Professor Virginia Louise Cox (née Gowing) (born 1939)
is an Australian architect who has made a significant and distinguished contribution 'to architecture as a practitioner, through executive roles with international professional organisations, and to architectural education and heritage conservation'.
Biography
Louise Cox AO graduated from the
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney (USYD), also known as Sydney University, or informally Sydney Uni, is a public research university located in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and is one of the country's si ...
with a Bachelor of Architecture in 1963 and later returned to study town planning, graduating in 1971.
After graduating Cox worked for a year in the office of
Chamberlin Powell and Bon in London before returning to Australia to work in the office of
Peddle Thorp & Walker, Sydney. In 1968 she worked as an architect and associate at McConnell Smith and Johnson before becoming a director from 1980–1997,
during which time she made a leading contribution to the advancement of heritage and health care design through the delivery of many significant projects in Australia and Malaysia.
Beyond practice in architecture and planning, Cox has dedicated over fifty years of service to the advocacy of the profession through many organisations and government boards.
After joining as a student member in the sixties, from 1986 to 1996 Cox became highly involved in 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_ ...
, serving on numerous local and national committees.
Cox was the first woman president of the New South Wales Chapter of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (1988–90). As the 56th National President of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (1994–1995), she was the first woman to serve in this role.
In 1992 Cox was elected to the
International Union of Architects
The International Union of Architects ( French: ''Union internationale des Architectes''; UIA) is the only international non-governmental organization that represents the world's architects, now estimated to number some 3.2 million in all.
About ...
(UIA) and was its President from 2008 to 2011. Her work with the UIA has encompassed key roles in the development of the UNESCO-UIA Charter for Architectural Education, the Education Policy Paper, the UNESCO-UIA Validation System and the UN-HABITAT World Urban Campaign.
In 2011 Ms Cox was awarded Chevalier d'
Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
The ''Ordre des Arts et des Lettres'' (Order of Arts and Letters) is an order of France established on 2 May 1957 by the Minister of Culture. Its supplementary status to the was confirmed by President Charles de Gaulle in 1963. Its purpose is ...
, one of the highest honorary distinctions granted by France.
In 2014 she was awarded Officer (AO) of the
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Gove ...
in 2014 for "distinguished service to architecture as a practitioner, through executive roles with international professional organisations, and to architectural education and heritage conservation".
Cox is an adjunct professor at the
University of NSW
The University of New South Wales (UNSW), also known as UNSW Sydney, is a public university, public research university based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is one of the founding members of Group of Eight (Australian universities), ...
.
Professional career
Cox has served on almost thirty boards and high-level committees in a range of professional areas including as a member of the Heritage Council of New South Wales, as a member of many advisory committees assisting the New South Wales and Commonwealth governments in the areas of architecture, construction, housing, public works and building standards, and as treasurer and president of Docomomo. In addition, Cox has contributed to education through significant roles with the University of Sydney and the University of New South Wales, where she is an adjunct professor.
Cox has been an active and highly involved member of 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_ ...
for well over fifty years and was the first woman to become National President in 1994. This followed an earlier term as the New South Wales Chapter's first woman President in 1988–90, and her roles on numerous Institute committees at state and national level.
Cox was made a member (AM) of the General Division of the
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Gove ...
in 1999.
She was elected as the
International Union of Architects
The International Union of Architects ( French: ''Union internationale des Architectes''; UIA) is the only international non-governmental organization that represents the world's architects, now estimated to number some 3.2 million in all.
About ...
(UIA) Councillor for Region IV (Asia and Oceania) in 1996, and became the Vice-President for Region IV in 2002.
In 2008 Cox became the president of the
International Union of Architects
The International Union of Architects ( French: ''Union internationale des Architectes''; UIA) is the only international non-governmental organization that represents the world's architects, now estimated to number some 3.2 million in all.
About ...
(UIA), a role she held for three years until 2011. In its sixty years until then the UIA had only had one president from the Asia and Oceania region: India's Jai Bhalla in 1978. "It's really important for this region to be understood by the rest of the world," Cox said when she took on the role.
Cox’s work with the UIA encompassed key roles in the development of the UNESCO-UIA Charter for Architectural Education, the associated Education Policy Paper, the UNESCO-UIA Validation System and the
UN-HABITAT
The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is the United Nations programme for human settlements and sustainable urban development. It was established in 1977 as an outcome of the first United Nations Conference on Human Settlem ...
World Urban Campaign.
In 2011 Cox was presented the insignia of Knight in the Order of Arts and Letters by Frédéric Mitterrand, French Minister for Culture and Communication. Mitterrand applauded Cox for her "exemplary attention to natural and urban contexts, respect of the environment and its transformation". Mitterrand concluded that: “Through your energetic involvement and your federative enthusiasm, you offer a major contribution to the new orientation of the architecture of tomorrow where the aesthetic is more than ever interwoven with the principle of responsibility.”
In 2013 Cox was awarded 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_ ...
National President's Prize (2013). The Jury's citation stated that "Her enormous gift to architecture and the profession both here and overseas has been passionate, tenacious, pragmatic, dedicated and a selfless offering to the greater good. She has been selected as the recipient of the President's Prize in recognition of this sustained commitment and her far-reaching work in service to architecture and its value to the wider community."
In 2014 Cox was made an Officer of the
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Gove ...
(AO), the highest recognition for outstanding achievement and service to country, for "distinguished service to architecture as a practitioner, through executive roles with international professional organisations, and to architectural education and heritage conservation".
Personal life
Virginia Louise Gowing grew up on Sydney's north shore; her father worked in retail while her mother raised the four children.
Louise married
Philip Cox
Philip Sutton Cox (born 1 October 1939) is an Australian architect. Cox is the founding partner of Cox Architecture, one of the largest architectural practices in Australia.
He commenced his first practice with Ian McKay in 1962, and ...
, a fellow architect, in Sydney in April 1972. They have two daughters, Charlotte and Sophie.
Awards
* 1999: Appointed a
Member of the General Division of the Order of Australia for services to architecture;
[
* 2003: Marion Mahony Griffin Prize, ]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_ ...
;
* 2003: Outstanding Service-board member, Standards Australia
Standards Australia is a standards organisation established in 1922 and is recognised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Australian government as the primary non-government standards development body in Australia. It is a co ...
;
* 2011: Knight in the Order of Arts and Letters (Chevalier d'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres
The ''Ordre des Arts et des Lettres'' (Order of Arts and Letters) is an order of France established on 2 May 1957 by the Minister of Culture. Its supplementary status to the was confirmed by President Charles de Gaulle in 1963. Its purpose is ...
), France
* 2013: Presidents Prize, 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: Appointed an Officer of the General Division of the Order of Australia for services to architecture[
]
References
Further reading
Documentary of Louise Cox, 2003 winner of the Marion Mahony Griffin award
2013 AAAA Awards: National Presidents Award (Citation)
2013 National Presidents Prize, Australian Institute of Architects
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cox, Louise
1939 births
Living people
Officers of the Order of Australia
Members of the Order of Australia
Australian women architects
Architects in government
New South Wales architects
20th-century Australian architects
21st-century Australian architects
People educated at Abbotsleigh
20th-century Australian women
Presidents of the International Union of Architects