James Birrell
Encyclopedia
James Birrell is a retired architect
responsible for the design of significant buildings in Queensland
, Australia
. James Birrell practiced from 1951 to 1986.
1928, the eldest child of Harry and Elizabeth Birrell. Growing up in North Essendon, Birrell attended North Essendon Primary School from 1934–40 and Essendon State High School from 1940-44.
In 1945 at the age of 17 James Birrell was accepted into the Melbourne Technical College
as an architecture student. To help finance his studies Birrell worked part-time as builder’s labourer. In 1947 Birrell began work as a draughtsman for the Victorian State Works Department and continued his studies Part-time. The same year he also became involved in the Contemporary Arts Society, through the Society he gained many new friends, notably Peter Burns.
In 1950 Birrell is accepted into Fourth Year Architecture at The University of Melbourne. In 1951 he graduated and designed his first houses, in Frankston and Warrandyte, Birrell also worked briefly as the resident Architect at The Commonwealth Serum Laboratories.
In 1952 Birrell co-founds the magazine Architecture and Arts with his contemporaries, Peter Burns, Helen O’Donnell and Norman Lehey. In 1954 Birrell contributes to the Contemporary Arts Society’s exhibition ‘Space Modulators’ along with artists including Sidney Nolan
, Ian Fairweather
, Charles Blackman
, Arthur Boyd
and John Perceval
.
Working for The Commonwealth Works Department, Birrell was transferred to Canberra, before going on to Darwin
and finally Brisbane. In Brisbane James Birrell went on to become Brisbane City Council Architect and University of Queensland Staff Architect. It was during this period that Birrell designed his most significant buildings.
Throughout his life Birrell admired the works of Walter Burley Griffin
and in 1964 he wrote a biography on Griffin.
In March 1985 James Birrell was elected as a councillor for the Shire of Maroochy in Queensland.
In 1956 as Brisbane City Council Architect Birrell designed the Chermsdale and Annerley Libraries as well as numerous public amenities.
In 1957 his design proposal for the redevelopment of Toowong pool is successful, construction finishes in 1960. Re-opened as Centenary Pool, Architecture and Arts magazine named the building as one of the top ten buildings within Australia.
Birrell also designed the Toowong Library, completed in 1961, it sits opposite Centenary Pool on Coronation Drive. The building is heritage listed although is now used for commercial purposes.
University of Queensland Staff Architect
From 1961-66 James Birrell practiced as The University of Queensland Staff Architect. In this position he designed and documented Union College, which was constructed in five stages from 1964 and 1972. Union College was highly commended after its construction. It was visually pleasing while also being innovative in terms of the structure and its response to pre-existing site conditions. Union College received a High Commendation award from Arts and Architecture journal as one of the best ten new buildings in Australia at the time.
During his tenure as staff architect James Birrell was also responsible for the JD Story Administration Building (1965) the Agriculture and Entomology Building, now known as the Hartley Teakle Building (1966). Birrell was also responsible for the design of the campus plan at James Cook University
in Townsville, and several of its early buildings 1964-1970.
In 1965 Birrell became President of the Australian Planning Institute.
Private Practice
In 1966 he moved into private practice. Much of Birrell’s work in this period came from overseas. He worked for the University of Papua New Guinea, where he designed the Halls of Residence, Arts/Law and Arts II Buildings and Indonesia as a government planning consultant.
In 2005 Birrell was awarded the RAIA Gold Medal. Royal Australian Institute of Architects national president Warren Kerr said the Melbourne-born Brisbane-based architect had made a "spirited and distinguished contribution to the discipline of architecture".
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...
responsible for the design of significant buildings in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
, Australia
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...
. James Birrell practiced from 1951 to 1986.
Personal life
James Birrell was born in MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
1928, the eldest child of Harry and Elizabeth Birrell. Growing up in North Essendon, Birrell attended North Essendon Primary School from 1934–40 and Essendon State High School from 1940-44.
In 1945 at the age of 17 James Birrell was accepted into the Melbourne Technical College
RMIT University
RMIT University is an Australian public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. It has two branches, referred to as RMIT University in Australia and RMIT International University in Vietnam....
as an architecture student. To help finance his studies Birrell worked part-time as builder’s labourer. In 1947 Birrell began work as a draughtsman for the Victorian State Works Department and continued his studies Part-time. The same year he also became involved in the Contemporary Arts Society, through the Society he gained many new friends, notably Peter Burns.
In 1950 Birrell is accepted into Fourth Year Architecture at The University of Melbourne. In 1951 he graduated and designed his first houses, in Frankston and Warrandyte, Birrell also worked briefly as the resident Architect at The Commonwealth Serum Laboratories.
In 1952 Birrell co-founds the magazine Architecture and Arts with his contemporaries, Peter Burns, Helen O’Donnell and Norman Lehey. In 1954 Birrell contributes to the Contemporary Arts Society’s exhibition ‘Space Modulators’ along with artists including Sidney Nolan
Sidney Nolan
Sir Sidney Robert Nolan OM, AC was one of Australia's best-known painters and printmakers.-Early life:Nolan was born in Carlton, a suburb of Melbourne, on 22 April 1917. He was the eldest of four children. His family later moved to St Kilda. Nolan attended the Brighton Road State School and...
