240:
Milan, Mangiarotti and
Morassutti, granted him an interview. Robert and Lilian Dickson both went to Milan, stopping first in England to visit relatives and making their way from there. The two returned to Adelaide in 1957, and their son was born within weeks of their return. Dickson started his own practice, as well as taught part-time and wrote for the paper, before entering a partnership with
492:
202:, a place he describes as a "compelling urban paradise". He attended Christ Church School from age 4 to 11 and Adelaide High for secondary education, where he met his wife, Lilian. After graduating from high school in 1943, he enlisted to become a pilot at 17 years old. Throughout his life, he was obsessed with the theory of flight and joining the
252:
Dickson shared a practical design philosophy which flat-out rejected the idea of architectural "style". It was based on principles that design should respond to the surrounding environment, respect human values, aspire to direct solutions to problems and integrate the parts in the simplest possible
218:
arose.) Shortly thereafter, he applied to be discharged (as was allowed for RAAF aircrew who wanted to take up tertiary training) and was flown back to
Adelaide when the application was accepted. Although he had applied, he had no idea what educational path he wanted to go down. It was his father's
231:
model, a system he disagreed with and tried to rebel against in his student assignments. He began designing his first house in 1949 when still a student, and the project became a major part of his studies. He took a year off to construct it in 1951. By the time it was habitable, he and Lilian were
239:
By 1954, Dickson was getting more and more dissatisfied with the direction contemporary architecture was taking, feeling that the post-war architecture was becoming stagnant and cliché. This was what prompted him to start looking at work being done in Europe, more specifically, Italy. A firm in
235:
As a student, Dickson successfully applied for part-time work in the office
Claridge, Hassell and McConnell where he was mentored by another student, Brian Claridge, and Ron Gunn, the associate. He and Claridge became close friends. After a few years, the firm split into Claridge and Gunn, and
888:
236:
Hassell and McConnell, with
Dickson going with the latter because of the projects he had been working on at the time. He continued at that office after he graduated, whilst participating in part-time post-graduate studies in City Planning and Illuminating Engineering.
179:
127:
architect. His many works contributed greatly to various aspects of South
Australian architecture, ranging from conservation shelters to school buildings and residential projects. His most notable works are former premier,
256:
Dickson's work revolves around sustainable design and environmental concerns, which filters into his architecture, from construction methods and materiality to the extensive involvement with the local community.
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89:
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206:(RAAF) was a realisation of that boyhood passion. When his programme was abandoned and flight training ceased in May 1945, he was co-opted into the
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The Louis
Laybourne Smith School of Architecture & Building, South Australian Institute of Technology: A History, 1906-1976
681:
253:
form. His work displays a sensitive relationship to site, intuitive use of materials and care about design and craftsmanship.
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to work in Air
Transport Command. (He did not fly again until 48 years later when an opportunity to pilot a restored
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605:
355:
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203:
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636:
451:
RAIA (SA Chapter) Award of Merit 1996, Adelaide City
Council Commendation, and Adelaide Prize Commendation for
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642:
228:
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474:
289:
137:
611:
837:
557:
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1138:
Proceedings of the
Society of Architectural Historians of Australia and New Zealand conference
1087:
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1058:
1029:
1010:
151:–based Italian firm, Mangiarotti and Morasutti, for less than a year. He was also employed at
893:
649:
677:
Union House, an addition to the Union
Building Group, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide.
207:
175:
147:
Whilst he spent the majority of his life practising in South Australia, he did work for a
124:
993:
Year Book of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects 1954: South Australian Chapter
1125:
Government of South Australia. Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources.
630:
227:
He started the architectural course in 1946. His architectural course was based on the
199:
1170:
272:
183:
342:
491:
448:
RAIA (SA Chapter) Award of Merit for Hope Valley Water Treatment Plant Buildings
141:
129:
211:
159:
for a short time directly afterwards. Firms bearing his name in Adelaide were
1002:. Blue Book of South Australia : Biographies South Australia, Adelaide.
