Peddle Thorp


Peddle Thorp is an Australian-based architecture, interior design, and urban planning firm, with offices located in Melbourne, Victoria, in Asia and in the Middle East.

Major architectural works

Peddle Thorp has designed some of Australia's landmark buildings including the following major architectural projects:
CompletedProject nameLocationAwardNotes
1988National Tennis Centre at Flinders Park Flinders Park, Melbourne, Victoria
1997Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre, Melbourne, Victoria
2000Hilton Melbourne Airport Melbourne Airport, VictoriaExcellence in Construction Award
Melbourne Aquarium and Antarctic ExhibitionMelbourne Aquarium, VictoriaAustralian Property Council, Category Winner
TEDA Football StadiumTianjin, ChinaZhan Tian You Award, Winner
Lu Ban Award, Winner
Royal Hobart Hospital, TasmaniaAustralian Institute of Architects Awards, Urban Design Award, Winner
Kardinia ParkSouth Geelong, Victoria-
2010ANZ Bank HeadquartersDocklands, Melbourne, VictoriaWorld Architecture Festival Interiors and Fit Out, Overall Winner
RMIT Design HubRMIT University, Melbourne City campus, VictoriaVictorian Architecture Medal
William Wardell Award for Public Architecture
International Prize for Sustainable Architecture

The firm produced highly innovative design features such as the roof opening at the tennis centre at Melbourne Park, which was one of the first in the world to use this approach; to allow for play in all kinds of weather. The firm's New Zealand branch, established in 1968, has also designed various buildings of note, including the Metropolis in Auckland, and Vodafone on the Park in Wellington.

Criticism

Despite its success, Peddle Thorp was criticised by Norman Day, an architectural critic, for producing buildings of little value. Day's views have been contested by Peddle Thorp's design director, Peter Brook. The dispute reflects a broader tension in architectural circles about its role in the commercial sphere. The dispute was seen publicly when a group of architects opposed Peddle Thorp designed changes to Harold Holt swimming pool in 2007. The dispute lost ground when the original architect Daryl Jackson praised Peddle Thorp's revised designs. The highly successful commercial architect Barry Patten, who designed the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, also faced similar criticism from Day and other critics during his career. He was later seen as one of Australia's greatest architects.