John Morphett (architect)

John Neville Morphett AM OBE (1 August 1932 – 25 March 2016) was an Australian architect, known for his role as lead designer of the Adelaide Festival Centre.

Early life and education

John was born in Johor Bahru, Malaya, a son of surveyor John William Morphett and his wife Nellie, née Ireland. He was educated at Christ Church Grammar School, Perth and St Peter's College, Adelaide, and studied architecture at the University of Adelaide and the South Australian School of Mines and Industries.^[1]

During university semester breaks, Morphett worked part-time for architects Hassell, McConnell and Partners, with whom he was employed after graduation, and had a continuing relationship for forty years. He undertook further training in architecture at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Graduate School, where lecturers included Le Corbusier, Philip Johnson, Richard Neutra and Paul Rudolph, and graduated with a Master of Architecture degree. From 1957 to 1961 was employed with The Architects' Collaborative in Boston, where he was involved in a collaboration with Walter Gropius.^[1]

Career in Adelaide

In 1962 Morphett returned to Adelaide and joined Hassell, McConnell and Partners. He was made a partner in Hassell Architects in 1967 and a director in 1975. He became managing director of the Hassell Group in 1979, and in 1992 was made chairman of Hassell Pty Ltd.^[1]

He retired in 1997, but continued to act as a consultant to the company.^[1]

The works which he is most associated are the Bragg Laboratories for the University of Adelaide (1962) and the Adelaide Festival Centre, which opened in 1973^[2] and is regarded as notable example of Modernist architecture.^[3]

Other interests

Morphett had a range of interests and memberships:^[1]

He was a member of the Adelaide Chamber of Commerce and its successors the Chamber of Commerce and Industry SA Inc. and the Employers’ Chamber. He was a board member of the Australian Chamber of Commerce from 1990 to 1992.
He served on the National Trust of SA council 1985/1986).
He was a board member of the Australian Dance Theatre.
He was a member of Jaycees and Rotary International.
He was a member of the Adelaide Festival of the Arts board and its Chairman 2001/2002.

Recognition

1956: Associate of the South Australian Institute of Architects 1956
1981/1982: President, SA chapter of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA)
1997: RAIA State president's medal
2000: RAIA Gold medal
1996: Member of the Order of Australia^[4]
1996: Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

Family

John Morphett married Vivienne June Williams in 1955; they had four sons and a daughter.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Sullivan, Christine; Collins, Julie (2008). "Architect Personal Details: Morphett, John Neville". Architects of South Australia. Architecture Museum, University of South Australia. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
^ "Vale John Morphett AM OBE, 1932–2016". architectureau.com. Retrieved 28 August 2016.
^ Harrison, Stuart (20 November 2019). "South Australian modernism exhibition a study in modesty". ArchitectureAU. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
^ "John Neville Morphett". honours.pmc.gov.au. Retrieved 25 August 2019.