Spotlight: Glenn Murcutt

via screenshot from video of ABC TV's "Talking Heads" interview

As an architect, critic and winner of the 2002 Pritzker Prize Glenn Murcutt, (born 25 July 1936) has designed some of Australia's most innovative and environmentally sensitive buildings over a long career - and yet he still remains a one man office. Despite working on his own, primarily on private residences and exclusively in Australia, his buildings have had a huge influence across the world and his motto of "touch the earth lightly" is internationally recognized as a way to foster harmonious, adaptable structures that work with the surrounding landscape instead of competing with it.

Simpson-Lee House, Mount Wilson (1994). Image © Flickr user Un Rosarino en Vietnam

After being raised in Papua New Guinea (something he credits for bringing an appreciation for local craftsmanship and vernacular architecture) Murcutt graduated from Sydney Technical College in 1961 and began his career working under local architects Neville Gruzman, Bryce Mortlock and Ken Woolley. Setting up his own practice in 1970 and beginning his long teaching career at the same time, Murcutt gradually built up a reputation in the Australian architectural community as a dedicated, efficient designer and an effective teacher, building a series of well designed, innovative small commissions that steadily created a portfolio of exemplary work.

Arthur and Yvonne Boyd Art Centre (1999), Riversdale, West Cambewarra (NSW), designed in collaboration with Reg Lark and Wendy Lewin. Image © Flickr user Un Rosarino en Vietnam

His combination of teaching and practice has led him to be one of the most eloquent proponents of his particular approach to architecture. This is evident in both his theoretical work and his projects, where houses adapt to changing conditions passively and have a linear focus that helps them fit into the landscape - a technique that is only possible due to his attention to detail when assessing the wind directions, temperatures and water movement at each new site. Together, this creates buildings which he says "live" through their respect for nature.

Bowali Visitor Information Centre, Kakadu National Park (1994), designed in collaboration with Troppo Architects. Image © Flickr CC user Luke Durkin

To learn more about Glenn Murcutt's philosophy and practice, you can watch his 2008 interview for ABC TV’s Talking Heads program, or read Kenneth Frampton's essay on his work written for the 2002 Pritzker Prize, via the links below.