Jeffrey Howlett
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey Howlett was a Western Australian Modernist architect. He was born in 1928 and died 2005. He started his life in India and traveled to London for study, then moved to Perth for training and to become a senior architect. Through his life he won competitions with his partner Donald Bailey. Howlett acknowledged the reality of late-twentieth-century cities and, through his architecture, suggested a way of making sense of the disorder. He was a founding partner of Howlett and Bailey Architects
, which designed a number of Australian landmarks such as Council House and the Perth Concert Hall.
in London. After five years Howlett completed his diploma and worked at the London County Council
under the direction of Sir Leslie Martin for a year before returning to India to marry Kath. He moved with his family to Perth, Western Australia. While in Perth Howlett started working with several local practices before relocating to Melbourne. He was granted the position as senior design Architect wuth Bates Smart and McCutcheon. While in Melbourne, Howlett, together with Donald Bailey, won the Australia-Wide competition for the design of the new Perth City Council administration buildings. This brought him back to Perth and he stayed there for the rest of his life. Later Howlett And Bailey won the second competition “The Public Suite" for a series of performance halls. Around the site was the Council House redesigned by Howllet and Bailey due to subsequently abandoned.
In 1993, Howlett survived a major stroke. The stroke caused him serious damage making him unable to continue practicing as an architect. However he didn't give up. He learned to work with his left hand on small tray0bound paper which was later assembled into larger sheets. He used oil pastel as paint with rich surface and startling colours. His forms were bold and simple, and his drawings became his major form of communication, a way of evoking memory, telling stories of his past and present.
Later on in his life, Howlett and Bailey won many design awards and competitions from the Royal Australian institute of Architects
, and in 1973 Howlett was honored by the RAIA with Life Fellowship.
located in the centre of Perth, Western Australia. It was constructed between 1971 and 1973 and designed by architects Jeffrey Howlett and Don Bailey. It is used mainly for musical performances and other events. The architectural design mainly consisted of two buildings. One building had offices and the other, which is oval in shape, contained the auditorium. Throughout 1969, the plans were adjusted several times. These adjustments included beautification and landscaping of the main pedestrian approach from St Georges Terrance and one construction of a subway system under the terrace. This building is an example of “brutalist” architecture, with its solid opaque interior, imposing projecting roof, and use of white off-form concrete.
The Perth Council House
is a 13 story office built beside Stirling gardens on St Georges terrace in Perth, Western Australia. The building was designed by Howlett and Bailey architects and opened in 1963. Known for its modernist style, there has been many debates about its heritage value. Some consider this building to be an important example of modernist architecture.
Known as “a remarkably simple solution to a complex solution”, the building is the first to have complete window walling to reduce the heat from entering the building.
In 2002 an exhibition on Howlett's pastel works was held at Perth Galleries featuring his drawing which showed Jeff Howlett staring straight out, foursquare, strong and forthright, his jaw thrusting forward in a determined set. It also portrayed his life and the changes he made in Perth.
Howlett and Bailey Architects
Howlett and Bailey Architects was founded by Jeffrey Howlett and Donald Bailey in 1960, in Perth, Western Australia. They received numerous design awards and commendations from the Royal Australian Institute of Architects and won the Reserve Bank’s competition in Canberra in 1962. Their designs...
, which designed a number of Australian landmarks such as Council House and the Perth Concert Hall.
Biography
Jeffrey Howlett spent his early life in Hyderabad India. Later in life 1945, he accepted a scholarship in 1945 to the Architectural Association School of ArchitectureArchitectural Association School of Architecture
The Architectural Association School of Architecture, more usually known as the AA, is an architectural school in London, United Kingdom...
in London. After five years Howlett completed his diploma and worked at the London County Council
London County Council
London County Council was the principal local government body for the County of London, throughout its 1889–1965 existence, and the first London-wide general municipal authority to be directly elected. It covered the area today known as Inner London and was replaced by the Greater London Council...
under the direction of Sir Leslie Martin for a year before returning to India to marry Kath. He moved with his family to Perth, Western Australia. While in Perth Howlett started working with several local practices before relocating to Melbourne. He was granted the position as senior design Architect wuth Bates Smart and McCutcheon. While in Melbourne, Howlett, together with Donald Bailey, won the Australia-Wide competition for the design of the new Perth City Council administration buildings. This brought him back to Perth and he stayed there for the rest of his life. Later Howlett And Bailey won the second competition “The Public Suite" for a series of performance halls. Around the site was the Council House redesigned by Howllet and Bailey due to subsequently abandoned.
In 1993, Howlett survived a major stroke. The stroke caused him serious damage making him unable to continue practicing as an architect. However he didn't give up. He learned to work with his left hand on small tray0bound paper which was later assembled into larger sheets. He used oil pastel as paint with rich surface and startling colours. His forms were bold and simple, and his drawings became his major form of communication, a way of evoking memory, telling stories of his past and present.
Later on in his life, Howlett and Bailey won many design awards and competitions from the Royal Australian institute of Architects
Royal Australian Institute of Architects
The Australian Institute of Architects is a professional body for architects in Australia. Until August 2008, the Institute traded as the "Royal Australian Institute of Architects", which remains its official name....
, and in 1973 Howlett was honored by the RAIA with Life Fellowship.
Projects
Perth concert hallPerth Concert Hall, Western Australia
The Perth Concert Hall is a concert hall in the centre of Perth, Western Australia. Situated between St Georges Terrace and Terrace Road, it is located near Government House, the Supreme Court Gardens and the Swan Bells, with a view to the Swan River....
located in the centre of Perth, Western Australia. It was constructed between 1971 and 1973 and designed by architects Jeffrey Howlett and Don Bailey. It is used mainly for musical performances and other events. The architectural design mainly consisted of two buildings. One building had offices and the other, which is oval in shape, contained the auditorium. Throughout 1969, the plans were adjusted several times. These adjustments included beautification and landscaping of the main pedestrian approach from St Georges Terrance and one construction of a subway system under the terrace. This building is an example of “brutalist” architecture, with its solid opaque interior, imposing projecting roof, and use of white off-form concrete.
The Perth Council House
Council House, Perth
Council House is a 13-storey office building set beside Stirling Gardens on St Georges Terrace in Perth, Western Australia. The building was designed by Howlett and Bailey Architects and opened by The Queen in 1963 after Perth hosted the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games...
is a 13 story office built beside Stirling gardens on St Georges terrace in Perth, Western Australia. The building was designed by Howlett and Bailey architects and opened in 1963. Known for its modernist style, there has been many debates about its heritage value. Some consider this building to be an important example of modernist architecture.
Known as “a remarkably simple solution to a complex solution”, the building is the first to have complete window walling to reduce the heat from entering the building.
Exhibitions
In 1992 a retrospective exhibition titled Howlett Architectural Projects was curated by Micheal Markham and Peter Brew. It took place at the University of Western Australia focusing on the periods where Howlett was visiting professor at the school of Architecture.In 2002 an exhibition on Howlett's pastel works was held at Perth Galleries featuring his drawing which showed Jeff Howlett staring straight out, foursquare, strong and forthright, his jaw thrusting forward in a determined set. It also portrayed his life and the changes he made in Perth.
Awards
- Australia-wide design competition (New Perth City Council Administration Buildings)
- The Public Suite (Perth concert Hall)
- Competition for the Reserve Bank in Canberra
- RAIA (RAIA with Life Fellowship)with Life Fellowship
External links
- http://www.architecturemedia.com/aa/aaissue.php?issueid=200603&article=16&typeon=3
- http://www.perthconcerthall.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=63