Decision details

Minute by the Lord Mayor

To Council:

The worlds of architecture, urban design and city making are mourning the recent passing of Peter Mould. For over 5 decades he devoted his life to architecture and design excellence, in Australia and internationally.

Growing up in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, Peter graduated from Vaucluse High in 1965. After completing an architecture degree at the University of NSW, he worked briefly on the Sydney Opera House with the Public Works Department in 1971. A period of extensive international travel led him to work in London, where he developed an interest in Islamic architecture, including its influence on Jorn Utzon. On a later visit to London, he met his wife, Kate, with whom he had 2 daughters, Mattie and Louise.

It was during his long career in the Government Architect’s Office as Deputy Government Architect and then as Government Architect from 2006 to 2012 that he had a major impact on public architecture. His work included the restoration of the St Mary’s Cathedral spires, upgrades at Circular Quay, master planning for Sydney Cove and work on the public domain at Taronga Zoo.

My husband Peter remembers working with him in Police and Courts within the Architect’s Office. He particularly remembers Peter Mould’s significant influence guiding, advising, mentoring and assisting other architects. He was also skilled in leading projects, many of which won awards.

As Government Architect, Peter also served on the Central Sydney Planning Committee, bringing an unerring commitment to design quality and the public interest to some of the most consequential planning decisions affecting central Sydney. His work included major projects such as the restoration of St Mary's Cathedral, upgrades to Circular Quay and master planning for Sydney Cove.

That was not the limit of his association with the City.

In 2007, we established the City’s Design Advisory Panel to put design excellence at the heart of our work. As well as demanding better from private development we wanted to hold our own projects to the same high standard.

We brought together some of Australia’s most respected design minds to give us independent, fearless advice, including Peter as Deputy Chair. He brought that same clarity and rigour to the role, translating the ambition of design excellence into better buildings, streets and public spaces across Sydney, including the development of George Street and, through Green Square, a significant contribution to meeting the City's continuing housing needs.

He was always ready to ask the difficult question, probe an assumption, or challenge a proposal when he believed Sydney deserved better.

He had an extraordinary ability to work through complex problems with diplomacy, technical skill and, very often, a welcome sense of humour. That made him invaluable when projects were particularly difficult. Whenever we set up sub-committees of the Design Advisory Panel to give detailed consideration to particularly challenging projects, I always wanted Peter to be included on them.

Peter’s contribution extended beyond his work with the Government Architect’s Office and the City of Sydney. He served as a member of Design Review Panels in Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, ACT and NSW, for the University of NSW, Sydney Olympic Park and Transport for NSW, as well as chair and member of numerous competition juries for the State and City of Sydney.

He was the initiator and founding Chair of the Sydney Opera House Eminent Architects Panel. This panel provided critical design leadership for the decade of significant renewal and contemporary transformation of the Opera House.

He also served as Councillor for the International Union of Architects and as a Member of the UNESCO-UIA Joint Committee for the World Capital of Architecture.

As a Visiting and Adjunct Professor at University of NSW Peter mentored future generations of architects.

Peter was also a leading voice within the profession through his lectures and writing. He encouraged people to look beyond the immediate demands of a project and consider its broader and longer-term contribution - how a design could be improved, how it can better serve the public, and how the decisions we make today will shape the city inherited by future generations.

Writing about Peter’s life and contribution fellow architect Ken Maher observed:

“Perhaps Peter’s greatest professional legacy is also the simplest: that design excellence matters. It is not simply about creating better buildings. It is about taking responsibility for the places we create, understanding their lasting impact, and continually asking how design can better serve the people and communities who will inherit them.”

the Rt HOn CLOVER MOORE AO

Lord Mayor of Sydney

Moved by the Chair (the Lord Mayor), seconded by Councillor Miller –

It is resolved that:

(A)      all persons attending this meeting of Council observe one minute's silence to commemorate the life of Peter Mould and his significant contribution to architecture, urban design and city making

(B)      Council express its condolences to Peter's widow, Kate, and their daughters Mattie and Louise

(C)      the Lord Mayor be requested to write to Peter Mould's family to convey Council's condolences.

Carried unanimously.

S051491

Note – All Councillors, staff and members of the public present stood in silence for one minute as a mark of respect to Peter Mould.