Harry Howard (landscape architect)
Encyclopedia
Harry Howard was an Australia
n landscape architect
, and one of the first members of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects
(AILA).
Howard had no formal training in landscape architecture
, graduating from the University of Sydney
with a degree in architecture
. A devotee of the modernist
style of architecture, Howard counted Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
and Le Corbusier
among his influences, and later became friends with Sydney
architect of the modernist style, Harry Seidler
.
Howard came to prominence in the 1970s, around the establishment of the first landscape architecture program in Australia at the University of New South Wales
, designing the landscape around the High Court
and National Gallery of Australia
in Canberra
. He was the first landscape architect to be employed by local government
, working with Lane Cove
Council in the 1970s and initiating the idea of creating 'bushland
reserves' in Sydney. He is most well known for his use of indigenous plant species and informal planting arrangements, creating a feeling of the bush without recreating it.
Along with Bruce Rickard and Bruce MacKenzie
, contemporary Australian landscape architects receiving training in the United States
, Howard instigated the Sydney School of Landscape Architecture at 7 Berry Street, North Sydney
. Later in his career, Howard taught in the school of architecture at the University of New South Wales.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n landscape architect
Landscape architect
A landscape architect is a person involved in the planning, design and sometimes direction of a landscape, garden, or distinct space. The professional practice is known as landscape architecture....
, and one of the first members of the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects
Australian Institute of Landscape Architects
The Australian Institute of Landscape Architects is the Australian non-profit professional institute formed to serve the mutual interests of its members and the wider profession of landscape architecture throughout Australia.-AILA Vision Statement:...
(AILA).
Howard had no formal training in landscape architecture
Landscape architecture
Landscape architecture is the design of outdoor and public spaces to achieve environmental, socio-behavioral, or aesthetic outcomes. It involves the systematic investigation of existing social, ecological, and geological conditions and processes in the landscape, and the design of interventions...
, graduating from the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
with a degree in architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
. A devotee of the modernist
Modern architecture
Modern architecture is generally characterized by simplification of form and creation of ornament from the structure and theme of the building. It is a term applied to an overarching movement, with its exact definition and scope varying widely...
style of architecture, Howard counted Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe was a German architect. He is commonly referred to and addressed as Mies, his surname....
and Le Corbusier
Le Corbusier
Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, better known as Le Corbusier , was a Swiss-born French architect, designer, urbanist, writer and painter, famous for being one of the pioneers of what now is called modern architecture. He was born in Switzerland and became a French citizen in 1930...
among his influences, and later became friends with Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
architect of the modernist style, Harry Seidler
Harry Seidler
Harry Seidler, AC OBE was an Austrian-born Australian architect who is considered to be one of the leading exponents of Modernism's methodology in Australia and the first architect to fully express the principles of the Bauhaus in Australia.Harry Seidler designed more than 180 buildings and he...
.
Howard came to prominence in the 1970s, around the establishment of the first landscape architecture program in Australia at the University of New South Wales
University of New South Wales
The University of New South Wales , is a research-focused university based in Kensington, a suburb in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
, designing the landscape around the High Court
High Court of Australia
The High Court of Australia is the supreme court in the Australian court hierarchy and the final court of appeal in Australia. It has both original and appellate jurisdiction, has the power of judicial review over laws passed by the Parliament of Australia and the parliaments of the States, and...
and National Gallery of Australia
National Gallery of Australia
The National Gallery of Australia is the national art gallery of Australia, holding more than 120,000 works of art. It was established in 1967 by the Australian government as a national public art gallery.- Establishment :...
in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
. He was the first landscape architect to be employed by local government
Local government
Local government refers collectively to administrative authorities over areas that are smaller than a state.The term is used to contrast with offices at nation-state level, which are referred to as the central government, national government, or federal government...
, working with Lane Cove
Lane Cove, New South Wales
Lane Cove is a suburb on the lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. An affluent suburb, Lane Cove is located 9 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the Municipality of Lane...
Council in the 1970s and initiating the idea of creating 'bushland
Bushland
Bushland is any area in Australia that is predominantly indigenous flora and fauna.Bushland is the term commonly used by conservation protection groups and other environmental groups as a blanket term for natural vegetation, which may cover any kind of habitat from open shrubby country with few...
reserves' in Sydney. He is most well known for his use of indigenous plant species and informal planting arrangements, creating a feeling of the bush without recreating it.
Along with Bruce Rickard and Bruce MacKenzie
Bruce Mackenzie
Bruce Mckenzie was a British intelligence operative and Minister for Agriculture in Kenya under Jomo Kenyatta's presidency to whom he was an adviser....
, contemporary Australian landscape architects receiving training in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Howard instigated the Sydney School of Landscape Architecture at 7 Berry Street, North Sydney
North Sydney, New South Wales
North Sydney is a suburb and commercial district on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. North Sydney is located 3 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of North Sydney...
. Later in his career, Howard taught in the school of architecture at the University of New South Wales.