Peter Armstrong (architect)
{{Infobox architect
| name = Peter Armstrong
| birth_name= Peter Garth Armstrong
| birth_place = Lithgow, New South Wales, Australia
| practice =
| spouse =
| alma_mater = Waseda University
University of Sydney
| nationality = Australian
| awards = Sulman Award (2002)
Order of the Rising Sun (2024)
| significant_buildings = NIDA Building
}}
{{Notability|Bio|date=December 2024}}
Peter Garth Armstrong is an Australian architect, academic, and urban planner recognized for his contributions to architectural design, urban studies, and cultural exchange, particularly between Australia and Japan.
Armstrong served as President of the Australian Sumo Federation (1998–2005) and later as Vice President of the International Sumo Federation.
Academic career and research work
In 1981, Armstrong joined the University of Sydney as a lecturer, eventually taking on full-time roles within the Faculty of Architecture. He coordinated the Master of Architecture program and led the Urban Design stream.{{cite web |title=Professor Peter Armstrong |url=https://www.sydney.edu.au/architecture/about/our-people/academic-staff/peter-armstrong.html |website=The University of Sydney}}
His research areas include urban history and development in East Asia, with a focus on the Tokugawa and Silla periods. His doctoral thesis, "Origins and Development of Urban Structure in Tokugawa Japan," is regarded as a foundational text in East Asian urbanism. Armstrong has also collaborated with Waseda University{{cite web |title=Walking the Kumano pilgrimage route |url=https://www.sydney.au.emb-japan.go.jp/document/english/japan_reports/JR50-3/JReports%20Vol%2050-3%20pp.4-5.pdf |publisher=Embassy of Japan in Australia}} and served as an honorary research fellow at the National Gyeongju Research Institute of Cultural Heritage.
Professional career
Armstrong’s early professional experiences included collaborations with Japanese architects Takamasa Yoshizaka and Kiyonori Kikutake. Upon returning to Australia, he worked on projects such as the Geelong Growth Centre Project (1974–1978) and regional conservation strategies. His architectural achievements include:
- Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre at the Barbican, London
- NIDA Building, University of New South Wales{{cite web |title=Drama and Spectacle |work=ArchitectureAU |url=https://architectureau.com/articles/drama-and-spectacle/ |publisher=Architecture Australia}}
- Family Court of Australia (Sydney and Lismore)
- Supreme Court of South Australia (Master Plan and Stage 1)
- Orange and Bega Courthouses for the NSW Attorney-General's Department
In 1995, Armstrong received the Marrickville Medal for Heritage for his work on St. Clement’s Parish Centre.{{cite web |title=Peter G Armstrong {{!}} The University of Sydney |url=http://independent.academia.edu/PeterArmstrong7/CurriculumVitae |website=Academia.edu}}
Awards and honors
- 2024 Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays (awarded by the emperor of Japan){{cite web |title=MEDIA RELEASE: NSW recipients of 2024 Spring Imperial Decorations |url=https://www.sydney.au.emb-japan.go.jp/document/english/2024_Spring_ImperialDecorations.pdf |website=Embassy of Japan in Australia}}
- 2002 Sulman Award for NIDA Stage 2 (in collaboration with Hassell Pty Ltd){{cite web |title=NIDA extension wins design award |url=https://www.afr.com/property/nida-extension-wins-design-award-20020627-k1kti |website=Australian Financial Review |language=en |date=27 June 2002}}