Bush Modern

Hand-crafted homes on the edge of the city

Sean Fennessy, Jessica Lillico

$85

Hardback

Forthcoming
Pre-Order now

QTY:

English

Thames & Hudson
04 November 2025

Art & design styles: Modernist design & Bauhaus; Residential buildings, domestic buildings; Arts & Architecture - Australian

In the bushy north-eastern fringe of Melbourne, an enduring, uniquely Australian architectural aesthetic has been quietly gaining recognition. Emerging out of necessity in the post-war years, it reimagined the sleek ideals of modernism through the lens of the local landscape. Simple homes built 'of the land' from mud bricks and recycled timber captured the mood of those searching for an alternative way of life close to nature. The movement gathered momentum in the counter-cultural 1960s and culminated in near-mainstream popularity in the 1970s. After a few decades where brown lost appeal in favour of white-washed minimalism, the style in all its warm, earthy glory is once again being embraced and revived by a new generation

Through evocative photography by Sean Fennessy, personal stories and architectural insights, Bush Modern explores the timeless appeal of these character-filled homes: tactile, grounded and deeply in tune with their environment.

By: Sean Fennessy, Jessica Lillico
Imprint: Thames & Hudson
Country of Publication: Australia
Dimensions: Height: 297mm, Width: 242mm, Spine: 31mm
Weight: 1.294kg
ISBN: 9781760764807
ISBN 10: 1760764809
Pages: 272
Publication Date: 04 November 2025
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

Jessica Lillico and Sean Fennessy are the co-creators of Bush Modern. Jessica is a creative director, interior stylist and first-time author. Sean is a photographer known for his warm, minimal style and unique sense of observation. The couple lives in Warrandyte, on the outskirts of Melbourne, in a 1960s house designed by Alistair Knox, which they renovated in 2020.