Edmond and Corrigan

A view of Edmond and Corrigan's Building 8 from Bowen Lane.
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, an interest in suburbia and a search for an Australian architectural identity. Peter Corrigan taught design studios at RMIT University for over 30 years, until his death in December 2016.

A view of Edmond and Corrigan's Building 8 from Swanston Street.
RMIT Building 8, as seen from Swanston Street


Architectural practice

A view of the VCA Theatre building.
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. The project was published in 1977. The School of the Resurrection, Keysborough was awarded the Victorian Architecture Medal in 1979.

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'. 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'. The rectification awards their work as a unique and innovative partnership.

Notable projects and awards

The following projects, all completed in or for Victorian locations, were designed by Edmond & Corrigan:

Edmond & Corrigan projects list
YearProjectClientLocationTypeAwards
1977Freedom Club Childcare CentreKeysboroughEducation
1977Church of the ResurrectionKeysboroughReligion
1978Chapel of St Joseph (now Strabane Chapel Hall)27–29 Strabane Avenue, Mont Albert NorthReligion
1978Resurrection SchoolKeysboroughEducation
1982Kew HouseKewResidential
  • RAIA Housing Merit Award, 1982 (Vic)
1982Kay Street HousingMinistry of Housing75—79 Kay Street, CarltonResidential
1984Merli HouseMerricks North, Mornington PeninsulaResidential
1985Fairfield AmphitheatreFairfield Park, FairfieldPublic space
1986Office of Edmond & Corrigan46 Little Latrobe Street, MelbourneCommercial
1988Dandenong College of TAFE, Stage 3DandenongEducation
1988Athan HouseLouis & Sophie AthanMonbulkResidential
  • RAIA Bronze Medal for Outstanding Architecture Award, New Residential Category, 1989 (Vic)
1988Walsh House, Scheme for Pool PavilionResidential
  • Architecture Australia Prize for Unbuilt Work, 1994
1991Keilor Fire StationVictorian GovernmentKeilorPublic
1994Oakleigh Fire StationVictorian GovernmentOakleighPublic
1994RMIT Building 8 ExtensionRMIT UniversityMelbourneEducation
1995Greensborough Office and CarparkGreensboroughCommercial
1995Ringwood Library Complex, Civic PlazaRingwoodCultural
  • RAIA Urban Design Award, 1995 (Vic)
  • RAIA Award of Merit, Institutional Category, 1996 (Vic)
1996Windsor Fire StationVictorian GovernmentWindsorPublic
  • Metal Building Award, Certificate of Merit, 1996
  • RAIA Award of Merit (Vic)
  • BHP Colorbond Steel Award, 1997
  • RAIA Award of Merit, Commercial Category, 1997 (Vic)
1996Exhibition Centre Showgrounds Stage 1Melbourne Showgrounds, Ascot ValePublic
  • RAIA Award of Merit, Commercial Category, 1997 (Vic)
1999Lehrer ResidenceCaulfieldResidential
  • RAIA Award of Merit, 2000 (Vic)
2001Drama School, Victorian College of the Arts30 Dodds Street, SouthbankEducation
2001Niagara Galleries245 Punt Road, RichmondArts
  • Dulux Colour Awards, Commercial Exterior Winner, 2002
  • BHP Colorbond Award, 2002 (Vic)
2001Allan & Maria Myers Academic CentreNewman College and St Mary's College, ParkvilleEducation
  • Heritage Architecture Award, 2005 (Vic)
2005Lux House alteration, front porchResidential
2005Readings Bookshop309 Lygon Street, CarltonCommercial
Edmond and Corrigan selected projects

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. ↑ "State Awards 2010". ArchitectureAU.com. 1 July 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  13. ↑ "Statement of Significance: Ministry of Housing Infill Public Housing, 75-79 Kay Street" (PDF). Melbourne Planning Scheme. November 2021. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  14. ↑ Bertram, Nigel (13 October 2014). "Merli House (1984) revisited". ArchitectureAU.com. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  15. ↑ "Fairfield Park amphitheatre gains state heritage protection". ArchitectureAU.com. 31 January 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  16. ↑ "RAIA State Awards". ArchitectureAU.com. 1 September 1997. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
  17. ↑ "VcaDramaschool < Arch < MNHS Wiki". wiki.med.monash.edu.au. Archived from the original on 4 April 2021.
  18. ↑ Hamann, Conrad (1 September 2004). "Academic community". ArchitectureAU.com. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  19. ↑ "2005 Victorian Architecture Awards". theage.com.au. 23 July 2005. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
  20. ↑ Feagins, Lucy (27 July 2018). "Readings Carlton Refresh By Nest Architects". The Design Files. Retrieved 10 February 2024.

Further reading