Neil Clerehan
Encyclopedia
Neil Clerehan was born in Melbourne in 1922. He is a President’s Prize for the Hall of Fame Award (RVIA)-winning Australian Architect. Clerehan established several architecture firms: Neil Clerehan Architects (1951–1962), Guilford Bell and Neil Clerehan (1962–1964), Neil Clerehan and Associates (1964–1980), Clerehan – Cran (1980–1996) and Neil Clerehan Architects (1996-current). His current firm is situated in 1 Maddock Street, Windsor, VIC, 3181.
Clerehan has been a practicing architect for six decades already. Being grounded in the local traditions, Clerehan’s practice focuses on domestic architecture and puts forward Melbourne’s culture. Through this field, he has established his reputation. Clerehan is also famous for his encapsulation and dissemination of Architectural history through his publishing and community works.
His famous works include The Ross Fenner, second Clerehan houses and House for Pettit and Sevitt.
Clerehan matriculated in 1938. The following year, he returned to St Patrick’s and gained honours in European History, English, French, Latin, Chemistry and a bare pass in Math I. The year after, he enrolled in the architecture program at the Melbourne Technical College (RMIT University). Being educated at a small, private school in art subjects, he did not know architecture drafting tools. In 1941, Clerehan joined the University Rifles. In 1942, he was enlisted in AIF and was transferred to camp, then to Brisbane, Queensland and New Guinea until 1944, when he picked up malaria at Mline Bay. He was discharged and brought back to Melbourne. During this war period, he met and became a close friend with Robin Boyd
.
In 1946, he resumed his course in RMIT University
, but he left for Melbourne University to do the Atlier course. He discontinued his final year, and enrolled in the Bachelor of Architecture, graduating in 1950. During his school years, Clerehan worked in Martin and Tribe office, and took his time-off to work as a labourer on the Gordon Homes project. He registered as an architect and established his own practice in 1951.
In 1952, Clerehan set off for his own overseas journey to the United States of America. Within a year, he hitch-hiked and travelled by bus to about forty states, including east and west Taliesin where he met Frank Lloyd Wright
. During this trip, he worked as a reporter for United Nations in New York. There, he met notable architects, including Philip Johnson
, Walter Gropius
, William Wurster
, Mies van der Rohe and Oscar Niemeyer
.
He married Sonia Cole in 1955, and moved to their first home in South Yarra from their unit in Grounds’ Hill Street, Toorak. By the late 1960s, they had four children so they moved to a bigger home in Walsh Street.
Neil Clerehan has described his style as that of "an unreconstructed Modernist". In 2010 he wrote that "architecture is a system rather than a style. I don't have a social conscience on the question of sustainability. I regard our building habits, especially of housing, as the antithesis of environmental empathy."
The Fenner House was produced after Clerehan opened his own practice in 1964. The house has two internal landscape courtyards, which provided light and views to come into the room. It was orientated to face north to the street, and the living room opens to the small surface through the full-height glazed doors. His design for Fenner House won the RVIA Bronze medal.
Clerehan won two awards for his project house for Pettit sand Sevitt: the 1970 New South Wales architect’s award and the State Electricity Commission Award in Victoria. This design was very popular that it sells three in a week and continues to do so for a year. The design was expressed as a modular skeletal structure providing an adaptable frame for the walls. There is no entry hall. The front door opens directly to the sitting area.
Clerehan has been a practicing architect for six decades already. Being grounded in the local traditions, Clerehan’s practice focuses on domestic architecture and puts forward Melbourne’s culture. Through this field, he has established his reputation. Clerehan is also famous for his encapsulation and dissemination of Architectural history through his publishing and community works.
His famous works include The Ross Fenner, second Clerehan houses and House for Pettit and Sevitt.
Personal life
Neil Clerehan was born in Brighton, Australia. As a boy, he had an interest in architecture, and was encouraged by his parents. He inspected family investment properties with his father, and familiarized with works of Australian Architecture through readings given by his mother whom studied painting at the National Gallery School.Clerehan matriculated in 1938. The following year, he returned to St Patrick’s and gained honours in European History, English, French, Latin, Chemistry and a bare pass in Math I. The year after, he enrolled in the architecture program at the Melbourne Technical College (RMIT University). Being educated at a small, private school in art subjects, he did not know architecture drafting tools. In 1941, Clerehan joined the University Rifles. In 1942, he was enlisted in AIF and was transferred to camp, then to Brisbane, Queensland and New Guinea until 1944, when he picked up malaria at Mline Bay. He was discharged and brought back to Melbourne. During this war period, he met and became a close friend with Robin Boyd
Robin Boyd
Robin Gerard Penleigh Boyd CBE was an influential Australian architect, writer, teacher and social commentator...