435:
RAIA (SA Chapter) Citation for Office Building for Associated Securities Ltd
426:
RAIA (SA Chapter) Award of Merit for Kathleen Lurnley Postgraduate College
133:
48:
318:
156:
148:
432:
RAIA (SA Chapter) Citation for Adelaide University Union Bookshop
485:
348:
Extensions for Art gallery of South Australia, Adelaide (1990)
144:. He was described by Don Dunstan as the "premier architect".
1119:
Nationally Significant 20th-Century Architecture: Union House
654:
Civic Trust of SA 1989 Commendation for Memorial Clock Tower
1134:
An unselfconscious architecture: the work of Robert Dickson
669:
Four buildings designed by Dickson have been listed on the
629:
Civic Trust of SA 1982 Award for Housing, Margaret Street,
466:
Additions (in association with Peddle Thorp, Sydney office)
455:
Additions (in association with Peddle Thorp, Sydney office)
445:
RAIA (SA Chapter) Award of Merit for Salisbury Civic Centre
351:
Office building for Associated Securities Limited, Adelaide
180:
University of Adelaide Faculty of Architecture and Planning
1041:
Sculptors in Space: South Australian Architects 1836-1986
232:
married. That house was still their home 57 years later.
1007:
A Pictorial Guide to Identifying Australian Architecture
198:
Robert Harold Dickson, born on 8 April 1926, grew up in
648:
Civic Trust of SA 1988 Award for Conservation Shelter,
429:
RAIA (SA Chapter) Award of Merit for House at Millswood
219:
suggestion of architectural training that was pivotal.
1086:. South Australian Institute of Technology, Adelaide.
1122:
Retrieved online at Architecture.com.au 1 May 2014.
324:Proposed town centre for Monarto (lead draftsman),
100:
84:
76:
68:
56:
30:
23:
1046:Royal Australian Institute of Architects. (1981)
991:Royal Australian Institute of Architects. (1954)
741:
739:
635:Civic Trust of SA 1986 Commendation for Housing,
616:Civic Trust of SA 1978 Award for Housing Estate,
1112:Nationally Significant 20th-Century Architecture
1005:Apperly, R., Irving, R. and Reynolds, P. (1989)
1160:Record of State Heritage Place: Pair of Houses
1070:The University of Adelaide Centenary 1874-1974
719:"Adelaide's 'premier architect' dies, aged 88"
712:
710:
596:Dickson has won the following awards from the
460:Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture
1127:"Normanville beach house makes heritage list"
304:Hackney Neighbourhood Renewal, Hackney (1971)
8:
1026:The encyclopaedia of Australian architecture
314:West Lakes Primary School, West Lakes (1972)
838:"Architect Details: Dickson, Robert Harold"
520:. Unsourced material may be challenged and
380:Claridge, Hassell and McConnell (1948—1955)
174:He also wrote articles on architecture for
1157:South Australian Heritage Council. (2013)
1152:"Robert Dickson: Addicted to Architecture"
20:
1129:6 July 2012. Retrieved online 1 May 2014.
1028:, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
584:Learn how and when to remove this message
462:Commendation (National awards) 1996, for
408:Australian Institute of Architects Awards
395:Robert Dickson and Associates (1973—1990)
301:Architect's Office, North Adelaide (1970)
641:Civic Trust of SA 1988 Commendation for
706:
367:East Torrens Civic Centre, East Torrens
296:Adelaide University Union Redevelopment
110:Adelaide University Union Redevelopment
132:'s residence, the first townhouses in
88:RAIA (SA Chapter) Award of Merit x 8,
482:Civic Trust of South Australia Awards
438:RAIA (SA Chapter) Award of Merit for
419:RAIA (SA Chapter) Award of Merit for
413:RAIA (SA Chapter) Award of Merit for
398:Robert Dickson Architects (1990—2014)
383:Mangiarotti and Morasutti (1955—1956)
7:
1116:Australian Institute of Architects.
