the tecton

In the book New Directions in Australian Architecture, published in 2001, Philip Goad outlines three design traditions that have persisted within architecture in Australia. These he names as 1) the tectonic, 2) levels of abstraction and 3) the figurative. In describing these three traditions, Goad mentions the work of a number of recent and contemporary architects and their practices:

The tectonic
Gabriel Poole
Glenn Murcutt
Richard Leplastrier
Brit Andreson and Peter O’Gorman
Stutchbury and Pape
Troppo
Donovan Hill
Sean Godsell
John Wardle

Levels of abstraction
Alec Tzannes
Alex Popov
Durbach Block
Ivan Rijavic
Tom Kovac
Denton Corker Marshall
Engelen Moore (Tina Engelen now with CO-AP and Ian Moore with Ian Moore Architects)
Kerstin Thompson
Wood Marsh
Nation Fender Katsalidis

The figurative
Edmond and Corrigan
Ashton Raggatt McDougall
Lyons

choose one of these design traditions and select two architects/architectural practices whose work relates to that tradition.2 Examine how the work of these architects has been interpreted by different critics, writers and historians as contributing to the continuance and development of that tradition, or as deviations from it. Within your study you must consider the theoretical dimensions of the traditions and discourse and for this you will need to engage with theoretical texts.3 Since 2001 the use of computer aided design and modelling has increased dramatically and this may have changed or modified the relationship the work has with the tradition.