AA - Enduring Architecture - November/December 2009

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FEATURES

Jury Overview

Public Architecture
Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture National Portrait Gallery, Johnson Pilton Walker Award for Public Architecture All Saints Primary School, Candalepas Associates Monash Centre for Electron Microscopy, Architectus Melbourne Commendation for Public Architecture The University of Sydney Faculty of Law, Library and Teaching Complex, FJMT

Residential Architecture

Robin Boyd Award for Residential Architecture – Houses
Freshwater House, Chenchow Little Architects
Award for Residential Architecture – Houses
Zac’s House, Neeson Murcutt Architects
Whale Beach House, Neeson Murcutt Architects
Commendation for Residential Architecture – Houses
Arm End House, Stuart Tanner Architects
Frederick Romberg Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple
Balencea Apartments, Wood Marsh Architecture in association with Sunland Design
Award for Residential Architecture – Multiple
Pindari, Candalepas Associates
Commendation for Residential Architecture – Multiple
Apartments in Cottesloe, Blane Brackenridge

Heritage Architecture
Lachlan Macquarie Award for Heritage St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne, Conservation of the Fabric, Falkinger Andronas, Architects, Heritage Consultants Award for Heritage 4 Wiston Gardens, Luigi Rosselli

Commercial Architecture
Harry Seidler Award for Commercial Architecture Ivy, Woods Bagot with Merivale Group and Hecker Phelan & Guthrie Award for Commercial Architecture Bendigo Bank Headquarters, BVN Architecture and Gray Puksand Headquarters Sussan Sportsgirl, Durbach Block Architects Commendation for Commercial Architecture Hassell Warry Street Studio, Hassell

Interior Architecture
Emil Sodersten Award for Interior Architecture Melbourne Recital Centre and MTC Theatre Project, ARM Award for Interior Architecture National Portrait Gallery, Johnson Pilton Walker Commendation for Interior Architecture Jane Foss Russell Building, University of Sydney, John Wardle Architects in association with Wilson Architects and GHD

Urban Design
Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design Armory Wharf Precinct, Hargreaves Associates, Lahz Nimmo Architects and Lacoste + Stevenson Architects Award for Urban Design Ivy, Woods Bagot with Merivale Group and Hecker Phelan & Guthrie Commendation for Urban Design Rundle Lantern, BB Architects

International Architecture
Jørn Utzon Award for International Architecture TKTS Booth and Redevelopment of Duffy Square, New York, Choi Ropiha, Perkins Eastman, PKSB Award for International Architecture Qatar Science and Technology Park, Woods Bagot

Enduring Architecture
25 Year Award for Enduring Architecture Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Yuncken Freeman Brothers, Griffiths and Simpson, and Gregory Burgess Architect
	25 Year Award for Enduring Architecture

Small Project Architecture
Award for Small Project Architecture Polygreen, Bellemo & Cat Ang House, Chenchow Little Architects

Sustainable Architecture
Award for Sustainable Architecture VS1/SA Water, Hassell Commendation for Sustainable Architecture Bendigo Bank Headquarters, BVN Architecture and Gray Puksand Australasian Performing Rights Association (APRA), Smart Design Studio

Steel Architecture
Colorbond Award for Steel Architecture Snowy Mountains House, James Stockwell Architect

The Critics Respond
Philip Goad and Fiona Nixon contemplate what it all means

COMMENT
Foreword
Reflection
Practice

ENDURING ARCHITECTURE

25 Year Award for Enduring Architecture

Sidney Myer Music Bowl
Yuncken Freeman Brothers, Griffiths and Simpson, and Gregory Burgess Architect

JURY CITATION

One of the great tent-like suspension structures of the world, the Myer Music Bowl is a clear indicator of the vibrant creative forces active in Australia circa 1960, which were allowed realization to great acclaim.
     Conserved and upgraded in 2000, the Myer Music Bowl is a much-loved icon and part of the social fabric of Melbourne and the nation.
     The Myer family, inspired by the highly successful public role of the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, decided to fund an equivalent facility for Melbourne. The resulting structure, set in established parkland, was both revolutionary and remarkable. Design began in 1956, led by architect Barry Patten, and construction was completed in 1959. The Myer Music Bowl’s suspension system and general form is said to have inspired German designer Frei Otto’s subsequent career, most notably the stadia structures of the 1972 Munich Olympics.
     In essence the landforms of the site were amplified to create a sloping grassed valley leading to seating sheltered by a draped canopy supported on two giant masts. The canopy comprises a grid of tensioned cables supporting rectangular panels of aluminium-clad plywood. The design owes much to the input of structural engineers W. L. Irwin and Associates.
     An extraordinary act of philanthropy, the Myer Music Bowl has permanent seating for 2150 people, with larger events spreading up the grassed embankment and into the parkland and attracting as many as 200,000 people. It truly brings popular culture to the people.
     The Myer Music Bowl continues to amaze and intrigue as a major sculptural form beautifully integrated with its site and the surrounding landscape. It remains an architectural engineering triumph perhaps without equal in Australia.

Original project (1956–59)
Architect
Yuncken Freeman Brothers, Griffiths and Simpson—design architect Barry Patten

Redevelopment (1998–2002)
Architect—project team Gregory Burgess, Peter Ryan, Susan Leuner, Sophie Herel, Kate Douglas, Tom Kinloch

Landscape architect
Taylor Cullity Lethlean

Conservation architect
Allom Lovell

Structural, civil, mechanical, electrical and acoustic engineers
Ove Arup

Entertainment technology
Entertech

Quantity surveyor
Donald Cant Watts Corke

Geotechnical engineers
Golder Associates

Building surveyor
Gardner Group

Surveyors
Fisher Stewart

Access consultant
Morris-Walker

Project manager
Major Projects Victoria

Construction manager
Hooker Cockram

Client
Victorian Arts Centre Trust

Photographer
John Gollings

For further coverage see Architecture Australia vol 91 no 1, January/February 2002.