1110:Australian Institute of Architects.
1072:. University of Adelaide, Adelaide.
518:adding citations to reliable sources
338:Water Treatment Plant, Morgan (1981)
123:(8 April 1926 — 8 April 2014) was a
361:Munno Para Civic Centre, Munno Para
341:Old Gum Tree Conservation Shelter,
1055:Australian Architecture since 1960
973:South Australian Heritage Register
947:South Australian Heritage Register
921:South Australian Heritage Register
867:South Australian Heritage Register
717:Siebert, Bension (10 April 2014).
671:South Australian Heritage Register
386:Fry, Drew, Drake and Lasdun (1956)
331:Regency Park Golf Club Clubhouse,
14:
1024:in Goad, P. and Willis, J. (eds)
1000:South Australian Biographies 1980
657:Civic Trust of SA 1997 Award for
622:Civic Trust of SA 1982 Award for
612:Hope Valley Water Treatment Plant
610:Civic Trust of SA 1978 Award for
604:Civic Trust of SA 1977 Award for
490:
223:Architecture training and career
1068:University of Adelaide. (1974)
975:. Government of South Australia
949:. Government of South Australia
923:. Government of South Australia
869:. Government of South Australia
827:. Wakefield Press, 2010, p. 72.
814:. Wakefield Press, 2010, p. 54.
801:. Wakefield Press, 2010, p. 48.
788:. Wakefield Press, 2010, p. 47.
775:. Wakefield Press, 2010, p. 40.
762:. Wakefield Press, 2010, p. 12.
533:"Robert Dickson" architect
392:Dickson and Platten (1958—1973)
307:Cluster houses for West Lakes,
244:that lasted from 1958 to 1973.
1050:, RAIA (SA Chapter), Adelaide.
749:. Wakefield Press, 2010, p. 4.
659:Art Gallery of South Australia
598:Civic Trust of South Australia
464:Art Gallery of South Australia
453:Art Gallery of South Australia
1:
1009:Angus and Robertson, Sydney.
897:. Heritage Places of Adelaide
842:Architects of South Australia
600:(now Australian Civic Trust)
370:Meadows Civic Centre, Meadows
364:Premier Don Dunstan residence
165:Robert Dickson and Associates
1154:architectureanddesign.com.au
1057:. Law Book Company, Sydney.
469:RAIA (SA Chapter) inaugural
1177:South Australian architects
1107:, Extract of Dickson's book
153:Fry, Drew, Drake and Lasdun
1208:
204:Royal Australian Air Force
1048:Architecture SA 1970-1980
917:"Kathleen Lumley College"
863:"Kathleen Lumley College"
680:Kathleen Lumley College,
169:Robert Dickson Architects
114:
104:Dickson House, Rostrevor
96:
1192:Architects from Adelaide
1105:Addicted to Architecture
825:Addicted to Architecture
812:Addicted to Architecture
799:Addicted to Architecture
786:Addicted to Architecture
773:Addicted to Architecture
760:Addicted to Architecture
747:Addicted to Architecture
688:Dickson House, Rostrevor
626:, University of Adelaide
442:, University of Adelaide
354:Salisbury Civic Centre,
317:Whyalla Sports Complex,
248:Architectural philosophy
188:Addicted to Architecture
995:. Milsons Point, N.S.W.
665:State heritage listings
285:, North Adelaide (1966)
178:and was a tutor at the
1043:. RAIA (SA), Adelaide.
