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.