Adelaide University research links post-war Australian architecture to Asia

New research led by Adelaide University suggests that Australian architecture from the 1950s to the 1980s had much deeper ties to Asia than previously understood. The study, published in Architectural Theory Review, challenges the traditional view that post-war architectural trends were primarily a response to local Australian landscapes and materials.

The research reframes the influential ‘Sydney School’ movement as part of a complex story of cultural exchange. Rather than merely adopting Asian styles from afar, architects such as Adrian Snodgrass, Alan Gilbert, and Peter Muller engaged in direct intellectual and professional connections across the region. This included living and working alongside local scholars and craftspeople in locations such as Hong Kong, China, Bali, Japan, and Ceylon.

Based on over 15 years of research, the study utilizes archival materials, including letters, drawings, and interviews, to document a profound intellectual reorientation toward Asia that spanned four decades.