889:"Union Building Group"
606:Salisbury Civic Centre
475:University of Adelaide
375:Firms and partnerships
138:University of Adelaide
1022:Dickson & Platten
969:"Dickson Beach House"
943:"Dickson Beach House"
693:Dickson Beach House,
645:Water Treatment Plant
389:Robert Dickson (1957)
121:Robert Harold Dickson
35:Robert Harold Dickson
514:improve this section
279:, Adelaide (1957–67)
106:The Arkaba Projects
16:Australian architect
1082:Walkley, G. (1976)
477:Union Redevelopment
267:The Arkaba Projects
161:Dickson and Platten
108:Linked Town Houses
1053:Taylor, J. (1986)
421:Linked Town Houses
288:Mylor Youth Camp,
283:Linked Town Houses
182:. He published an
1146:978-0-9876055-0-4
1132:Hurst, R. (2003)
1092:978-0-9094-7157-6
1078:978-0-9096-8805-9
1034:978-0-5218-8857-8
1020:Hurst, R. (2012)
823:Dickson, Robert.
810:Dickson, Robert.
797:Dickson, Robert.
784:Dickson, Robert.
771:Dickson, Robert.
758:Dickson, Robert.
745:Dickson, Robert.
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1039:Page, M. (1986)
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176:local newspapers
167:(1973—1990) and
125:South Australian
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1163:23 August 2013.
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1099:Further reading
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261:Selected works
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242:Newell Platten
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25:Robert Dickson
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538:
535: –
534:
530:
529:Find sources:
523:
519:
515:
509:
508:
504:
499:This section
497:
493:
488:
487:
481:
476:
472:
471:25 Year Award
468:
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273:Dickson House
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191:
189:
185:
184:autobiography
181:
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171:(1990—2014).
170:
166:
163:(1958—1973),
162:
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90:25 Year Award
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29:
22:
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1159:
1140:, Brisbane.
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1025:
1021:
1006:
999:
992:
979:12 September
977:. Retrieved
972:
963:
953:12 September
951:. Retrieved
946:
937:
927:12 September
925:. Retrieved
920:
911:
899:. Retrieved
892:
883:
873:12 September
871:. Retrieved
866:
857:
845:. Retrieved
841:
832:
824:
819:
811:
806:
798:
793:
785:
780:
772:
767:
759:
754:
746:
726:. Retrieved
722:
668:
650:Old Gum Tree
595:
580:
571:
561:
554:
547:
540:
528:
512:Please help
500:
415:Arkaba Hotel
343:Holdfast Bay
333:Regency Park
255:
251:
238:
234:
226:
197:
187:
173:
168:
164:
160:
146:
120:
119:
62:(2014-04-08)
60:8 April 2014
45:8 April 1926
18:
1187:2014 deaths
1182:1926 births
695:Normanville
624:Union House
440:Union House
142:Union House
130:Don Dunstan
69:Nationality
51:, Australia
1171:Categories
901:18 January
847:18 January
728:18 January
702:References
618:West Lakes
574:April 2024
544:newspapers
473:2005, for
309:West Lakes
229:Beaux Arts
212:Tiger Moth
194:Early life
77:Occupation
72:Australian
41:1926-04-08
643:Morgan SA
501:does not
356:Salisbury
298:(1967–75)
277:Rostrevor
216:Noarlunga
186:entitled
101:Buildings
80:Architect
136:and the
134:Adelaide
49:Adelaide
998:(1980)
723:InDaily
637:Hackney
558:scholar
522:removed
507:sources
326:Monarto
319:Whyalla
1144:
1090:
1076:
1061:
1032:
1013:
560:
553:
546:
539:
531:
403:Awards
358:(1975)
345:(1984)
335:(1978)
328:(1975)
321:(1974)
311:(1972)
292:(1969)
269:(1950)
157:London
85:Awards
565:JSTOR
551:books
458:RAIA
290:Mylor
149:Milan
1142:ISBN
1088:ISBN
1074:ISBN
1059:ISBN
1030:ISBN
1011:ISBN
981:2016
955:2016
929:2016
903:2021
875:2016
849:2021
730:2021
537:news
505:any
503:cite
92:2005
57:Died
31:Born
1136:in
516:by
214:at
155:in
140:'s
1173::
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738:^
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39:(
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