Glenn Murcutt Architect : Information + Images

American Institute of Architects 2009 Gold Medal : Glenn Murcutt - winner Preliminary study sketch by Glenn Murcutt for the Simpson-Lee House, Mount Wilson, Blue Mountains, New South Wales, Australia. 1988-94 2009 AIA Gold Medal Australian architect Glenn Marcus Murcutt, Hon. FAIA. Murcutt was recognized by the AIA Board in large part for the depth of his work and the breadth of his influence. Murcutt, a sole practitioner, is noted for his ecologically responsive and socially responsible Modernist suburban and rural homes with which he incorporates a variety of natural materials. “Recently our architectural field experienced an ‘ecological boom,’” writes 2005 AIA Gold Medalist Tadao Ando in a letter of support for Murcutt’s nomination. “However, without relation to such a trend of time, Glenn Murcutt has always been focusing on the geographical and regional conditions, from the very beginning of his career.” Although Murcutt works exclusively in Australia, he has had and continues to have a profound impact on architecture around the world. “While some might characterize a single-continent geographic range of work as ‘regional,’ the effect of Mr. Murcutt’s is amplified by impassioned and extensive lectures and a commitment to teaching throughout the world,” said Tom Howorth, FAIA, chair of the AIA Committee on Design’s Gold Medal Committee. Murcutt, born in London in 1936, grew up in the remote Morobe district of New Guinea. Living close to the land helped develop Murcutt’s preference for simple, vernacular architecture. Murcutt studied architecture at the University of New South Wales from 1956 to 1961, during which he worked with a series of architects. He established his own practice in Sydney in 1970. The AIA Gold Medal, voted on annually, is the highest honor the AIA confers on an individual. The Gold Medal honors an individual whose significant body of work has had a lasting influence on the theory and practice of architecture. Murcutt will be presented the award at the American Architectural Foundation's Accent on Architecture Gala in February. Murcutt becomes the 65th AIA Gold Medalist, joining the ranks of such visionaries as Thomas Jefferson, Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Sullivan, LeCorbusier, Louis Kahn, I.M. Pei, Cesar Pelli, Edward Larrabee Barnes and last year’s recipient, Renzo Piano. In recognition of his legacy to architecture, Murcutt’s name will be chiseled into the granite Wall of Honor in the lobby of the AIA headquarters in Washington, D.C. Information from AIA via Architecture Foundation Australia Key Projects, alphabetical: Ball & Eastway house, Glenorie, New South Wales, Australia 1983 Ken Done house, Mosman, New South Wales 1988-91 Laurie Short house, Terrey Hills, New South Wales 1972-73 Littlemore house, Woollhara, New South Wales 1986 Magney House, Bingie Point, Kempsey, New South Wales 1988-90 More projects online soon Glenn Murcutt International Architecture Master Class 11 - 25 July 2010 The tenth Glenn Murcutt International Architecture Master Class will be held in Australia at Glenn Murcutt's "Masterwork", the Arthur and Yvonne Boyd Education Centre 'Riversdale' on the banks of the Shoalhaven River south of Sydney, and at the School of Architecture at the University of Sydney, 11-25 July 2010. Glenn Murcutt International Architecture Master Class, Australia : Details 09 Glenn Murcutt International Architecture Master Class 12 - 26 Jul 2009 The ninth Glenn Murcutt International Architecture Master Class will be held in Australia at Glenn Murcutt's "Masterwork", the Arthur and Yvonne Boyd Education Centre 'Riversdale' on the banks of the Shoalhaven River south of Sydney, and at the School of Architecture at the University of Sydney, 12-26 July 2009. The two week residential design studio program is led by Glenn Murcutt with other tutors including Richard Leplastrier, Peter Stutchbury, Brit Andresen and, Master Class Convener, Lindsay Johnston. A major feature each year has been the insights contributed by Aboriginal elder 'Uncle' Max Dulumunmun Harrison. Since its inception, participants from 46 nations have attended the program. Participants are primarily, now, practising architects - older and younger - with some