Glenn Murcutt

Glenn Murcutt AO (born 25 July 1936) is one of Australia’s most notable and famous architects.

Glenn Marcus Murcutt was born in London to Australian parents. He grew up in the Morobe district of Papua New Guinea, where he developed an appreciation for simple, vernacular architecture. He was educated at Manly Boys’ High School and the University of New South Wales where he studied architecture 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.

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.

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 (the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for 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 AIA Gold Medal Award.

He was appointed an Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia in 1996.

Glenn currently lectures and teaches architectural studies as a professor at the UNSW Faculty of Built Environment.

Other Information

• Name : Glenn Murcutt AO
• Nationality : Australian
• Birth date : July 25, 1936
• Birth place : London
• Education : University of New South Wales

Notable Projects

• 1972-74 : Laurie Short House, Sydney (NSW)
• 1974-75 : Marie Short House, Kempsey (NSW)
• 1976-83 : Berowra Waters Inn, Berowra Waters (NSW)
• 1977-80 : Nicholas House, Mount Irvine (NSW)
• 1977-80 : Carruthers House, Mount Irvine (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 Park (NT), in collaboration with Troppo Architects
• 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 Boyd 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

Awards and Recognitions

• Gold Medal,e Royal Australian Institute of Architects (1992)
• Alvar Aalto Medal (1992)
• Officer, Order of Australia (1996)
• Richard Neutra Award for Teaching (1998)
• ‘Green Pin’ Award (1999)
• Thomas Jefferson Medal (2001)
• Pritzker Prize (2002)
• Kenneth F. Brown Asia Pacific Culture and Architecture Award (2003)
• AIA Gold Medal Award (2009)

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