HIGH DESIGN DOWN UNDER

Words  ::  Will Jones   //  Images  ::  Earl Carter

There is an exquisite precision, a refined Modernism but also an almost ethereal timelessness to the architecture of Sean Godsell. His work harbours the same ultimate abstract qualities that a Rothko or Mondrian exudes and yet it slips so gracefully into the context of its surroundings that it has obviously been created with great consideration to them.Godsell is one of Australia’s most celebrated architectural talents. His designs grace the covers of magazines world-wide and win awards in numbers that would make his mantelpiece groan, if it weren’t for the fact that he lives in one of his own designs and fancy fire surrounds don’t figure in these minimal masterpieces.
This style, while not unique, has been practiced and perfected by Godsell for over 15 years now. He set up his practice in 1994, however, Godsell’s designs owe some of their inspiration to great architects from the US, UK and Japan. “After I graduated I travelled and worked in London for Sir Denys Lasdun,” he says. “My father was a Frank Lloyd Wright inspired architect and was an early influence on my career. Along the way, I have also spent a lot of time in Japan and so architects like Ando, Shinohara and Sejima continue to influence my work, as do Europeans including Zumthor and Nouvel, and most of all, Le Corbusier.”
On returning to Australia in 1990, Godsell worked for a large commercial practice called the Hassell Group, while moonlighting on small projects from home. Experience gained with Hassell set him in good stead to work successfully in an Australian architectural market that is in turn exciting and fraught with pitfalls. Godsell explains:  “Australian architects are lucky because we get to build a lot. Relatively though, an alarmingly low percentage of buildings in Australia are designed by architects and yet we have a high percentage of architects per capita, and, an unregulated profession. The result is that projects are fee-squeezed from day one, often resulting in a lower quality end product than what might otherwise be the case. I am an advocate for a heavily regulated profession in Australia, a country of only 20 million people. This would hopefully result in fewer architects being paid properly to do good work.”
By good work Godsell means design that is both aesthetically exceptional and in tune with the environment. His latest residential project to be completed is Glenburn House an amazing low-lying home 1.5 hours north of Melbourne near the foothills of the Yarra Ranges. Here, Godsell’s signature masculine Minimalism envelopes a property that features rainwater harvesting, solar energy and hot water provision, plus the infrastructure for future exploitation of wind power. The building has an external operable shading skin and argon filled low E coated double glazing. It is built into the landscape to harness the insulative properties of earth walls and all of the timber used is recycled. Finally, a computer based building management system controls many aspects of the house’s services to minimise energy consumption.
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