Glenn Murcutt
Encyclopedia
Glenn Marcus Murcutt AO (born 25 July 1936) is a British
-born Australian architect
and winner of the 2002 Pritzker Prize
and 2009 AIA Gold Medal
.
to Australian parents. He grew up in the Morobe Province
of Papua New Guinea
, where he developed an appreciation for simple, vernacular architecture. He was educated at Manly Boys' High School
and studied architecture at the Sydney Technical College
, from which he graduated in 1961, and 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's early work experience was with various architects, such as Neville Gruzman
, Ken Woolley and Bryce Mortlock which exposed him to their style of organic architecture focussing on relationships to nature. By 1969 Murcutt established his own practise in the Sydney suburb of Mosman.
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. Filmmaker Catherine Hunter, who is making a documentary on the architect, has said: “He gives everything, he can’t help himself. He’s unstoppable, he’s this force. Long before we started talking about things such as sustainability, Glenn was practising those things.”
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
one of the highest distinctions in architecture. 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." In 2009 Murcutt won the American Institute of Architects Gold Medal
.
Murcutt currently lectures and teaches architectural studies as a professor at the UNSW Faculty of Built Environment
.
Murcutt's son Nicholas
was also a practicing architect.
He is an Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), an International Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), 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. In 2010, he was named a Senior Fellow of the Design Futures Council
. He was founding President of the Australian Architecture Association
and is Chair of the Architecture Foundation Australia (annual Murcutt International Master Class).
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
-born Australian architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
and winner of the 2002 Pritzker Prize
Pritzker Prize
The Pritzker Architecture Prize is awarded annually by the Hyatt Foundation to honour "a living architect whose built work demonstrates a combination of those qualities of talent, vision and commitment, which has produced consistent and significant contributions to humanity and the built...
and 2009 AIA Gold Medal
AIA Gold Medal
The AIA Gold Medal is awarded by the American Institute of Architects conferred "by the national AIA Board of Directors in recognition of a significant body of work of lasting influence on the theory and practice of architecture."...
.
Biography
Murcutt was born in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to Australian parents. He grew up in the Morobe Province
Morobe Province
Morobe Province is a province on the northern coast of Papua New Guinea. The provincial capital, and largest city, is Lae. The province covers 34,500 km², including 719 km² maritime area, with a population of 539,725...
of Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
, where he developed an appreciation for simple, vernacular architecture. He was educated at Manly Boys' High School
Manly Selective Campus
Manly Selective Campus is a selective government high school for students in years 7 to 12 located in North Curl Curl, New South Wales, Australia. It is a part of the Northern Beaches Secondary College, a 5 campus college across Sydney's Northern Beaches, formed in 2003...
and studied architecture at the Sydney Technical College
Sydney Technical College
The Sydney Technical College was a name used by Australia's oldest technical education institution.It began as the Sydney Mechanics' Institute in 1843...
, from which he graduated in 1961, and where he became friends with other soon-to-be-prominent students, including director Jim Sharman
Jim Sharman
James "Jim" Sharman , the son of boxing tent entrepreneur Jimmy Sharman, is a director and writer for film and stage with over 70 productions to his credit...
, theatre designer Brian Thomson
Brian Thomson
Brian Thomson is an Australian theatre, opera and film designer. He has been active in Australian stage design for over three decades.Thomson began a long and successful collaboration with director Jim Sharman after they met at Heavenburgers on Sydney's Oxford Street in 1969; they worked together...
and film producer Matt Carroll
Matt Carroll (producer)
Matthew Carroll is an Australian movie and TV producer. He is best known for producing films since the early 1970s including Breaker Morant, Storm Boy and Sunday Too Far Away. Later, he went into television production, producing the television series G.P. for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation...
. Murcutt's early work experience was with various architects, such as Neville Gruzman
Neville Gruzman
Neville Gruzman, AM was an Australian architect, mayor of Woollahra, writer and architectural activist...
, Ken Woolley and Bryce Mortlock which exposed him to their style of organic architecture focussing on relationships to nature. By 1969 Murcutt established his own practise in the Sydney suburb of Mosman.
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. Filmmaker Catherine Hunter, who is making a documentary on the architect, has said: “He gives everything, he can’t help himself. He’s unstoppable, he’s this force. Long before we started talking about things such as sustainability, Glenn was practising those things.”
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
Glass
Glass is an amorphous solid material. Glasses are typically brittle and optically transparent.The most familiar type of glass, used for centuries in windows and drinking vessels, is soda-lime glass, composed of about 75% silica plus Na2O, CaO, and several minor additives...
, stone
Rock (geology)
In geology, rock or stone is a naturally occurring solid aggregate of minerals and/or mineraloids.The Earth's outer solid layer, the lithosphere, is made of rock. In general rocks are of three types, namely, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic...
, timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
and steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
are often included in his works.
