Glenn Murcutt

Glenn Murcutt (born 1936, London, England) is an Australian Architect. He is also the founding president of the Australian Architecture Association. He won the Alvar Aalto Medal and 1992, and the Pritzker Prize in 2002.

Related Topics:
1936 - Australian Architecture Association - Alvar Aalto Medal - Pritzker Prize

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Murcutt works as a sole practioner, producing residential and institutional work all over Australia. Though 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.

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As a testament to his influence, he was awarded the Pritzker Prize. 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, 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."

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He grew up in the Morobe district of New Guinea, where he developed a preference for simple, primitive architecture. His father introduced him to the architecture of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and the philosophies of Henry David Thoreau, both of which influenced his architectural style.

Related Topics:
New Guinea - Ludwig Mies van der Rohe - Henry David Thoreau

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Murcutt studied architecture at the University of New South Wales 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. During this same period, he worked with a series of architects. After graduating, Murcutt traveled for two years, returning in 1964 to work in the office of Ancher, Mortlock, Murray and Woolley. He remained with this firm for five years before he established his own practice in Sydney, Australia in 1970.

Related Topics:
University of New South Wales - Jim Sharman - Brian Thomson - Matt Carroll - Ancher, Mortlock, Murray and Woolley - Sydney, Australia

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In an initial exploratory phase Murcutt established a mastery of the Miesian style. His second phase was more regional in nature. Using a mixture of pragmatism and lyricism, Murcutt creates simple houses that resemble open verandas. He is chiefly admired among his contemporaries for creating an identifiably Australian idiom in domestic architecture, and for creating an architecture that speaks and responds to the land. One of his favorite quotes is from an Aboriginal proverb ?Touch the earth lightly.?

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Building Projects

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1972-74 : Laurie Short House, Sydney (NSW)

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1974-75 : Marie Short House, Kempsey (NSW)

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1977-80 : Nicholas House, Mount Irvine (NSW)

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1977-80 : Carruthers House, Mount Irvine (NSW)

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1980-83 : Ball-Eastaway House, Glenory, Sydney (NSW)

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1976-88 : Museum of Local History and Tourist Office, Kempsey (NSW)

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1981-82 : Fredericks House, Jamberoo (NSW)

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1982-84 : Magney House, Bingie Bingie (NSW)

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1986-90 : Magney House, Sydney (NSW)

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1988-91 : Done House, Sydney (NSW)

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1988-92 : Meagher House, Bowral (NSW)

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1989-94 : Simpson-Lee House, Mount Wilson (NSW)

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1991-94 : Marika-Alderton House, Yirrkala Community, Eastern Arnhern Land (NT)

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1992 : Murcutt Guest Studio, Kempsey (NSW)

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1992-94 : Bowali Visitor Information Centre, Kakadu National Park (NT), in collaboration with Troppo Architects

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1994-96 : Schnaxl House, Newport, Sydney (NSW)

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1996-98 : Fletcher-Page House, Kangaroo Valley (NSW)

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1995-96 : Douglas and Ruth Murcutt House, Woodside (SA)

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1996-99 : Arthur and Yvonne Boyd Art Centre, Riversdale, West Cambewarra (NSW), in collaboration with Reg Lark and Wendy Lewin

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1997-2001: House in the Southern Highlands (NSW)

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References

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2002 Laureate Announcement, http://www.pritzkerprize.com/2002annc.htm

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Dennis Sharp. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Architects and Architecture. New York: Quatro Publishing, 1991. ISBN 0-8230-2539-X. NA40.I45. p111.

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"Glenn Murcutt Pritzker Prize", by ArchitectureWeek, ArchitectureWeek No. 94, 2002.0417, pN1.1.

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"In the Landscape of Murcutt", by Brook Muller, ArchitectureWeek No. 66, 2001.0912, pE1.1.

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Francoise Fromonot. Glenn Murcutt : Buildings and Projects. ISBN 0823020894. ? Out of print at Amazon.com

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Philip Drew. Leaves of Iron : Glenn Murcutt : Pioneer of an Australian Architectural Form. ISBN 0207173273. ? Out of print at Amazon.com

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Philip Drew. Touch This Earth Lightly: Glenn Murcutt in His Own Words. Duffy & Snellgrove, May 15, 2000. ISBN 1875989463. ? Available at Amazon.com

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Three Houses (Architecture in Detail). Glenn Murcutt, E. M. Farrelly. Phaidon Press Inc. (October 1993). ISBN 0714828750. ? Listed "publisher out of stock" at Amazon.com

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The Drawings of Glenn Murcutt. Glenn Murcutt. Images, April 2000. ISBN 1875498982. ? Scheduled for publication April 2000

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