Participant
Reviews
GLENN MURCUTT INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURE MASTER CLASS
The Glenn Murcutt International Architecture Master Class has been held
now each year for five years 2001- 2005, in July in Australia. Participants
have come from Canada, Jamaica, England, Wales, Belgium, Italy, Spain,
Portugal, Germany, France, Austria, Sweden, Denmark, Bulgaria, Norway,
Ireland, The Netherlands, Singapore, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Vietnam, Kuwait,
China, Cyprus, Luxembourg, The Faroe islands, India, United Arab Emirates,
Slovenia, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Mexico, many states of the USA, South Africa,
New Zealand and Australia. ?Participants have joined with Glenn Murcutt,
Richard Leplastrier, Peter Stutchbury and Lindsay Johnston in a two week
studio based program working on a design project on sites adjoining the
Arthur and Yvonne Boyd Centre, described as Glenn’s ‘Master
Work’, on the banks of the Shoalhaven River. The program includes
evening talks by all the tutors, a public lecture by Glenn, site visits
to houses by Glenn and Peter in nearby Kangaroo Valley, and ends with
a two day Sydney houses excursions to houses by Glenn, Richard and Peter.
The bare facts conceal a rich and unforgettable architectural, educational
and ‘life’ experience.
See What They Said.....
When the
planes land, and the spirits arrive, the sense of fusion is Immediate.
Overwhelming yet familiar sense of belonging on having found what was
lacking within us. Masterly talks and newly born lines combining the Human
and the Sublime. Different cultures touching each other by day and by
night. Feelings of life long friendships will fuel our lives for years
to come. Suddenly my world is minute, suddenly my family has grown.
Hugo Hamity, Argentina / South Africa
A stunning
two weeks Master Class was a dignified conclusion of my intense journey
through the red centre. The unique experience was based on Glenn’s,
Richard’s, Peter’s, Lindsay’s and Max’s immense
knowledge about perceiving the landscape and working closely along that
thread. The colourful group allowed glimpses into different cultures and
left a worldwide network behind. Thanks to everyone.
Daniel Steindl, Austria
GMMC was
a wonderful experience. As time passes you realise it more and more. I
want to meet all you again... the relations are so deep and wide that
any small scratch on any friend, there will be a pain in me... and that
is more than a happy friendship. I am charged up like a fully recharged
battery. Apart from our architectural refinements all other things were
truly inspiring. Firstly Lindsay's' skill of arranging every thing so
wonderfully and still he was tireless. I must learn basic music skills.
Now when I see the globe I have different feelings. Somewhere in a small
dot in the world map one of my dear friend is either happily sleeping
or reading home bills or rushing to the office..or eating Chinese food..
and exactly I can visualise how that scene would be because I know them
so well now…..is it not so wonderful. And at last but not least..
all 4 tutors..so inspiring that I need not to write for them. So slowly
I realise that GMMC was not 15 days class but it was so deep and wide
in relations for ever...and ever....
Hiren Patel, India
... after
two weeks I can say that the Master Class experience IS a life changing
experience for me ... and I would like to thank each one of you for sharing
the Masters experience with me, to let me enter your wonderful and special
personalities, minds and souls ... and so to enrich my own life in very
touching and a profound way...forever. Shared joy is double joy ... THANK
YOU! Yesterday was a month of my staying here in Australia and I found
this country and its nature very special ... and people! They are so healthy
in the way they live, think, treat each other and the way they connect
with the nature and the universe, ... amazing and pure joy for LIFE ...
as it is whole Australia experience itself pure JOY for me... this month
of wonderful experiences, meeting new people and beautiful events, that
started to happen to me EVERY SINGLE day, is such an OVERWHELMING JOURNEY...
which started with the Master Class ... and continues and continues ...
I wish you all the best, enjoy your lives, keep in touch and ... give
away all shared experiences to keep them in our hearts, ... God bless
you all!
Vesna Hrvatin, Slovenia
A warm thanks
to everyone who participated in, directed or supported the class. I will
forever appreciate all the students and mentors. Working for a project
with a diverse group in such a short time.....all that we learned....all
the words we learned!! The songs we sang at the table that I now teach
my children. The lessons we learned and will take with us as boat builders,
designers, architects, filmmakers... etc. I wish everyone a safe return
home. The door will always be open in Virginia.
Greg Simon, USA
It is difficult
to put into words what happened to me during those two weeks. Sharing
work and free time with all of you was great, something I hadn´t
done for a long time. It was also great to see that we could achieve something
really good working with sensitive, talented people. Different situations
and experiences added and freshened up the creative process. Great tutors
with a positive frame of mind brought out the best in everybody. The students
who helped us where amazing. I was astonished by the quality and sensitivity
of all the final schemes. They were all interesting and original. Showing
the great amount of the participants’ creativity and work and the
sensible tutoring which made such outcomes possible. The country and the
people amazed me - and best, I rediscovered that architecture might have
a reason. Thank you all for sharing work, rooms or beers, in my group
or the Master Class in general for the most wonderful time. I thought
it was going to be a vacation, but it was busy as hell. You always have
a crash pad in South America. Un gran abrazo
Diego Montero, Uruguay
Glenn Murcutt
---to Touch the Land Lightly with environment responding architectures!
Richard Leplastrier---to Respect the family life with family-like homes!
Peter Stutchbury---to Appreciate the sense of a place with the outside
and inside space integrated into one!
Lindsay Johnston---To carefully analyse the site with bushfire-free houses!
Max Harrison---Thanks a lot of your talks about Energy of aboriginal culture
matching with Fengshui of China!
Prof. Tom Heneghan---Thanks a lot of your Integral Student Workshops at
School of Architecture in University of Sydney!
I will be dreaming back to Riversdale every night!
Jiang Wei, China
I am just
so thankful for this very special time we had all together, the sensitivity
in this new country and all your openness, wisdom, knowledge and incredible
sharing, a deep gift
Simone Barth, Germany
This Master
Class have been a concentrate of emotions. Two incredible weeks that I'll
never forget. Kind people, delightful landscapes, enchanting animals,
sweet colours. I've found new friends and I've had a chance to share experiences
and ways of living of others cultures from all over the world. Tutors
(Glenn, Richard, Peter, Lindsay, Tom and Max) have been like fathers for
us, and love for architecture and nature has joined us in this beautiful
tale.
Enrico Crobu, Italy
Please e-mail info@ozetecture.org
for further information or fax +61 2 4998 6237.