Category: People
"As a kid, I always had a passion for making things so architecture was an easy fit. I grew up sailing dinghies with my family so we lovingly tweaked them to optimise performance. It gave me the craft of making but also awareness of external factors. I donā€™t know how anyone makes a successful career choice with such limited exposure to the world. I guess I was one of the lucky ones."
When Ken Shuttleworth left Foster and Partners after 30 years to start his own practice, he worried that he might make a pig's ear of it. But he went ahead and did it anyway...
"The ensuing story of the project is one that goes to show that architecture isn't just grand edifices, but rather, at best, it can change the way people think and can bring people together. It shows you what great architecture can do." Glenn Murcutt: Spirit of Place will air on ABC TV on December 6 at 9.30pm.
AR asks a panel of experts in the industry to respond to the question: architecture has long been a male dominated industry. Why do you think this is and is it changing?
© Niche Media 2026