Barry Patten


Barry Beauchamp Patten was an Australian architect and Olympic alpine skier.

Background and early career

Patten was born in, Melbourne, Victoria. He was educated at Caulfield Grammar School and he studied architecture first at Melbourne Technical College before completing his degree at the University of Melbourne in 1951. At age 24, he competed for Australia at the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo as an alpine skier, although he did not progress to the medal rounds.
Patten was the father of Samuel Patten, a former world champion and Olympic rower, who was part of the first version of the Oarsome Foursome coxless four.

Architectural career

Patten joined the architecture firm of Yuncken Freeman Brothers, Griffiths and Simpson.
In 1957, he submitted a design for the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne. His design was chosen for the bowl and he worked as the project architect.
Patten designed three buildings in Victoria which are now on the Victorian Heritage Register: