David Mitchell (architect)
{{Short description|New Zealand architect (1941–2018)}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox architect
| name = David Mitchell
| honorific_suffix =
| image =
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| birth_name = David John Mitchell
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1941|03|08|df=y}}
| birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2018|04|26|1941|03|08|df=y}}
| death_place = Takapuna, New Zealand
| other_names =
| alma_mater = University of Auckland
| spouse =
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| children =
| parents =
| awards = NZIA Gold Medal (2005)
| practice =
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| signature =
| website =
}}
David John Mitchell (8 March 1941 – 26 April 2018) was a New Zealand architect based in Auckland. He presented the 1984 television series The Elegant Shed, and co-authored the book of the same name. Mitchell was awarded the gold medal of the New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA) in 2005.
Biography
Born in Auckland on 8 March 1941, Mitchell was the son of John McFarlane Mitchell and Leonelle Lucy Mitchell (née Tizard),{{cite news | url= https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19410310.2.3 | title=Births | date=10 March 1941 | work=The Press | access-date=26 April 2018 | page=1}} and the nephew of psychologist Jack Tizard.{{cite web |url=http://www.tolliss.com/webtrees/individual.php?pid=I23913&ged=Steigenberger |title=Leonelle Lucy Tizard |website=Steigenbergers of London |access-date=27 April 2018}} Mitchell was brought up in Morrinsville, and completed his architecture studies at the University of Auckland, graduating with a Bachelor of Architecture in 1964.{{cite journal |title=Mitchell & Stout in Auckland |url= http://www.architecture-archive.auckland.ac.nz/docs/block-digital/2007-05BlockDigital-MitchellStoutGuide.pdf |journal=Block Architecture Guides |publisher=Auckland branch, NZIA |issue=3 |access-date=26 April 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://architecturenow.co.nz/articles/architect-educator-author-commentator/ |title=Architect, educator, author, commentator |date=2 March 2016 |website=ArchitectureNow |access-date=27 April 2018}} He became a registered architect in 1967.{{cite web |url= https://www.nzrab.nz/Search/ArchitectDetail.aspx?r=1166 |title=Mr David Mitchell |year=2018 |publisher=New Zealand Registered Architects Board |access-date=26 April 2018}}
In the early 1970s, Mitchell was involved with Aardvark Films. With Roger Donaldson and Ian Mune, he co-wrote the 1974 television film, Derek.{{cite web |title=Derek (TV Movie 1974)|url= https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8156104/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_wr#writers/|website=IMDB|access-date=1 May 2018}}{{cite web |last1=Dix |first1=John |title=Dave Hurley|url= https://www.audioculture.co.nz/people/dave-hurley|website=AudioCulture|access-date=1 May 2018|language=en}} Through the 1970s and 1980s, Mitchell was in practice with Jack Manning and Peter Hill, and he also taught at the University of Auckland between 1972 and 1987. In 1984, Mitchell presented the six-point television documentary series The Elegant Shed, which traversed New Zealand architecture since 1945.{{cite web |url= https://www.nzonscreen.com/title/the-elegant-shed-1984/series |title=The Elegant Shed |website=NZOnScreen |access-date=26 April 2018}} To accompany the series, Mitchell and Gillian Chaplin wrote the book The Elegant Shed: New Zealand architecture since 1945, which was published by Oxford University Press in 1984.{{cite journal |last=Skinner |first=Robin |year=2010 |title=The whare in the bush |url= http://www.piha.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/skinner_published1.pdf |journal=Fabrications |publisher=Society of Architectural Historians Australia and New Zealand |volume=18 |issue=1 |pages=56–73 |access-date=26 April 2018}}
Mitchell was an avid traveller, adventurer and sailor. In his 30s, he worked on documentaries with Roger Donaldson, travelling to Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary, and then sailing around Cape Horn.{{cite news |last1=Rosenberg|first1=Matthew|title='An endless, kind of constant desire to keep on moving': Acclaimed architect David Mitchell's son|url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/103505498/an-endless-kind-of-constant-desire-to-keep-on-moving-acclaimed-architect-david-mitchells-son|access-date=30 April 2018|work=Stuff|language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Wichtel|first1=Diana |title=Making places sing – The Listener |url= https://www.noted.co.nz/archive/listener-nz-2005/making-places-sing/ |access-date=1 May 2018|work=NZ Listener|date=27 August 2005|language=en}} In 1990, Mitchell began collaborating with Julie Stout, and they split their time between sailing or travelling around the world while working on projects in Hong Kong and in New Zealand. After living overseas for much of the 1990s, the pair returned to Auckland in 2000 and established Mitchell Stout, later Mitchell Stout Dodd, Architects.
In 2014, Mitchell was the creative director of New Zealand's first ever exhibition at the Venice Biennale of Architecture, entitled "Last, Loneliest, Loveliest".{{cite web |url=https://architectureau.com/articles/NZ-venice-pavilion-last-loneliest-loveliest/ |title=New Zealand’s pavilion in Venice |date=6 June 2014 |website=ArchitectureAU |first=Cameron |last=Bruhn |access-date=27 April 2018}}
Mitchell died aged 77 in North Shore Hospital in Auckland on 26 April 2018, having suffered from prostate cancer.{{cite web |url= http://architecturenow.co.nz/articles/vale-david-mitchell/ |title=Vale: David Mitchell |date=27 April 2018 |website=ArchitectureNow |access-date=27 April 2018}}{{cite news | url=http://notices.nzherald.co.nz/obituaries/nzherald-nz/obituary.aspx?n=david-john-mitchell&pid=188857597 | title=David John Mitchell death notice | date=28 April 2018 | work= The New Zealand Herald | access-date=28 April 2018}}
Works
{{Expand list|date=April 2018}}
- Northcote Public Library (1982)File:NorthcotePublicLibrary.jpg
- Gibbs House, Parnell (1984)
- School of Music, University of Auckland (1986) (designed with Jack Manning)
- Epsom Girls' Grammar School library (1986)
- Mitchell–Stout House, Freemans Bay (1990)
- Gibbs House II, Ōrākei (1991)
- Auckland Art Gallery – New Gallery annexe (1995){{cite web|title=Building|url=https://www.aucklandartgallery.com/about/building|website=Auckland Art Gallery|publisher=Auckland Art Gallery|access-date=30 April 2018|language=en}}
- Landscape and Plant Science Building, Unitec Institute of Technology (2002)
- Mitchell-Stout House, Narrow Neck (2006){{cite web|last1=Hansen|first1=Jeremy|title=Auckland home pushes architectural boundaries with unique footprint|url=https://www.homestolove.co.nz/homes/auckland-home-pushes-architectural-boundaries|website=Homes to Love|publisher=Home Magazine|access-date=28 April 2018|date=17 October 2014}}
- Tauranga Art Gallery (2007) {{cite news|title=Public art gallery for Tauranga|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=3540159|access-date=30 April 2018|work=New Zealand Herald |date=18 December 2003|language=en-NZ}}
- Waiheke Island House (2009){{cite web|title=WAIHEKE HOUSE|url=https://www.mitchellstoutdodd.co.nz/waiheke-house/|website=Mitchell Stout Dodd Architects|access-date=30 April 2018}}
- Otoparae House, King Country (2013){{cite web|title=Otoparae House|url=https://www.mitchellstoutdodd.co.nz/otoparaehouse/|website=Mitchell Stout Dodd Architects|access-date=30 April 2018}}
- Lopdell House refurbishment (2014){{cite news|last1=Gibson|first1=Anne|title=Gallery revamp becomes a challenging job for architects|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/property/news/article.cfm?c_id=8&objectid=11454548|access-date=30 April 2018|work=New Zealand Herald |date=25 May 2015|language=en-NZ}}File:Lopdell House, Titirangi, Auckland New Zealand.jpg in 2014 after refurbishment, with Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery under construction beyond]]
- Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery (2014){{cite journal|last1=Monsalve|first1=Federico|title=Te Uru|journal=Interior|date=December 2014|issue=14|url=http://architecturenow.co.nz/articles/te-uru/|access-date=30 April 2018|language=en-AU}}
Recognition
In 2005, Mitchell was awarded the New Zealand Institute of Architects' gold medal, for his outstanding contribution to the theory and practice of architecture in New Zealand.{{cite web |url=https://www.nzia.co.nz/awards/gold-medal/2005-gold-medal-david-mitchell |title=2005 Gold medal: David Mitchell |publisher=New Zealand Institute of Architects |access-date=26 April 2018}}
Mitchell was the recipient of a distinguished alumni award from the University of Auckland in 2016.{{cite web |url=https://www.alumni.auckland.ac.nz/en/news/news-2015/11/02/2016-distinguished-alumni-award-winners-announced.html |title=Our 2016 distinguished alumni award winners |date=26 January 2016 |publisher=University of Auckland |access-date=27 April 2018}} He was also a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Architects.{{cite web |url=http://archplancentenary.ac.nz/alumni-gala-dinner/ |title=Alumni gala dinner |year=2017 |publisher=University of Auckland |access-date=29 April 2018}}
The building designed by Mitchell (with Jack Manning) housing the School of Music at the University of Auckland won the NZIA supreme national award in 1986, and in 2013 received an enduring architecture award from the NZIA.{{cite web |url=https://www.mitchellstoutdodd.co.nz/uoaschoolofmusic |title=University of Auckland School of Music |publisher=Mitchell Stout Dodd |access-date=26 April 2018 |archive-date=27 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180427184022/https://www.mitchellstoutdodd.co.nz/uoaschoolofmusic |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=https://www.nzia.co.nz/awards/national/award-detail/3265 |title=School of Music |year=2013 |publisher=NZIA |access-date=26 April 2018}} The Gibbs House in Parnell won the NZIA supreme national award in 1985 and, 30 years later, an NZIA enduring architecture award.{{cite web |url=https://www.nzia.co.nz/awards/national/award-detail/1864 |title=Gibbs House (1985) |year=2015 |publisher=NZIA |access-date=26 April 2018}}{{cite web |url=https://www.mitchellstoutdodd.co.nz/parnell-house |title=Parnell House |publisher=Mitchell Stout Dodd |access-date=26 April 2018}}
In 2015, Mitchell & Stout won the NZIA Heritage award for the refurbishment of Lopdell House and the Public Architecture award for Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery.{{cite web |title=Accolades aplenty – Te Uru|url= http://www.teuru.org.nz/index.cfm/whats-on/news-updates/accolades-aplenty/|website=www.teuru.org.nz|access-date=26 May 2018}}{{cite web |title=Mitchell Stout Dodd Architects Ltd|url= https://www.nzia.co.nz/practice/MitchellStoutArchitectsLtd/1671https://www.nzia.co.nz/practice/MitchellStoutArchitectsLtd/1671 |website=www.nzia.co.nz |access-date=26 May 2018}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.mitchellstoutdodd.co.nz/ Mitchell Stout Dodd official website]
- [https://www.nzia.co.nz/practice/MitchellStoutArchitectsLtd/1671 NZIA page for Mitchell Stout Dodd Architects Ltd]
- [https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12041869 NZ Herald obituary]
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Category:Architects from Auckland
Category:University of Auckland alumni
Category:New Zealand architects
Category:Academic staff of the University of Auckland
Category:Recipients of the NZIA Gold Medal