The Travelling Scholars:
2001: Andrew Donaldson
2002: Nicholas Elias
2003: Sara Trusscott
2004: Cherry Williamson
The world of Architecture as we know it today is under constant change due to the effects of globalisation. Many Architects are choosing to adopt foreign design strategies and integrate latest technologies in search for contemporary, yet often universal architectural solutions. Others however, like our very own Glenn Murcutt and Norway’s Sverre Fehn, are leading the architectural movement known as ‘critical regionalism’; aiming to provide an architecture of ‘place’ and ‘sensuality’, through integration of both modern technology and traditional design principles. In 2005, upon receiving the Eric Parker Travelling Scholarship, Cherry embarked on a 3 month study tour throughout Scandinavia to examine the ways in which regional architects respond to their natural surroundings through the craft of architecture.
Cherry Williamson is a graduate architect currently working with one of Sydney’s most prolific, multi-award winning firms. Her collaboration on a large number of architectural design competitions and most recently on a 6-Green Star sustainable research facility at the University of New South Wales has provided her with a broad range of experiences across varying project scales, urban landscapes and building typologies. Having grown up in rural NSW, Cherry’s design philosophies are very much centred around an understanding of ‘place’, fundamental building ‘purpose’ and local construction ‘practice’, to ensure the creation of architecture that can sustain both current and future generations.
After studying architecture in the post-industrial city of Newcastle and spending 2 months living in Papua New Guinea as part of a community development program, her most recent research interests focus on the development of bottom-up architectural initiatives in attempt to revitalise the heart of the city and create alternate employment opportunities for young emerging architects.
“The Eric Parker Travelling Scholarship provided me with a unique and amazing opportunity to travel and experience a world of architecture that previously I had only dreamt of visiting. At such a pivotal point my studies the scholarship allowed me to distil and develop my design sensibilities through self-directed travel before returning to university; re-invigorated and ready to complete my final degree. I cannot express how beneficial the scholarship experience has been for my career, not only to my personal development, but also in terms of ongoing support of networks and friendships made within the industry, gaining a greater appreciation and knowledge of architecture outside Australia, and having the opportunity to contribute to the Australian community by sharing this knowledge with others.”
2005: Phillip Hails
2006: Josephine Bastian
2007: Kim Bridgland
In 2007 I was the recipient of the University of Newcastle Eric Parker Travelling Scholarship in Architecture. Over three months during the northern winter period I used the opportunity to travel to Japan, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, The Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France and England. The plan was to visit and experience the work of artists and architects that demand a more critical response (intentionally or not) from us in their use of materiality, and in their dialogue with the natural environment; to engage with architecture at its most haptic level. On these travels I sought out the works of a range of critical architects and artists including Kengo Kuma, Doris Salcedo, Tadao Ando, Richard Long, Claude Monet, Sou Fujimoto, Steven Holl, Hiroshi Sugimoto, Alvar Aalto, Matti Sanaksenaho, James Turrell, Jørn Utzon, Rachel Whiteread, Peter Zumthor, Nan Goldin, Christian Kerez, Renzo Piano, Walter DeMaria, Yayoi Kusama, Le Corbusier and Herzog & De Meuron.
I am currently studying a Masters of Architecture at RMIT University in Melbourne, while also engaging in several residential commissions and a developing art practice.
Since returning from my travels I have been involved with various projects that lie within architecture’s interdisciplinary and lateral boundaries, especially where they overlap with the realm of art. These works include an installation in an underutilised space in Newcastle’s CBD called ‘hunting grounds’ which grew out of a need to physically experiment with space and to harness this thing called ‘poetics’, and a collaborative public art commission called ‘I dwell in the city and the city dwells in me’ as a part of the 2009 ‘Laneways By George’ public art festival in Sydney. I have also spent a year working with the award winning Sydney based practice, Architect Marshall.
The travelling scholarship gave me the invaluable opportunity to experience great works of architecture and art first hand in their natural environments and varied social contexts, but possible more importantly it gave me the chance at an early stage in my education to develop a strong sense of self belief and conviction; to begin to take myself and my own ideas seriously.
2008: Shea O’Donoghue
Shea O’Donoghue was born in the small town of Kurri Kurri, which gave her an abiding love for the beauty of the bush. Newcastle University only extended this, whilst its twenty-four hour studio allowed total immersion in architecture and offered life-long friendships. Under the Eric Parker traveling scholarship she travelled to over twenty countries, sketched hundreds of buildings and learned more about architecture than she could ever have imagined.
The original itinerary and budget was for to travel to seven countries over a four-month period. Instead, the budget stretched to over ten months and twenty countries, quite without any conscious violation or economies on my part. I have no idea how I traveled so far and saw so much.
During that time I saw so much it would be impossible to describe it all. The beautiful delicacy of a Calatrava’s buildings in Valencia, Gaudi’s masterworks in Barcelona.
Spending many days in Florence happily sketching, drawing the Duomo and almost every building in sight as I shivered beneath a flimsy umbrella. I held the sketchbook and pen closely to avoid getting it wet, the buildings were so spellbinding in their intricacy.
Quietly walking through the sublime beauty of Tadao Ando’s Chichuen Museum with the work of James Turrell and Monet framed perfectly in Japan. The perfect proportions of the Farnsworth House near in America. The elaborate mosaics of Moroccan places of learning. Walking for hours in Japan to reach a deceptively simple, perfectly designed temple in Japan. The experiences are endless and incalculably valuable.
The countries travelled to in travelling order;
Thailand, Italy, Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, Spain, Morocco, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, America and Japan.
Shea spent a year working in the Melbourne office of Suters, working on fantastic projects with wonderful people. She is now embarking on her fourth year of university in Monash’s first ever Architecture course where she hopes to imbue the design culture that is so freely prevalent at Newcastle University.
In the year after I’ve been working in the Melbourne Suters office with a great team of people on a number of exciting projects in the health and recreation sectors. I’m also in the Design Focus Group for the Melbourne office. I’ve just started my Masters at the new facilities in Monash where I hope to be able to contribute the passion for design and independent learning that I have gained at Newcastle (very tempting to go back there).
The Eric Parker Travelling Scholarship is the best thing that has happened to my life. It has expanded my horizons beyond measure, given me a greater perspective on life, people and the world.
The sketching component of the award means that I have really seen and experienced quality architecture at its most tactile level. Visualisation of three dimensional spaces and sketching are an innate part of how I now see the world.
The existence of the scholarship itself benefits not only the scholars but also the whole travelling culture of Newcastle University, producing outstanding graduates who appreciate the value of travel and real life experience.
I cannot think of an experience more perfectly designed to create people who aspire to be compassionate, passionate advocates of great architecture. I can only admire the foresight and discernment of Eric Parker and the members of the Architecture Foundation.
Shea O’Donoghue
2009: Poppy Bevan
Poppy Bevan, the 2009 Eric Parker Travelling Scholar
And . . .
all Eric Parker Travelling Scholars, following their return from their travels. They remain full members of the Foundation until completion of their studies in Architecture at the University of Newcastle.