professors, academics, recent graduates and a few senior students. Participants stay for the first week in the exquisite hostel accommodation at the Boyd Education centre, designed by Murcutt with Wendy Lewin and Reg Lark and completed in 1999. Th 'big room' at 'Riversdale' is transformed into both banqueting hall and a design studio for six days while participants commence the conceptual design of a project located on a sensitive scenic site within walking distance of the venue. The program includes extensive site investigations, intensive studio tutoring, progress design critiques and after dinner lectures by the 'masters'. The studio relocates to the University of Sydney for the second week, participants stay in a hotel near the University at Darling Harbour and culminates in final presentations and 'Big Crit Day'. Other events in the program include visits to significant houses designed by Glenn Murcutt and the other tutors and, in previous years, a Sydney Harbour evening cruise. Glenn Murcutt is best known for his 'singular practice' acclaimed through the award of the 2002 Pritzker Prize. He has also been recipient of numerous other international awards including the Alvar Aalto Medal in Finland, the 'Green Pin' Award for Architecture and Ecology in Denmark and the Richard Neutra Award in USA. He is a Gold Medallist of the Australian Institute of Architects. Glenn Murcutt, Pritzker Prize Laureate. photo : Jure Zavrtanik Richard Leplastrier is a seminal figure in Australian architecture and is considered as one of the great teachers. He worked with Jørn Utzon at the time of the Sydney Opera House and his body of work was acclaimed in 2004 by the award of the 'Spirit of Nature Wood Architecture' Award in Finland, also awarded to Renzo Piano, Kengo Kuma and Peter Zumthor. He is also a Gold Medallist of the Australian Institute of Architects. Professor Brit Andresen taught at the AA in London before joining the University of Queensland. She worked with Barry Gasson on the winning entry for the Burrell Museum in Scotland and, with her partner Peter O'Gorman, has authored significant works that have been widely published internationally. Brit was the first woman recipient of the Australian Institute of Architects Gold Medal in 2002. Glenn Murcutt opens windows to new ways of seeing things at Riversdale: photo : Lindsay Johnston 2007 Peter Stutchbury is a leading practitioner in Australia with a significant body of outstanding innovative built projects that have been awarded nationally and published internationally. He was winner of the 2008 International Iron and Steel Institute 'Living Steel' Competition for extreme climate housing in Cherepovets, Russia and has been invited to take the 2008 Catedra Luis Barragan in Mexico, a Chair previously held by Tadao Ando, Norman Foster, Nicholas Grimshaw, Peter Zumthor and Glenn Murcutt. Lindsay Johnston is former Dean of Architecture and Design at the University of Newcastle, Australia, with a particular expertise in environmentally responsive design and some of his built projects have been awarded and published internationally. The eighth annual Glenn Murcutt International Architecture Master Class will be held in Australia, starting Saturday 5 July and finishing Saturday 19 July 2008. Glenn Murcutt's 'Masterwork', the Arthur and Yvonne Boyd Education Centre, Riversdale, on the banks of the beautiful Shoalhaven River south of Sydney (completed 1999): photo : Lindsay Johnston 2007 Glenn Murcutt (2002 Pritzker Prize Laureate, RAIA Gold Medallist 1997) personally tutors throughout the program and will be joined by his great friend seminal Australian architect and outstanding teacher Richard Leplastrier (2004 Spirit of Nature Wood Architecture Award Finland, RAIA Gold Medallist 1999) and by Peter Stutchbury (RAIA National Architecture Awards, published in GA House, Abitare, Phaidon World Atlas, etc). Guest tutor will again be University of Queensland Professor Brit Andresen (first woman RAIA Gold Medallist 2002, Phaidon World Atlas, 10X10, etc). Master Class convener is Lindsay Johnston, former Dean of Architecture at the University of Newcastle, Australia. A. Riversdale, Glenn Murcutt's 'Masterwork' on the Shoalhaven River. photo : Wojtek Przywecki 2007 More Glenn Murcutt Architecture online soon