Glenn Murcutt AO (born 25 July 1936) is one of Australia's most notable and famous architects.
Biography
Glenn Marcus Murcutt was born in London to Australian parents. He was educated at Manly Boys' High School and the University of New South Wales where he studied architecture from 1956 to 1961, where he became friends with other soon-to-be-prominent students, including director Jim Sharman, theatre designer Brian Thomson and film producer Matt Carroll.
Murcutt works as a sole practitioner, producing residential and institutional work all over Australia. Although he does not work outside the country, or run a large firm, his work has a worldwide influence, especially since Murcutt teaches master classes for beginning and established architects.[1]
Murcutt's motto, 'touch the earth lightly', convinces him to design his works to fit into the Australian landscape features. His works are highly economical and multi-functional. Murcutt also pays attention to the environment such as wind direction, water movement, temperature and light surrounding his sites before he designs the building itself. Materials such as glass, stone, timber and steel are often included in his works.
Testament to his influence internationally was the award of the 2002 Pritzker Prize (the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for Architecture).[2] In the words of the Pritzker jury: "In an age obsessed with celebrity, the glitz of our 'starchitects', backed by large staffs and copious public relations support, dominate the headlines. As a total contrast, [Murcutt] works in a one-person office on the other side of the world ... yet has a waiting list of clients, so intent is he to give each project his personal best. He is an innovative architectural technician who is capable of turning his sensitivity to the environment and to locality into forthright, totally honest, non-showy works of art." An 2009 Murcutt won the AIA Gold Medal Award.
He was appointed an Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia in 1996.
Glenn currently lectures and teaches architectural studies as a professor at the prominent UNSW Faculty of Built Environment.
Honours and awards
Prestigious awards include:
- the Gold Medal of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects in 1992
- the Alvar Aalto Medal in 1992
- Officer of the Order of Australia in 1996
- the Richard Neutra Award for Teaching in 1998
- the 'Green Pin' Award from the Royal Danish Academy of Architects in 1999
- the Thomas Jefferson Medal for Architecture in 2001
- the Pritzker Prize for Architecture in 2002
- the Kenneth F. Brown Asia Pacific Culture and Architecture Award in 2003
- the AIA Gold Medal Award in 2009.
He is an Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, an International Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects, an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, an Honorary Fellow of the Finnish Association of Architects as well as Honorary Member of the Architects Institutes in Taiwan, Scotland and Singapore. In 2008 he was elected an Honorary Member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He was founding President of the Australian Architecture Association and is Chair of the Architecture Foundation Australia (annual Murcutt International Master Class).[1]
Building projects
- 1972-74 : Laurie Short House, Sydney (NSW)
- 1974-75 : Marie Short House, Kempsey (NSW)
- 1976-83 : Berowra Waters Inn, Berowra Waters (NSW)
- 1977-80 : Nicholas House, Mount Irvine (NSW)
- 1977-80 : Carruthers House, Mount Irvine (NSW)
- 1981-83 : Ball-Eastaway House, Glenorie, Sydney (NSW)
- 1976-88 : Museum of Local History and Tourist Office, Kempsey (NSW)
- 1981-82 : Fredericks House, Jamberoo (NSW)
- 1982-84 : Magney House, Bingie Bingie (NSW)
- 1986-90 : Magney House, Sydney (NSW)
- 1988-91 : Done House, Sydney (NSW)
- 1988-92 : Meagher House, Bowral (NSW)
- 1989-94 : Simpson-Lee House, Mount Wilson (NSW)
- 1991-94 : Marika-Alderton House, Yirrkala Community, Eastern Arnhern Land (NT)
- 1992 : Murcutt Guest Studio, Kempsey (NSW)
- 1992-94 : Bowali Visitor Information Centre, Kakadu National Park (NT), in collaboration with Troppo Architects
- 1994-96 : Schnaxl House, Newport, Sydney (NSW)
- 1996-98 : Fletcher-Page House, Kangaroo Valley (NSW)
- 1995-96 : Douglas and Ruth Murcutt House, Woodside (SA)
- 1996-99 : Arthur and Yvonne Boyd Art Centre, Riversdale, West Cambewarra (NSW), in collaboration with Reg Lark and Wendy Lewin
- 1997-01: House at Kangaloon, Southern Highlands (NSW)
- 2000-03: Murcutt/Lewin House and Studio, Mosman (NSW)
- 2001-05: Walsh House, Kangaroo Valley (NSW)
- 2006-07: Moss Vale Education Centre (University of Wollongong), Moss Vale (NSW), in collaboration with Wendy Lewin
Notes
References
- Dennis Sharp. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Architects and Architecture. New York: Quatro Publishing, 1991. ISBN 0-8230-2539-X. NA40.I45. p111.
- "Glenn Murcutt Pritzker Prize", ArchitectureWeek No. 94, 2002.0417, pN1.1.
- "In the Landscape of Murcutt", by Brook Muller, ArchitectureWeek No. 66, 2001.0912, pE1.1.
- Francoise Fromonot. Glenn Murcutt : Buildings and Projects 1962-2003. Thames and Hudson, London/New York, 2005. ISBN 10: 978 0 500 28589 3. ISBN 13: 0500 28589 6
- Philip Drew. Leaves of Iron : Glenn Murcutt : Pioneer of an Australian Architectural Form. ISBN 0-207-17327-3.
- Philip Drew. Touch This Earth Lightly: Glenn Murcutt in His Own Words. Duffy & Snellgrove, 15 May 2000. ISBN 1-875989-46-3.
- E. M. Farrelly. Glenn Murcutt - Three Houses (Architecture in Detail). Phaidon Press Inc. (October 1993). ISBN 0-7148-2875-0.
- Haig Beck and Jackie Cooper, A Singular Practice. Images, April 2006. ISBN 1-876907 75 4.
- Limited Edition Folio, "Glenn Murcutt Architect", Essays by Kenneth Frampton, Juhani Pallasmaa, boxed photos/drawings. 01 Editions, Sydney, 2006. ISBN 0 9775931 0 X.
- Gusheh, Heneghan, Lassan, Seyama, "The Architecture of Glenn Murcutt", TOTO, Japan, 2008. ISBN 978 4 88706 293 1
- Gusheh, Heneghan, Lassan, Seyama, "Glenn Murcutt - Thinking Drawing,Working Drawing", TOTO, Japan, 2008. ISBN 978 4 88706 294 8
- [1] Architecture Foundation Australia Glenn Murcutt Master Class and Portfolio of Murcutt Projects
- [2] Four minute video clip Glenn Murcutt leading the annual Murcutt International Master Class
