How long is the tour?

The program lasts approximately two hours and includes a talk followed by time for questions.

Meeting point: 290 Walsh Street South Yarra, Victoria AU 3141.

Are there age restrictions?

Yes — attendees must be 16 years and over.

Is the house wheelchair accessible?

Walsh Street is a heritage building with limited accessibility; contact information@robinboyd.org.au to discuss mobility needs.

Can I bring food or drink?

No — external food or drink is not permitted during the event.

Are there ticket discounts?

Yes — discounted tickets are available for RBF Friends and Boyd Circle members; check the Robin Boyd Foundation booking page.

Inside A Courtyard House: Office MI—JI at Walsh Street, South Yarra | Photography Tour | History Tour

At 290 Walsh Street in South Yarra, Victoria, A Courtyard House by Office MI—JI offers a compact but revealing lesson in contemporary domestic architecture. Join a two-hour talk and house tour that places visitors inside a light-filled modern residence designed around an inward-facing courtyard, where garden views, cork flooring and careful spatial planning shift everyday routines into thoughtful choreography. Designed by Office MI—JI and presented by Millie Anderson and Jimmy Carter, A Courtyard House reframes the Robin Boyd narrative by translating principles of clarity and care into a new family house. The building’s central features—the intimate courtyard, generous glazing, layered sightlines and a material palette that deliberately includes cork—make for striking photos and tactile moments that reward slow observation. During May, June and July 2026 scaffolding will be present on the facade for work restoring Boyd House II/Walsh Street, and the entry may be diverted via the side entrance; interiors and courtyard access remain open. The program moves beyond a static house tour into an architecture talk: expect insight on accessibility choices, multi‑generational living, and how small urban plots can yield calm, resilient rooms. Office MI—JI’s approach, forged in Melbourne with formative projects in London and Chicago, emphasizes "do good work"—an ethic visible in how circulation, light and landscape are resolved here. A Courtyard House is shortlisted for the 2026 Victorian Architecture Awards (Residential Architecture — Houses, New), a fact that underscores its significance to Victoria’s design scene. Visitor logistics are straightforward: the meeting point is 290 Walsh Street South Yarra, Victoria AU 3141. Attendees must be 16 and over; cork floors prohibit stiletto or pointed heels and large bags are checked on entry. Accessibility is limited—Walsh Street is a heritage building—so contact [email protected] for mobility needs. The event is supported by Royal Australian Institute of Architects, Brickworks Building Products, Konpira Maru Wines and Yumbo Soda. Why go? For designers, photographers, and curious travelers, this talk-and-tour compresses how contemporary architecture negotiates privacy, garden, and community into a compact urban lot. For local visitors, it’s an intimate encounter with a living design practice and the continuing influence of Robin Boyd’s architectural legacy. Bring a notebook, camera, and an hour of attention to savor proportion, materiality and the small moves that make a house feel like a home. Tickets are sold through the Robin Boyd Foundation and discounted rates apply to RBF Friends and Boyd Circle members; book early as groups are intentionally small to preserve the atmosphere. Expect a conversational pace with time for questions after the talk. Note: no external food or drink is permitted and the program is best suited to those comfortable standing and moving through compact rooms. Plan for about two hours and arrive 10 minutes early.

About Robin Boyd Foundation

Robin Boyd Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to preserving and promoting the life, work and legacy of Australian architect Robin Boyd. Based in South Yarra, Victoria, the Foundation manages Boyd’s 1957 Walsh Street residence and archives, delivering guided tours, talks, walking tours and creative workshops that connect visitors with modernist architecture and Melbourne’s built history.

The Foundation offers a range of experiences: guided tours of the Walsh Street house, evening events such as Sunset Cocktails at Walsh Street, themed talks on modern design and conservation, neighbourhood walking tours through South Yarra, and drop-in drawing sessions that pair architectural insight with sketching and photography. Each program is led by experienced guides, architects and guest speakers who present research-based commentary and curated access to Boyd’s preserved home and materials.

As a custodian of a significant heritage property and archive, the Foundation collaborates with conservation specialists, historians and design practitioners to ensure accurate interpretation and careful site stewardship. Its events are rooted in documented scholarship on post-war modernism and local architectural history, providing reliable context for students, professionals and the general public.

Visitors can expect small-group formats, focused storytelling and opportunities to photograph and study Walsh Street’s distinctive modernist features. The Foundation’s stewardship of the property, structured programming and partnerships with experts underpin its reputation as an authoritative resource on Robin Boyd and mid-20th-century Australian design.

Public programs are scheduled seasonally and include limited-capacity events, making bookings recommended for visitors seeking guided access to Walsh Street and related exhibitions and archival displays.