Kevin O’Brien (born 1972) is an architect practising in
Queensland
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, nickname = Sunshine State
, image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, established_ ...
, Australia. He is noted for drawing on
indigenous concepts of space in his work.
Early life and education
O'Brien was born in
Melbourne
Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
, Australia. He graduated from the
University of Queensland
, mottoeng = By means of knowledge and hard work
, established =
, endowment = A$224.3 million
, budget = A$2.1 billion
, type = Public research university
, chancellor = Peter Varghese
, vice_chancellor = Deborah Terry
, city = B ...
with a Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1995. In 2006, he studied Aboriginality and Architecture, gaining a Master of Philosophy under
Paul Memmott
Paul Christopher Memmott is an Australian architect, anthropologist, academic and the Director of the Aboriginal Environments Research Centre at the University of Queensland. He is an expert on topics related to Indigenous architecture and verna ...
.
Career
O'Brien also established Kevin O'Brien Architects (KOA) in
Brisbane
Brisbane ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the states and territories of Australia, Australian state of Queensland, and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a populati ...
, and has completed architectural projects throughout several states in Australia. In 2000, he travelled around the
Pacific Rim
The Pacific Rim comprises the lands around the rim of the Pacific Ocean. The ''Pacific Basin'' includes the Pacific Rim and the islands in the Pacific Ocean. The Pacific Rim roughly overlaps with the geologic Pacific Ring of Fire.
List of co ...
as a
Churchill Fellow
Winston Churchill Memorial Trusts (WCMT) are three independent but related living memorials to Sir Winston Churchill, based in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand. They exist for the purpose of administering Churchill Fellowships, a ...
to investigate regional construction strategies in indigenous communities.
O'Brien directed the Finding Country Exhibition at the 13th
Venice Architecture Biennale
Venice Biennale of Architecture (in Italian
Mostra di Architettura di Venezia) is an international exhibition of architecture from nations around the world, held in Venice, Italy, every other year. It was held on even years until 2018, but 202 ...
in 2012, and he was appointed as a Professor of Design at the
Queensland University of Technology
Queensland University of Technology (QUT) is a public research university located in the urban coastal city of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. QUT is located on two campuses in the Brisbane area viz. Gardens Point and Kelvin Grove. The univ ...
.
In 2014, he was a juror at the
Australian Institute of Architects
(United we advance architecture)
, predecessor =
, merged =
, successor =
, formation =
, extinction =
, status = Professional body; members association
, headquarters = L1/41 Exhibition St, Melbourne
, leader_title = CEO
, leader_ ...
' 2014 Brisbane Regional Architecture Awards.
Kevin O'Brien Architects merged with
BVN Architecture
BVN is an architecture firm based in Australia. The firm has won more Sir John Sulman Medals than any other Australian practice. BVN has studios located in Brisbane, Sydney, London and New York.
History
The firm was founded in 1926 with the ...
in 2018.
Notable projects
Finding Country Exhibition (2012)
O'Brien's "Finding Country" Exhibition, focused on the tension between concepts of City and Country in an Australian context, and was exhibited at the 13th International Architecture Exhibit in Venice, Italy in 2012. A large drawing highlighting the city method of title management (by labelling places such as parks or roads), was emptied through a 50% population reduction as a way into revealing Country as something found;
the exhibition developed from discussions with Michael Markham in 2005.
Archibald Street House (2012)
Construction began on the Archibald Street House in August 2009, and reached practical completion in 2011. It is a two-storey residential building in Brisbane, which has a 3.5 kW solar power system that has produced enough energy to maintain a household of four. The building combines a house and a studio with a central courtyard. It is built using concrete and timber. Designed to minimise energy costs, the house efficiently uses new insulation techniques by employing water and solar collections. To achieve an effective energy consumption, the house was designed to make use of building orientation, ventilation access, thermal mass, insulation systems and energy-economical openings.
Woorabinda State School Library (2011)
This project began its construction in 2009, poured on site concrete tilt panels, with steel structure, and clear finished plywood linings in the interiors with the completion in 2011. It was noted as a regional commendation for public buildings. The Woollam construction team was led by Chris Battersby. In February 2013, O'Brien received the QLD Architecture Award: Central Queensland Regional Commendation.
Other projects
Awards
References
"Bethanga House / tUG workshop"
''ArchDaily''.
External links
Kevin O'Brien Architects
The University of Queensland, Australia, Stories from Indigenous Postgraduates, Kevin O’Brien
Robin Boyd Foundation, Zeitgeist l Lecture Series 2103, Kevin O’Brien
Architecture Australia, 2013 Brisbane – Queensland Regional Architecture Awards
Architecture Australia, 2013 National Architecture Awards: International
{{DEFAULTSORT:OBrien, Kevin
1972 births
Living people
Architects from Brisbane
University of Queensland alumni