Born in Newcastle in 1945, Gregory Burgess headed to Melbourne to gain his Bachelor of Architecture at Melbourne University in 1970.
Gregory’s first experience in an architectural office came several years before his graduation, when he headed offshore in the late 1960s to work with Peter Skole Overgaard in Copenhagen and Farmer and Dark in London. He returned in 1969 to complete his degree before beginning work with Edgar Pirrotta and later Jackson and Walker.
In 1972, Gregory opened his own private practice in Melbourne. Ten years later he expanded to become Gregory Burgess Architects, which today employs more than 10 architects.
He is best known for his public architectural projects, which include major tourism and visitor centres, health facilities, performing arts facilities, libraries and educational buildings, residential developments, religious architecture, commercial fit-outs, heritage developments and the design of international traveling exhibitions.
|
|
Internationally Celebrated
Over the past 32 years, Gregory has established a reputation as one of the world’s leading architects. His work has been published in books, journals and magazines in countries from Australia to Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the United States and Scandinavia.
When compiling an issue devoted to architecture at the close of the 20th century, editors at the prestigious Polish magazine Architeckture Muraotr asked fellow editors-in-chief of the world’s leading architectural journals for their opinions on the condition of the end-of century-architecture and its future perspectives.
UK Architecture Review Editor Peter Davey described Gregory Burgess in the following way:
‘The best people are today trying to find ways in which human values can be expressed against the alienating and normative forces of the global economy. Architects like Gehry, Piano, Foster, Burgess Desmoulin, Blue Sky, Erskine, Behnisch and Torp tend the flame of hope and carry the lamp of truth in a world that seems increasingly to have no values other than profit and the market in its grossest form.’
|
|
Environmentally Focused
Gregory’s practice is renowned for seeking opportunities to strengthen the development of environmentally appropriate building design. Over the years it has earned a reputation for architecture that responds to both
the technological challenge of ecologically sustainable development and the values at the core of the environmental movement.
As a result, the practice has been recognised with a number of awards for energy efficiency in design, ecologically sustainable development and environmentally sensitive design.
ESD awards received include:
· The Banksia Foundation Environmental Award: Finalist - Leadership in Sustainable Buildings: George Street Apartments, Fitzroy (2003)
· The Banksia Foundation Environmental Award: Twelve Apostles Visitor Amenity Building (2002)
· Timber Development Association, Environmental Commitment: La Trobe University Ironbark Centre (2000)
· RAIA Victorian Chapter Award of Merit (Energy Efficient Design): La Trobe University Ironbark Centre (1999)
· RAIA Victorian Chapter Ecologically Sustainable Development Award: La Trobe University Ironbark Centre (1999)
· The Banksia Foundation Environmental Award for the Built Environment (1997)
· Victorian Government Eco-Tourism Award: World of the Platypus (1997)
· Commendation - RAIA Victorian Chapter for Outstanding Architecture: ‘The Earth House’ (1996)
· City of Malvern (Victoria) - Building Design Award, low energy/dual occupancy: The Stronell House (1994)
|
|
Award Winning
On top of its ESD accolades, Gregory Burgess’ practice consistently wins major national and international building and design awards for its projects across Australia. It has garnered awards for a breadth of work including private and public housing, community, cultural, educational, health, religious and commercial projects, urban design and exhibition design.
Recent projects, and some of the accolades awarded them, include:
The Sidney Myer Music Bowl Refurbishment (2002)
· RAIA Walter Burley Griffin Award for the most outstanding work of Urban Design in Australia
· RAIA Victorian Chapter Melbourne Prize
· RAIA Victorian Chapter Architectural Award for Institutional Alterations and Additions
The Twelve Apostles Visitor Amenity Building (2002)
· Victorian Coastal Award for Excellence in Building and Design
· The Banksia Foundation Environmental Award for the Built Environment
The Catholic Theological College, Melbourne
· Australian Property Institute Heritage Property Award (2001)
· RAIA Victorian Chapter Commendation - the Melbourne Prize (2000)
Burraworrin Residence, Victoria
· Australian Timber Design Award: Single Family Residential Dwellings Category
La Trobe University Ironbark Centre (1999)
· RAIA Victorian Chapter Award of Merit (Energy Efficient Design)
· RAIA Victorian Chapter Ecologically Sustainable Development Award
· Australian Timber Design Award - Public Building Category
Uluru Kata-Tjuta National Park Cultural Centre
· Kenneth F Brown Asia Pacific Culture & Architecture Design Award for outstanding examples of contemporary architecture that reflect and enhance their Asia Pacific context (1998)
· Centre for Australian Cultural Studies National Awards - Special Mention (1997)
· RAIA Sir Zelman Cowan Award for Public Buildings National Award - Highly Commended (1996)
· RAIA NT Chapter Tracy Memorial Award (1996)
· RAIA NT Chapter New Institutional Building Award (1996)
· RAIA NT Chapter People’s Choice Award (1996)
· Banksia Foundation Award for the Built Environment (1996)
Brambuk Living Cultural Centre
· Sir Zelman Cowan National Award: Most Outstanding Non Domestic Architectural Project (1990)
· Kenneth F. Brown Asia Pacific Culture & Architecture Design Award for outstanding examples of contemporary architecture that reflect and enhance their Asia Pacific context (1995)
Church of St. Michael and St. John, Horsham
· RAIA Victorian Architectural Medal for most outstanding work across all categories (1987)
Personal Accolades
Gregory has also received a number of major national and international awards for his body of work and contribution to the profession. Major awards to date include:
· The Commonwealth Association of Architects Robert Mathew Award for the Most Innovative and Outstanding Architecture Development in the Commonwealth, and
· The Robert Joseph Haddon Award for Outstanding Contribution to Housing
|
|
International Speaker
Gregory Burgess is widely published and an enthusiastic tutor and guest lecturer at universities and conferences around the world.
In 2003 alone, Gregory guest lectured or spoke at Deakin University, the University of Hawaii, Monash University and the University of Melbourne. He was also keynote speaker at an international conference on organic architecture in Amsterdam, a jury member of the Kenneth F. Brown Asia-Pacific Culture and Architectural Design Award in Hawaii and guest speaker at an international conference on education.
His works have been included in exhibitions from London to Spain, Scotland, India, Germany, Japan, Amsterdam and the Middle East, and publications from 100 of the World’s Best Houses (Images Publishing) to World Architecture A Critical Mosaic 1900-2000 (K Frampton)
|
|
For further information contact
National Media Adviser Trish Croaker 0408 756 163
|
