Touch the Earth Lightly
26 Jun 2015 – 27 Sep
Gallery One
How do buildings, architecture and people work with the landscape to create inspiring places? Touch the Earth Lightly is a series of exhibitions and events inspired by the renowned Australian architect, Glenn Murcutt.
Touch the Earth Lightly features; Glenn Murcutt: Architecture for Place and ISLAND: Eight Houses for the Isle of Harris (opening 24 July). In addition, the Glasgow Institute of Architects presents a series of complementary events and talks.
Glenn Murcutt is Australia’s most internationally recognised architect. In 1992 he was awarded the Gold Medal of the Australian Institute of Architects and in 1996, the Order of Australia (AO). In 2002 he received the Pritzker Prize, considered by architectures to be the equivalent of the Nobel Prize, and in 2009 he was awarded the Gold Medal of the American Institute of Architects.
This exhibition profiles a selection of his built work and, through his drawings, his working methods. Photographs by Anthony Browell fluently capture the essence of Murcutt’s design: harmony between building and nature. The exhibition particularly focusses on Murcutt’s houses, private residencies that are not open to visitors. Also shown is the award winning Arthur and Yvonne Boyd Art Centre at Riversdale, New South Wales. With its focus on the sustainability of the natural environment, Murcutt’s works are at the forefront of contemporary architecture. They are eloquent of form and refined in detailing, but primarily concerned with bringing the qualities of the surrounding world into the daily experience of the occupants.
Murcutt explains that he thinks by drawing. He considers architecture to be a path of discovery, and discovery to be a creative process. Drawing, to him, is an essential part of discovery. The hand, making drawings arrives at a solution before the mind is able to comprehend them. This exhibition presents drawings that trace the journey of creation through various stages of the design process, from initial sketch to detailed construction drawings.
The Nature of Art Nouveau Exhibition opens in Gallery 1 on 17th October. Read more: http://www.thelighthouse.co.uk/visit/exhibition/the-nature-of-art-nouveau