Graeme Gunn

Graeme Gunn
Born Geelong, Victoria,
Australia
Residence Australia
Nationality Australian
Fields Architecture
Known for Architectural Works
Education

Dr. Graeme Cecil Gunn AM (born 1933 in Hamilton, Victoria) is an Australian architect.

Personal information

Graeme Gunn at the age of 22 renounced a tantalizing pastoral existence in a pleasant regional town to throw his sombrero into the ring and embrace the more intensive urban culture of Melbourne. From that day on, Architecture took centre stage. He studied architecture at RMIT University between 1956 and 1960. He became a registered architect in 1963. From 1961-1963 he was employed in the practice of Grounds Romberg and Boyd, employed by Roy Grounds after the split with Romberg and Boyd for 1964. In 1964 he commenced architecture practice in his own right. In addition to his practice as an architect, Graeme Gunn has made a distinguished contribution to architectural education serving first as the head of the School of Architecture and Building at RMIT University (1972–1977) then as a foundation Dean of the Faculty of Architecture and Building at RMIT University (1977–1982). He has received a number of architectural awards for his design and practice including the RAIA Victorian chapter president’s award for Lifetime Contribution to Victorian Architecture (2001). He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Architecture from RMIT University in 1996 and is a life fellow of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects. In 2011 he was awarded the Gold Medal for his lifelong contribution to architecture by the Australian Institute of Architects. He is currently a Director of Gunn Dyring Architecture and Urban Design along with Sophie Dyring. "For me, the getting of Architecture, while essential to my existence, has not been easy" Graeme G. "Architecture has been the foundation of my existence for more than 50 years". In 2012 he became a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia.

Notable Projects

Slorach Residence

Construction Date: 2009

The tried and tested courtyard house model was employed as the typology to execute this project’s concept of integrated interior and external spaces. The encompassing living environment of the Hamilton Courtyard House is achieved through the union of built form, spatial sequences, landscape and scale.

Winter Park

Winter Park, Doncaster, Victoria

Construction Date: 1971

Winter Park was Graeme's first cluster housing project. It was designed and implemented in association with Merchant Builders Pty Ltd in 1971 and has subsequently remained a seminal departure from the traditional method of suburban subdivision. Winter Park is now on the Heritage Victoria list and in 2007 was adjudged by an expert panel, consisting mostly of architects, as one of the 29 most worthy buildings produced since the inauguration of the first AIA awards. The basic tenet of the cluster housing concept is that of a comprehensively planned development in which a group of houses are sited to optimise available land in a much more efficient and environmentally sensitive manner than that provided by the normal rectangular grid lot suburban subdivision. Excess land is aggregated to provide communal open space. Houses are sited to relate sympathetically with each other, to optimise privacy, solar orientation, views and physical conditions.

The Plumbers & Gasfitters Union Building

Plumbers and Gasfitters building front facade. Gunn, Graeme

Construction Date: 1970

Located at 52 Victoria Street Melbourne, the Plumbers & Gasfitters Union building is known as the most persisting and noticeable landmark of Brutalism. The building was completed in 1970 by Graeme Gunn and his creative collaboration with Merchant Builders and landscape architect Ellis Stones.[1] The design itself was architecturally intended to be up to date.[2] The facade is formed of concrete in bold expressionistic forms with dark smoked glazing that intensify the sculptural quality of the construction.[3] Structurally designed to receive an extra floor when needed, the building consists of a car parking and mechanical services area, one main office floor housing the clients, conference room and lobby, and one office of lettable space.[4] For the internal finishes, walls, concrete block work, and stud frame sheeted with plywood are painted. The addition of signage on the building is slightly unsympathetic to the building's initial character.

Baronda Residence

Baronda residence under construction. Gunn, Graeme

Construction Date: 1968

The design is based on a 2700 orthogonal matrix using natural tree trunks, some 10 metres long farmed from a local plantation owned by Sir Roy Grounds and Ken Myer. The vertical and horizontal grid of the matrix defines the spaces, the floors of which radiate from the central staircase, each floor raise a half level above the previous and in a location 90 degree different from the one below. Services are minimal, there being no public utilities (gas, water, electricity or sewerage). The timber theme generated by the structure is continued with infill timber studs within the pole grid and clad internally and externally with timber boarding. The floors are EX 50x100 mm tongue and grooved planks spanning 1350 mm. These, in turn form the ceilings for those rooms having a full height below. Ceilings directly below the roof consist of sisal lining over 150mm square wire mesh. Some years ago the owner of this property and some of adjacent properties along the coast deeded the contiguous properties as part of a state park to the NSW government to ensure retention of the pristine coastal environment, reserved for public use only.

Townhouses - 76 Molesworth Street, Kew

Molesworth Street. Gunn Graeme

Construction Date: 1968

Designed for family living these six concrete block, Brutalist style townhouses, consist of three bedrooms, two living areas and a double carport (now converted to a garage) with an open private courtyard.[5] The building expresses simple construction materials of concrete for the main structure, timber for the roof structure and metal deck as the roof cladding. Off-form concrete balconies project from the concrete block building, with timber handrails.[6]

The Townhouses are significant as an important design progression in the re-thinking of suburban, cluster style living. The houses are included on the Schedule to the Heritage Overlay and Graded as "A" class.[7]

Today: This project retains many of its original features and remains structurally intact, and has only received minor upgrading of timber handrails and window frames.

Award: 1970 Bronze Medal Award, Victorian Chapter of the RAIA. In the Boroondara Municipality only 3 other residential projects have won this award.

Selected Other Projects

Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Construction Date: 2006
Location: Sutherland Creek, Victoria
Construction Date: 2006
Location: Condah, Victoria
Construction Date: 2002
Location: Portland, Victoria
Construction Date: 1981
Location: Prahran, Victoria
Construction Date: 1979

Awards

Publications

2010 – present

2000-2009

1990-1999

1980-1989

1970-1979

1960-1969

Notes

  1. ↑ Architect Victoria RAIA VIC awards 2007, 54
  2. ↑ Goad, Philip, Melbourne Architecture, Boorowa, NSW: The Watermark Press, 2009, p199
  3. ↑ Goad, Philip, Melbourne Architecture, Boorowa, NSW: The Watermark Press, 2009, p203
  4. ↑ Architect , volume 3 number 14, August 1971
  5. ↑ Goad, Philip, Melbourne Architecture, Boorowa, NSW: The Watermark Press, 2009, p201
  6. ↑ Architecture in Australia Townhouses, 76 Molesworth Street, Kew, Victoria, Volume 59, Number 5, October 1970.
  7. ↑ http://boroondara.vic.gov.au/freestyler/files/Review%20of%20B-graded%20buildings%20Vol%202A_4b7df86cccfd3.pdf
  8. ↑ "2011 Gold Medal - Victorian visionary, urbanist and educator wins". RAIA. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
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