Testament to his influence internationally was the award of the 2002 Pritzker Prize
Pritzker Prize
The Pritzker Architecture Prize is awarded annually by the Hyatt Foundation to honour "a living architect whose built work demonstrates a combination of those qualities of talent, vision and commitment, which has produced consistent and significant contributions to humanity and the built...
one of the highest distinctions in architecture. 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." In 2009 Murcutt won the American Institute of Architects Gold Medal
AIA Gold Medal
The AIA Gold Medal is awarded by the American Institute of Architects conferred "by the national AIA Board of Directors in recognition of a significant body of work of lasting influence on the theory and practice of architecture."...
.
Murcutt currently lectures and teaches architectural studies as a professor at the UNSW Faculty of Built Environment
UNSW Faculty of Built Environment
The Built Environment is a constituent body of the University of New South Wales, Australia. The school of architecture was one of the founding schools of UNSW...
.
Murcutt's son Nicholas
Nick Murcutt
Nick Murcutt or Nicholas Phillip Murcutt was an Australian architect.Nick received his Architecture degree from the University of Sydney in 1989 and became a registered architect in 1990...
was also a practicing architect.
Building projects
- 1972-74 : Laurie Short House, Sydney (NSW)
- 1974-75 : Marie Short House, Kempsey (NSW)
- 1976-83 : Berowra Waters InnBerowra Waters InnBerowra Waters Inn is a restaurant located at Berowra Waters along the Hawkesbury River in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, 50 minutes from downtown Sydney, Australia. It is unique due to its being accessed only by private ferry and being one of architect Glenn Murcutt's only venues regularly open...
, Berowra Waters (NSW) - 1977-80 : Nicholas House, Mount Irvine (NSW)
- 1977-80 : Carruthers House, Mount Irvine (NSW)
- 1982 : Kempsey Visitor Information Centre (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 ParkKakadu National ParkKakadu National Park is in the Northern Territory of Australia, 171 km southeast of Darwin.Kakadu National Park is located within the Alligator Rivers Region of the Northern Territory of Australia. It covers an area of , extending nearly 200 kilometres from north to south and over 100 kilometres...
(NT), in collaboration with Troppo ArchitectsTroppo ArchitectsTroppo Architects is an Australian architectural practice. Troppo Architects was founded in 1980 with the aim of promoting good tropical architecture in Australia's Top End... - 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 BoydArthur BoydArthur Merric Bloomfield Boyd, AC, OBE was one of the leading Australian painters of the late 20th Century. A member of the prominent Boyd artistic dynasty in Australia, his relatives included painters, sculptors, architects or other arts professionals. His sister Mary Boyd married John Perceval,...
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
Honours and awards
Prestigious awards include:- the RAIA Gold MedalRoyal Australian Institute of Architects Gold MedalThe Gold Medal is the highest award of the Australian Institute of Architects awarded annually since 1960. The award was created to recognise distinguished service by Australian architects who have:* designed or executed buildings of high merit;...
of the Royal Australian Institute of ArchitectsRoyal Australian Institute of ArchitectsThe Australian Institute of Architects is a professional body for architects in Australia. Until August 2008, the Institute traded as the "Royal Australian Institute of Architects", which remains its official name....
in 1992 - the Alvar Aalto MedalAlvar Aalto MedalThe Alvar Aalto Medal was established in 1967 by the Museum of Finnish Architecture and the Finnish Association of Architects . The Medal has been awarded intermittently since 1967 when the medal was created in honour of Alvar Aalto. The award is given in recognition of a significant contribution...
in 1992 - Officer of the Order of AustraliaOrder of AustraliaThe Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
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 PrizePritzker PrizeThe Pritzker Architecture Prize is awarded annually by the Hyatt Foundation to honour "a living architect whose built work demonstrates a combination of those qualities of talent, vision and commitment, which has produced consistent and significant contributions to humanity and the built...
for Architecture in 2002 - the Kenneth F. Brown Asia Pacific Culture and Architecture Award in 2003
- the AIA Gold MedalAIA Gold MedalThe AIA Gold Medal is awarded by the American Institute of Architects conferred "by the national AIA Board of Directors in recognition of a significant body of work of lasting influence on the theory and practice of architecture."...
Award in 2009.
He is an Honorary Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), an International Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), 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. In 2010, he was named a Senior Fellow of the Design Futures Council
Design Futures Council
The Design Futures Council is an interdisciplinary network of design, product, and construction leaders exploring global trends, challenges, and opportunities to advance innovation and shape the future of the industry and environment...
. He was founding President of the Australian Architecture Association
Australian Architecture Association
The Australian Architecture Association was set up in 2004 as a not for profit organisation to promote the understanding of both local and world architecture in Australia. The Chicago Architecture Foundation is used as the model for the development of the organisation.In late 2004, it began to...
and is Chair of the Architecture Foundation Australia (annual Murcutt International Master Class).
External links
- Architecture Foundation Australia Glenn Murcutt Master Class and Portfolio of Murcutt Projects
- Four minute video clip Glenn Murcutt leading the annual Murcutt International Master Class
- Arthur and Yvonne Boyd Education Centre
- Location of Glenn Murcutt Buildings on checkonsite Location of Glenn Murcutt Buildings