Bill and Ruth Lucas

Bill (1924-2001) and Ruth (1926-) Lucas (née Harvey) were a husband and wife duo who together were accomplished Australian architects based in Sydney, best known for designing The Glass House (also known as the Lucas House[1]) in Castlecrag as their own private residence.[2] As an architect, educator, furniture designer, set designer, innovator, and utopian, Bill was involved in over 20 projects in both Castlecrag and later Paddington.[2] Both Bill and Ruth were described as "very good architects in the modern movement in Australia" by Pritzker Architecture Prize 2002 Laureate, Glenn Murcutt.[3]

This article is about the joint life and works of Bill and Ruth Lucas. See also separate article on Bill Lucas (architect)
"Ruth Lucas" redirects here. For the United States Air Force officer, see Ruth A. Lucas.

Personal lives

Bill Lucas was born on 31 December 1924 in Sydney.[2] He was drafted into the RAAF Air Crew service in 1943, where he served for three years.[2] He then had his first education on architecture in University of Sydney where he graduated with honours.[2] Bill went on to work in New Zealand with Hugh Grierson Architects, and designed his first home at Gymea Bay, Sydney, with his brother Neville.[2]

Ruth Harvey is mentioned as the only female architect attending the opening of the exhibition of Retrospective Architecture held in Sydney in 1954.[4]

Between circa 1955 Bill and Ruth met and, in 1956, were married. They had six children.[2]

The couple designed their famous Glass House at Castlecrag, Sydney in 1957, which became their family home for 5 years.[5] In 1962 they moved to Underwood Street where helped to develop The Paddington Society.[2]

On Monday, 10 September 2001, Bill Lucas died of a heart attack at Moonbah, Thredbo.[2]

Notable projects

Design group

Between 1955–57 Bill Lucas and Ruth Harvey worked with Neville Gruzman and Tony Moore where they lobbied for the design competition for the Sydney Opera House.[2] Bill was also in the forefront of the campaign to keep Jørn Utzon on as designer.[6]

Glass House
Main article: The Glass House (Castlecrag)

One of the best-known projects of Bill and Ruth Lucas is The Glass House also simply known as Lucas House, a house designed by Bill Lucas, as the home for Bill and Ruth Lucas, located in the Sydney suburb of Castlecrag.[1] The house is a realization of their idea of an architecture that is 'barely there', or otherwise maintaining their integration with the bush setting.[5] Bill Lucas also emphasizes the importance of the frame as the main structure of the architecture, 'everything that goes on after that destroys the original structure'.[7] The house was built for their family, constructed with economy in mind.[7] It was designed to function both as a studio and residence but within 5 years had become too small for the expanding Lucas family.[5]

The Paddington Society

The Lucases became actively involved in helping to prevent the suburb of Paddington from comprehensive redevelopment.[2] Paddington was the scene of many historical sites and architecture, notably Juniper Hall and Centennial Park.[6] The Society also lobbied to prevent a sports stadium from being built in Centennial Park.[6] The society still functions today as an action group but also serves to record the historical landmarks of the area.[6] At Paddington, the couple was involved in designing Orange Tree Grove, a medium-density housing project, as well as the Orange Tree Grove Cooperative Art Centre with Owen Tooth, Marion Best and Mary White.[2] Both of them were also involved in arranging the purchase of "Sea View Villa", Oxford Street, Paddington, where Ruth helps to establish Guriganya Progressive Community School.[2]

Other projects
  • Block House – Castlecrag, commissioned by Con and Addie Saltis, 1960.[2]

References
  1. Sydney Architecture. Sydney Architecture Images – Northern Suburbs. Retrieved 13 April 2011, from http://www.sydneyarchitecture.com/NOR/NOR08.htm
  2. Myers, P Lewis, R Lucas, D & Lucas, A. 2002. 'Obituary', Architecture Australia, vol. 91, no.6, p.82. Retrieved 11 April 2011, from http://www.archaust.com/aa/aaissue.php?issueid=200211&article=30&typeon=3 Archived 23 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Murcutt, Glenn. 2002. 'The Prizker Architecture Prize: Glenn Murcutt 2002 Laureate Acceptance Speech', p.2. Retrieved 14 April 2011 from "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 December 2010. Retrieved 12 April 2011.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. Architects take over from artists, The Sydney Morning Herald, 8 September 1954, p. 13 (archived by Google News). Retrieved 2011-12-01.
  5. Docomomo Australia. New International Selection Full Documentation Fiche 2003 – Glass House, Castlecrag, Sydney, NSW, Australia. Retrieved 13 April 2011, from http://docomomoaustralia.com.au/pdf/Fiche_2003/FICHE_GLASSH.pdf
  6. The Paddington Society 2010. September 2001 News Bulletin. Retrieved 12 April 2011, from http://www.paddingtonsociety.org.au/files/Bulletin%202001%20Sept.pdf
  7. McCartney, K. 2007. 50/60/70: iconic Australian houses : three decades of domestic architecture, Murdoch Books, Sydney
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