Edmond and Corrigan

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Building 8 of RMIT, as seen from Bowen Lane B8 back.jpg
Building 8 of RMIT, as seen from Bowen Lane

Edmond and Corrigan is an Australian architectural firm based in Melbourne, Victoria, founded in the late 1970s by partners Maggie Edmond and Peter Corrigan, the firm's principals. The practice's work, both built and written, has been widely associated with the emergence of architectural postmodernism in Australia, [1] an interest in suburbia [2] and a search for an Australian architectural identity. [3] Peter Corrigan taught design studios at RMIT University for over 30 years, until his death in December 2016. [4]

Contents

RMIT Building 8, as seen from Swanston Street RMIT University City Campus (Building 8).jpg
RMIT Building 8, as seen from Swanston Street


Architectural practice

The VCA Theatre building in Southbank, Melbourne Vca theatre building.jpg
The VCA Theatre building in Southbank, Melbourne

The practice of Edmond and Corrigan was officially formed in 1975, though the pair had gradually been collaborating and associating on projects after Corrigan's return from America in 1974. Much of their early work consisted of church buildings and community buildings for the Catholic communities of suburban Melbourne.

They designed the Keysborough Church of the Resurrection, completed in 1977, and later buildings in Keysborough. [5] The project was published in 1977. [6] The School of the Resurrection, Keysborough was awarded the Victorian Architecture Medal in 1979.

Niagara Galleries, Richmond, Melbourne Niagara Galleries, Back Entrance, April 2013.jpg
Niagara Galleries, Richmond, Melbourne

The practice's subsequent projects, many of them in suburban sites, continued with the idea of an Australian architectural language, visible in their competition entries for the Parliament House, Canberra Competition in 1977, The Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame and the State Library of Victoria, their many projects for community buildings, and their work for universities.

They later undertook larger projects; many of them, particularly RMIT Building 8, pursued the idea of 'a city in a single building'. [7] Their Athan House of 1986 was published widely.

The practice also worked extensively in stage and set design for Opera Australia, Melbourne University Theatre Group, and La Mama.

Peter Corrigan wrote about his practice's work and about others, explicitly stating the practice's goal of creating or fostering a particularly Australian architectural language.

Recognition

In 2003 Peter Corrigan was awarded the RAIA Gold Medal, 2003, the highest accolade of the Australian architecture profession. In 1993 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Architecture from RMIT University.

Twenty years later, in 2023, Maggie Edmond was awarded the Australian Institute of Architects Gold Medal at the National Awards, with her name added to the same award that was presented to Peter Corrigan in 2003. At the 2023 National Awards she described the correction as 'restorative'. [8] [9] The rectification awards their work as a unique and innovative partnership.

Notable projects and awards


Edmond & Corrigan projects list
YearProjectClientLocationTypeAwards
1977Freedom Club Childcare Centre Keysborough, Victoria Education
1977Church of the Resurrection Keysborough, Victoria Religion
1978Chapel of St Joseph [10] (now Strabane Chapel Hall) Mont Albert North, Victoria Religion
1978Resurrection School Keysborough, Victoria Education
1982Kew House Kew, Victoria Residential
  • RAIA Victoria Chapter Housing Merit Award
1986Office of Edmond & Corrigan46 Little Latrobe Street, Melbourne, Victoria Commercial
1988Dandenong College of TAFE, Stage 3 Dandenong, Victoria Education
1988 Athan House Louis & Sophie Athan Monbulk, Victoria Residential
  • RAIA Victoria Chapter Bronze Medal for Outstanding Architecture Award, New Residential Category, 1989
1988Walsh House, Scheme for Pool PavilionResidential
  • Architecture Australia Prize for Unbuilt Work, 1994
1991 Keilor Fire Station Victorian Government Keilor, Victoria Public Service
1994Oakleigh Fire StationVictorian Government Oakleigh, Victoria Public Service
1994 RMIT Building 8 Extension RMIT University Melbourne, Victoria Education
  • Victorian Architecture Medal, 1995
  • City of Melbourne Building and Planning Award, Institutional Buildings Category, 1995
  • RAIA Vitoria Chapter Institutional Alterations and Extensions Award, 1995
  • RAIA Walter Burley Griffin National Award for Urban Design, 1995
1995Greensborough Office and Carpark Greensborough, Victoria Commercial
1995Ringwood Library Complex, Civic Plaza Ringwood, Victoria Cultural
  • RAIA Victoria Chapter Urban Design Award, 1995
  • RAIA Victoria Chapter Award of Merit, Institutional Category, 1996
1996Windsor Fire StationVictorian Government Windsor, Victoria Public Service
  • Metal Building Award, Certificate of Merit, 1996
  • RAIA Victoria Chapter Award of Merit
  • BHP Colorbond Steel Award, 1997
  • RAIA Victoria Chapter Award of Merit, Commercial Category, 1997
1996Exhibition Centre Showgrounds Stage 1 Ascot Vale, Victoria Public Service
  • RAIA Victoria Chapter Award of Merit, Commercial Category, 1997
1999Lehrer Residence Victoria Residential
  • RAIA Victoria Chapter Award of Merit, 2000
2001Drama School, Victorian College of the Arts [12] South Melbourne, Victoria Education
2001 Niagara Galleries Richmond, Victoria Arts
2001 Allan & Maria Myers Academic Centre, Newman College and St Mary's College Parkville, Victoria Education
  • Dulux Colour Awards, Commercial Exterior Winner, 2002
  • RAIA Victoria Chapter, BHP Colorbond Award, 2002
2005Lux House alteration, front porchResidential
2005Readings Bookshop [13] 309 Lygon Street, CarltonCommercial

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References

  1. Doug Evans, The Changing of the Guard: the social and cultural reflections of Community in 1970s Melbourne architecture, Fabrications, Vol 15, No 1, July 2005, p39
  2. Conrad Hamann, Cities of hope: Australian architecture and design by Edmond and Corrigan, 1962–1992, Oxford University Press, 1993
  3. Norman Day, 'Doing it his way', The Age, 1 September 2003.
  4. "Acclaimed Melbourne architect Peter Corrigan dies after long illness". Domain. 2 December 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  5. Hamann, Cities of Hope, p51
  6. Evans, p41
  7. Hamann, Cities of Hope, p129
  8. "Winners revealed". ArchitectureAU.com.au. 31 October 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  9. Goad, Philip (31 October 2023). "Gold Medal tribute: Maggie Edmond". ArchitectureAU.com.au. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  10. "Former Chapel of St Joseph 27–29 Strabane Avenue, Mont Albert North" (PDF). City of Whitehorse. 29 July 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2023.
  11. Photograph of Evan Walker and Maggie Edmond holding RAIA (Vic Chapter) medal, 1979, unknown photographer, Gift of Edmond & Corrigan Pty Ltd, RMIT Design Archives, 0006.2017.0200
  12. "VcaDramaschool < Arch < MNHS Wiki". wiki.med.monash.edu.au. Archived from the original on 4 April 2021.
  13. Feagins, Lucy (27 July 2018). "Readings Carlton Refresh By Nest Architects". The Design Files. Retrieved 10 February 2024.

Further reading