New book explores Glenn Murcutt’s unbuilt works

Publushed by Thames & Hudson, Glenn Murcutt: Unbuilt Works is a treasure trove of design inspiration from the internationally acclaimed Australian architect. So much of what is valuable in architecture is in the design process, yet so much of that process is lost simply due to a design not being built. It’s often the case for competition entries, where so much effort and thought goes into a scheme that ultimately fails to win; equally, it might be due to changing circumstances with clients, builders, financial stakeholders and so on. Whatever the reason for a design going unrealised, it’s a travesty when the concept and its rigorous iterations in the form of drawings and visualisations disappear from public view. 

This book, created by Nick Sissons, Murcutt’s former student and assistant – and who worked closely with him for the project – makes a welcome intervention. Tadao Ando has described how the seeds of one successful, built work of architecture are often to be found in a previous scheme that remained unbuilt. Now, we have access to an expanded oeuvre of one of the world’s most celebrated architect’s. Indeed, in the foreword, Murcutt writes: “In looking at these unbuilt projects, the thing I picked up was that one design led to the next; what I’d learnt in the last design was brought into the new one.”

“Architecture is not about a material, it’s about place-making,” says Murcutt. “It’s about prospect, refuge, climate, topography, flora, fauna – it is about making beautiful spaces that link with the landscape.”

The book features ten never-before-seen designs brought to life through realistic renders. Presented by Sissons, they exhibit remarkable detail, including original hand-drawn plans, sections, elevations and sketches from Murcutt’s personal archive. Several of the projects revisited in the book are houses, while there are other written contributions from Reg Lark and Laura Harding. Murcutt also discusses each project in detail, examining the progression of his design philosophy while lending a new perspective into his life and works. As he notes in the foreword, seeing these renders “provides a new sense of reality for me.”

Sissons writes about how he couldn’t stop thinking about the unbuilt projects when he and Murcutt reconnected in 2018. “Was there a way to reveal these other projects that had never been seen? Would they then provide a deeper understanding of Glenn’s design process?” he asks. 

The very first page of the book features a profound statement by Murcutt: “My role is not that of a creator; my role is that of a discoverer. I spend my time with hundreds of drawings, looking at the possibilities. They’re all about discovery.” Glenn Murcutt: Unbuilt Works now provides enthusiasts with the opportunity to discover more of his important work. 

More book reviews with Studio Aalto