 | | | In a world where architecture struggles to make headlines and the importance of the built environment to our future has yet to be appreciated by the media there are nonetheless some events which cannot be ignored and which remind us of the true greatness that architecture can inspire in the human race. Each year, the international architectural community bestows a small number of significant awards on architects whose life and work related to architecture have been exemplary. The fact that so few of these accolades are awarded, and the weight in architectural terms of the “family” of people on whom they are bestowed makes them even more precious. It is testament to the calibre of Australian architects on the world scene that Australians have received two major international awards in as many years. On behalf of The Royal Australian Institute of Architects, I am delighted to congratulate Harry Seidler for being awarded the 1996 Royal Institute of British Architects(RIBA) Gold Medal. Harry was our own RAIA Gold Medallist in 1976 and shares the RIBA honour with such greats as Sir Norman Foster and Le Corbusier. Born in Vienna, Harry studied architecture in Canada and the United States and worked in South America before commencing architectural practice in Sydney in 1949. He has completed projects in Australia, Europe, Central America and Asia and is best known for his work in apartments and high-rise offices, notably Australia Square and Grosvenor Place in Sydney and the Australian Embassy in Paris. Another RAIA Gold Medallist, Glenn Murcutt, (1992) was recognised recently with the prestigious Alvar Aalto Medal. Glenn’s work spans almost 25 years of award-winning buildings and projects which “touch the earth lightly”, and is characterised, in the pbulic eye at least, by his sweeping roofs of corrugated steel. | Together with the work of very few others, Australian architecture is known overseas by the buildings of Harry Seidler and Glenn Murcutt. While they differ in many ways, their education, experiences, scale and signature of their works, they exhibit common key characteristics which are the hallmark of great architects: the capacity to listen, to understand and to appriciate fully a set of circumstances; a penetrating perception; clarity of thought and efficiency of expression; sensitivity to climate, materials and context. | “Awards and their recipients keep the spirit of architecture alive.” | | Likewise, as people, they are imbued with restless energy and intoxicating enthusiasm, dedication to and love of their profession, an unshakeable belief in themselves and the worth of their work and a generosity of spirit towards others who share their enthusiasm for architecture. Both have made great contributions to Australian architecture and, indeed, to the Australian community. Both are great contributors to the profession and advocates for the RAIA. There are some amongst our profession for whom architecture awards of any sort are trifling, meaningless and irrelevant. Their view is insular and detrimental to modern architectural discourse. Although awards by their very nature are subjective and may spark controversy over the relative merits of the recipient, that is precisely what keeps the spirit of architecture alive and ensures its future. How else can we advance architecture than by questioning, challenging, daring? How else have we reached where we are today? Again, congratulations Harry and Glenn! Your contribution (recognised here and internationally) demands we be drawn out of our backyard complacency, from being “mere followers of fashion and purveyors of facades”, and back into a world which deserves the best we can offer. The RAIA is proud to have you as members and grateful for your service to the Institute, the architectural profession and the community. John Castles LFRAIA |
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