“Architecture is construction plus something else!” This was a phrase Gevork often shared in his history and theory classes. Like much of what he taught us, whether in the studio or the lecture hall, we didn’t fully grasp its meaning until years later. A recent piece by Richard Francis-Jones for ArchitectureAU echoes this sentiment, with him generously stating that “…time will be a friend to the works of Gevork Hartoonian.”
Gevork’s journey to Australia began when he accepted a position at the University of Sydney. He left behind his life in New York, where he had been teaching at Columbia University and working at the office of Gene Kaufman, after completing his doctoral thesis at the University of Pennsylvania. It wasn’t until 2003 that he would take up a post at the University of Canberra – where I first met him.
His reputation had already preceded him, and the stories passed between students reverberated through the corridors. To say he was a polarising figure would be an understatement. However, those who truly knew him felt the generosity of his spirit and understood his unwavering dedication to the discipline of architecture.
Gevork’s commitment to architecture was evident in his prolific output. He completed countless books and articles, as well as built work, including the adaptive reuse of a nineteenth century bathhouse into a home and studio for the iconic photographer Eddie Adams in Manhattan. Above all, he was dedicated to educating and shaping a generation of architects through his teaching.
Even as he approached the end of his career, Gevork remained tirelessly productive. He had just published his latest book, Mies Contra Le Corbusier: The Inevitable Frame, late last year and had signed a new book deal with Routledge just weeks before his passing. Yet, for all his global renown in history and theory, his students understood that in the studio, it was imagination that took precedence. This emphasis inspired a generation of architects to strive for something greater.
Though he is no longer with us, Gevork’s legacy lives on in the profound contributions he made to the discipline and in the lasting impact he had on all those fortunate enough to learn from him.
Nugroho F. Utomo
Director | COX Architecture
Nb. A memorial will be held in Canberra on Wednesday, 12 February from 4:30PM to 5:30PM at the University of Canberra, Building 1, Level A, Room 21 (Theatrette Room behind Mizzuna). This will be followed by a wake. A separate memorial service will be held in Sydney for Gevork on Thursday, 20 February from 2:00PM St. Barnabas Church, 57-61 Mountain Street, Ultimo, Sydney.
