Edmond and Corrigan

Edmond and Corrigan is an Australian architectural firm based in Melbourne, Victoria, founded in the late 1970s by partners Maggie Edmond and Peter Corrigan, the firm's principals. The practice's work, both built and written, has been widely associated with the emergence of architectural postmodernism in Australia,^[1] an interest in suburbia^[2] and a search for an Australian architectural identity.^[3] Peter Corrigan taught design studios at RMIT University for over 30 years, until his death in December 2016.^[4]

RMIT Building 8, as seen from Swanston Street

Building 8 of RMIT, as seen from Bowen Lane

Architectural practice

The VCA Theatre building in Southbank, Melbourne

The practice of Edmond and Corrigan was officially formed in 1975, though the pair had gradually been collaborating and associating on projects after Corrigan's return from America in 1974. Much of their early work consisted of church buildings and community buildings for the Catholic communities of suburban Melbourne.

They designed the Keysborough Church of the Resurrection, completed in 1977, and later buildings in Keysborough.^[5] The project was published in 1977.^[6] The School of the Resurrection, Keysborough was awarded the Victorian Architecture Medal in 1979.

Niagara Galleries, Richmond, Melbourne

The practice's subsequent projects, many of them in suburban sites, continued with the idea of an Australian architectural language, visible in their competition entries for the Parliament House, Canberra Competition in 1977, The Australian Stockman's Hall of Fame and the State Library of Victoria, their many projects for community buildings, and their work for universities.

They later undertook larger projects; many of them, particularly RMIT Building 8, pursued the idea of 'a city in a single building'.^[7] Their Athan House of 1986 was published widely.

The practice also worked extensively in stage and set design for Opera Australia, Melbourne University Theatre Group, and La Mama.

Peter Corrigan wrote about his practice's work and about others, explicitly stating the practice's goal of creating or fostering a particularly Australian architectural language.

Recognition

In 2003 Peter Corrigan was awarded the RAIA Gold Medal, 2003, the highest accolade of the Australian architecture profession. In 1993 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Architecture from RMIT University.

Twenty years later, in 2023, Maggie Edmond was awarded the Australian Institute of Architects Gold Medal at the National Awards, with her name added to the same award that was presented to Peter Corrigan in 2003. At the 2023 National Awards she described the correction as 'restorative'.^[8][9] The rectification awards their work as a unique and innovative partnership.

Notable projects and awards

Edmond & Corrigan projects list

Year	Project	Client	Location	Type	Awards
1977	Freedom Club Childcare Centre		Keysborough, Victoria	Education
1977	Church of the Resurrection		Keysborough, Victoria	Religion
1978	Chapel of St Joseph[10] (now Strabane Chapel Hall)		27–29 Strabane Avenue, Mont Albert North, Victoria	Religion	RAIA Victoria Chapter Merit Award for Outstanding Architecture, New Buildings Category, 1983 Enduring Architecture Award, 2003
1978	Resurrection School		Keysborough, Victoria	Education	Victorian Architecture Medal, 1979[11]
1982	Kew House		Kew, Victoria	Residential	RAIA Victoria Chapter Housing Merit Award
1982	Kay Street Housing[12]	Ministry of Housing	75—79 Kay Street, Carlton, Victoria	Residential
1986	Office of Edmond & Corrigan		46 Little Latrobe Street, Melbourne, Victoria	Commercial
1988	Dandenong College of TAFE, Stage 3		Dandenong, Victoria	Education	RAIA Commendation for Public Architecture (National Award), 1989
1988	Athan House	Louis & Sophie Athan	Monbulk, Victoria	Residential	RAIA Victoria Chapter Bronze Medal for Outstanding Architecture Award, New Residential Category, 1989
1988	Walsh House, Scheme for Pool Pavilion			Residential	Architecture Australia Prize for Unbuilt Work, 1994
1991	Keilor Fire Station	Victorian Government	Keilor, Victoria	Public Service
1994	Oakleigh Fire Station	Victorian Government	Oakleigh, Victoria	Public Service
1994	RMIT Building 8 Extension	RMIT University	Melbourne, Victoria	Education	Victorian Architecture Medal, 1995 City of Melbourne Building and Planning Award, Institutional Buildings Category, 1995 RAIA Victoria Chapter Institutional Alterations and Extensions Award, 1995 RAIA Walter Burley Griffin Award for Urban Design, 1995
1995	Greensborough Office and Carpark		Greensborough, Victoria	Commercial
1995	Ringwood Library Complex, Civic Plaza		Ringwood, Victoria	Cultural	RAIA Victoria Chapter Urban Design Award, 1995 RAIA Victoria Chapter Award of Merit, Institutional Category, 1996
1996	Windsor Fire Station	Victorian Government	Windsor, Victoria	Public Service	Metal Building Award, Certificate of Merit, 1996 RAIA Victoria Chapter Award of Merit BHP Colorbond Steel Award, 1997 RAIA Victoria Chapter Award of Merit, Commercial Category, 1997
1996	Exhibition Centre Showgrounds Stage 1		Ascot Vale, Victoria	Public Service	RAIA Victoria Chapter Award of Merit, Commercial Category, 1997
1999	Lehrer Residence		Victoria	Residential	RAIA Victoria Chapter Award of Merit, 2000
2001	Drama School, Victorian College of the Arts[13]		South Melbourne, Victoria	Education
2001	Niagara Galleries		Richmond, Victoria	Arts
2001	Allan & Maria Myers Academic Centre, Newman College and St Mary's College		Parkville, Victoria	Education	Dulux Colour Awards, Commercial Exterior Winner, 2002 RAIA Victoria Chapter, BHP Colorbond Award, 2002
2005	Lux House alteration, front porch			Residential
2005	Readings Bookshop[14]		309 Lygon Street, Carlton	Commercial

Gallery

Edmond and Corrigan selected projects

• 
  Chapel of St Joseph, 1978
• 
  Chapel of St Joseph, 1978
• 
  Victorian College of the Arts, Drama School
• 
  RMIT Building 8, Swanston Street, Melbourne
• 
  Readings Bookshop, Carlton, 2005
• 
  Niagara Galleries, Richmond
• 
  Windsor Fire Station
• 
  Keilor Fire Station, 1991
• 
  Ringwood Library, 1995
• 
  Plan of Athan House, 1984