project — not affiliated with the original Pettit & Sevitt company in any way. It exists because these homes deserve to be recorded before they're lost to demolition, unsympathetic renovation, or simply the passage of time.
Every entry is submitted and verified by people who care: current owners, architecture enthusiasts, and heritage advocates. The directory grows one house at a time.
Independent project · Not affiliated with Pettit & Sevitt
Contribute