, Ian Fairweather
Ian Fairweather
Ian Fairweather was an Australian painter. Fairweather was born in Scotland in 1891 and arrived in Melbourne in February 1934...
, Charles Blackman
Charles Blackman
Charles Blackman is one of the best known Australian artists still living today, especially for the famous Schoolgirl and Alice in Wonderland series of the 1950s...
, Arthur Boyd
Arthur Boyd
Arthur 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,...
and John Perceval
John Perceval
John de Burgh Perceval AO was a well-known Australian artist. Perceval was the last surviving member of a group known as the Angry Penguins who redefined Australian art in the 1940s...
.
Working for The Commonwealth Works Department, Birrell was transferred to Canberra, before going on to Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
and finally Brisbane. In Brisbane James Birrell went on to become Brisbane City Council Architect and University of Queensland Staff Architect. It was during this period that Birrell designed his most significant buildings.
Throughout his life Birrell admired the works of Walter Burley Griffin
Walter Burley Griffin
Walter Burley Griffin was an American architect and landscape architect, who is best known for his role in designing Canberra, Australia's capital city...
and in 1964 he wrote a biography on Griffin.
In March 1985 James Birrell was elected as a councillor for the Shire of Maroochy in Queensland.
Notable Projects
Brisbane City Council ArchitectIn 1956 as Brisbane City Council Architect Birrell designed the Chermsdale and Annerley Libraries as well as numerous public amenities.
In 1957 his design proposal for the redevelopment of Toowong pool is successful, construction finishes in 1960. Re-opened as Centenary Pool, Architecture and Arts magazine named the building as one of the top ten buildings within Australia.
Birrell also designed the Toowong Library, completed in 1961, it sits opposite Centenary Pool on Coronation Drive. The building is heritage listed although is now used for commercial purposes.
University of Queensland Staff Architect
From 1961-66 James Birrell practiced as The University of Queensland Staff Architect. In this position he designed and documented Union College, which was constructed in five stages from 1964 and 1972. Union College was highly commended after its construction. It was visually pleasing while also being innovative in terms of the structure and its response to pre-existing site conditions. Union College received a High Commendation award from Arts and Architecture journal as one of the best ten new buildings in Australia at the time.
During his tenure as staff architect James Birrell was also responsible for the JD Story Administration Building (1965) the Agriculture and Entomology Building, now known as the Hartley Teakle Building (1966). Birrell was also responsible for the design of the campus plan at James Cook University
James Cook University
James Cook University is a public university based in Townsville, Queensland, Australia. The university has two Australian campuses, located in Townsville and Cairns respectively, and an international campus in Singapore. JCU is the second oldest university in Queensland—proclaimed in 1970—and the...
in Townsville, and several of its early buildings 1964-1970.
In 1965 Birrell became President of the Australian Planning Institute.
Private Practice
In 1966 he moved into private practice. Much of Birrell’s work in this period came from overseas. He worked for the University of Papua New Guinea, where he designed the Halls of Residence, Arts/Law and Arts II Buildings and Indonesia as a government planning consultant.
Works
- ToowongToowong, QueenslandToowong is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia which is located 5 km west of the Brisbane CBD. At the centre of Toowong is a commercial precinct including Toowong Village and several office buildings...
Library and Pool designed while City Council Architect. - Union CollegeUnion College, University of QueenslandUnion College is a co-ed residential college of the University of Queensland in St Lucia, Queensland, Australia. The college is named after the Student Union which established the college, and as such the college is not affiliated with any church or denomination.The Union College building was built...
Building designed while University of Queensland Staff. - Wickham Terrace car park
- Brisbane Centenary Pool Centre
- University Hall of Residence, James Cook University
- Eddie Koiki Mabo Library, James Cook University
- Ken Back Chancellory Building, James Cook University
- JD Story Administration Building - University of Queensland
- Agriculture and Entomology Building (Hartley TeakleHartley TeakleLaurence John Hartley Teakle was Professor of Agriculture from 1947 until 1963 at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia. He undertook his academic training in both California, USA and Australia. His expertise lay particularly into soil quality and structure...
Building) - University of Queensland - Papua New Guinea Banking Corporation (PNGBC)(now Bank South Pacific), headquarters - Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
- Agriculture Bank - Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Awards
- Union College, University of Queensland, RAIA High Commendation (1966)
- JD Story Administration Building, University of Queensland, RAIA Commendation
- Agriculture and Entomology Building (Hartley Teakle Building), University of Queensland, RAIA Citation (1970)
In 2005 Birrell was awarded the RAIA Gold Medal. Royal Australian Institute of Architects national president Warren Kerr said the Melbourne-born Brisbane-based architect had made a "spirited and distinguished contribution to the discipline of architecture".
Tributes
- The University of QueenslandUniversity of QueenslandThe University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
Staff and Graduates Club have a room named the "James Birrell Room".