.
In 1946, he resumed his course in RMIT University
RMIT University
RMIT University is an Australian public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. It has two branches, referred to as RMIT University in Australia and RMIT International University in Vietnam....
, but he left for Melbourne University to do the Atlier course. He discontinued his final year, and enrolled in the Bachelor of Architecture, graduating in 1950. During his school years, Clerehan worked in Martin and Tribe office, and took his time-off to work as a labourer on the Gordon Homes project. He registered as an architect and established his own practice in 1951.
In 1952, Clerehan set off for his own overseas journey to the United States of America. Within a year, he hitch-hiked and travelled by bus to about forty states, including east and west Taliesin where he met Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
. During this trip, he worked as a reporter for United Nations in New York. There, he met notable architects, including Philip Johnson
Philip Johnson
Philip Cortelyou Johnson was an influential American architect.In 1930, he founded the Department of Architecture and Design at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, and later , as a trustee, he was awarded an American Institute of Architects Gold Medal and the first Pritzker Architecture...
, Walter Gropius
Walter Gropius
Walter Adolph Georg Gropius was a German architect and founder of the Bauhaus School who, along with Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier, is widely regarded as one of the pioneering masters of modern architecture....
, William Wurster
William Wurster
William Wilson Wurster was an American architect and architectural teacher at the University of California, Berkeley and at MIT, best known for his residential designs in California. - Biography :...
, Mies van der Rohe and Oscar Niemeyer
Oscar Niemeyer
Oscar Ribeiro de Almeida Niemeyer Soares Filho is a Brazilian architect specializing in international modern architecture...
.
He married Sonia Cole in 1955, and moved to their first home in South Yarra from their unit in Grounds’ Hill Street, Toorak. By the late 1960s, they had four children so they moved to a bigger home in Walsh Street.
Colleagues and Influences
After a year of travelling in United States of America, Neil Clerehan returned to Australia. Afterwards, his designs were influenced by modern American Architecture. Clerehan and Boyd met again after the WWI, and worked together for the Smudge, Victorian Modern and Small House Service. In 1980, Neil Clerehan became a partner with his close colleague, David Cran. They worked together until 1996, when Cran died of illness.Neil Clerehan has described his style as that of "an unreconstructed Modernist". In 2010 he wrote that "architecture is a system rather than a style. I don't have a social conscience on the question of sustainability. I regard our building habits, especially of housing, as the antithesis of environmental empathy."
Notable works
The Simon House was the most prominent work of Bell Clerehan partnership. The firm produced two identifiable works, which show the collaboration of each of the architects’ characteristic on it. The house has a rectangular plan, exposed post and beam structure with the beam extending beyond the roof. It also has a broad gallery, barbecue area, and an extensive view over the bay. In 1964, it won the Victorian Architectural Medal award.The Fenner House was produced after Clerehan opened his own practice in 1964. The house has two internal landscape courtyards, which provided light and views to come into the room. It was orientated to face north to the street, and the living room opens to the small surface through the full-height glazed doors. His design for Fenner House won the RVIA Bronze medal.
Clerehan won two awards for his project house for Pettit sand Sevitt: the 1970 New South Wales architect’s award and the State Electricity Commission Award in Victoria. This design was very popular that it sells three in a week and continues to do so for a year. The design was expressed as a modular skeletal structure providing an adaptable frame for the walls. There is no entry hall. The front door opens directly to the sitting area.
Awards
- 1941 Student Competition Award for designing the Portico for the University
- 1964 Victorian Architecture Medal
- 1967 RAIA Vic Chapter Bronze Medal Fenner Residence, 228 Domain Road South Yarra, Victorian Architecture Medal and Merchant Housing Award for a Standard Model House
- 1970 NSW Architect’s Award & State Electricity Commission Award
- 1971 The 2973J House and House for Petit and Sevitt
- 1972 Lot 634 Westleigh Estate
- 1973 18 Fawkner Street South Yarra and 90 Walsh Street, South Yarra
- 1974 Murray Maxwell Courtyard House
- 2004 Victorian Chapter of the RAIA President’s Award for the Hall of Fame
- 2005 RVIA Victorian Architecture Award