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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

The Gallery’s Acknowledgement of Country, and information on culturally sensitive and restricted content and the use of historic language in the collection can be found here.

Roy Grounds

1960-1961
Louis Kahan AO

pencil on paper (sheet: 54.0 cm x 37.5 cm)

Sir Roy Grounds (1905-1981) was one of Australia's leading modernist architects. In 1932, while apprenticed to a Melbourne architectural firm, Grounds won an award that enabled him to travel in England and the USA. Returning to Australia and setting up a partnership in the mid-1930s, he introduced the International Style to Melbourne. After the war, he consolidated his reputation in the city with a series of houses and blocks of flats, the latter amongst the city's earliest. During this period he was involved with curriculum development for the School of Architecture at Melbourne University, at which he subsequently took a degree himself and at which he lectured in design. In 1953 Grounds entered into partnership with other leading Victorian architects Frederick Romberg and Robin Boyd. Three years later the firm won the competition to design the Australian Academy of Science in Canberra. Grounds was the sole architect of the Sulman award-winning landmark (soon nicknamed the Martian Embassy) which was completed in 1959 at a total cost of £260 000 including furnishings, fittings and landscaping. That year Grounds Romberg and Boyd won the commission to design the National Gallery of Victoria and Cultural Centre, with Grounds in charge. In 1962, when the partnership was dissolved, Grounds took the commission with him; he was to spend the next twenty years on the project. Grounds was awarded the RAIA gold medal in 1968 and knighted the same year. In 1969 he was made a life fellow of the RAIA.

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Mrs Lily Kahan 2006
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program
© Louis Kahan/Copyright Agency, 2024

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The use of images of works from the collection may be restricted under the Act. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

Artist and subject

Louis Kahan AO (age 55 in 1960)

Sir Roy Grounds (age 55 in 1960)

Subject professions

Architecture, design and fashion

Donated by

Lily Kahan (52 portraits)

© National Portrait Gallery 2024
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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency