Louise St John Kennedy facts for kids
Louise St John Kennedy, born in 1950, is a talented Australian architect. She has designed buildings in Australia and America. Louise studied psychology at the University of Western Australia and later earned a degree in architecture from the University of Melbourne. Today, she works in Claremont, Western Australia, designing buildings, interiors, and landscapes.
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Early Career and First Designs
While studying at the University of Melbourne, Louise St John Kennedy worked for architect Graeme Gunn. After graduating, she worked with John Taylor Architect and Builder. Even as a student, she renovated two homes for herself. Her first paid project was to redesign an office in Malvern for a cartoonist named John Spooner.
After moving back to Perth, Louise started her own practice in 1981. Her first big project was designing her own house in Subiaco. This house won a special award from the WA Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA). Louise was the first woman to receive this honor! Soon after, two more of her projects, the Limestone Residence in Dalkeith and the Mount Street Gallery Workshops in Fremantle, also won RAIA awards.
Designing Across Australia
In 1984, Louise St John Kennedy won the important Robin Boyd Award for her designs. After this, she completed many projects, mostly homes, restaurants, and shops, all over Western Australia. She even designed stores for the famous fashion brand Giorgio Armani across Australia.
Louise also taught about women in architecture at the UWA School of Architecture. This was the first course of its kind in Australia! She also helped start the group "Women in Architecture in Western Australia." She also helped look into how architecture and law connect in courts. Louise also started Hay River wines in Mount Barker, which was one of the first vineyards in that part of Western Australia.
Awards and Achievements
In 1984, Louise St John Kennedy won the Robin Boyd Award for a home she designed called the Downes-Stoney residence in East Perth. She was the first woman and the first person from Western Australia to win this award. She has also won many other awards, including the Bunnings Timber award in 1988 and the Fremantle Award in 1983. Her work has been featured in many publications.
Louise St John Kennedy was a founding member of the Australian Architecture Association. She was also the first woman to be appointed to the Architects Board of Western Australia and the Chapter Council of the RAIA WA. She helped review architecture schools at universities in Western Australia and was an examiner for the Architect's Board. She also helped start the Perth Institute of Contemporary Art and served on the board at LandCorp, where she helped create their Design and Sustainability department.
Famous Projects
Here are some of the notable buildings and places Louise St John Kennedy designed:
- Downes-Stoney residence, East Perth
- Mosman Bay Tea Rooms, Mosman Park
- Eric and Rinske Carr Gallery Residence and Workshops, Mouat Street, Fremantle
- The Dempster House, Mosman Park
- Eastwood House, Mandurah
- Pines Business Centre, Cottesloe
- Chester Road Housing Development, Claremont
- San Lorenzo Restaurant, Claremont
Gallery
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Dempster Residence, 1985
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Mosman Bay Tearooms, 1986
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Carr Gallery and Workshops residence, 1982
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Chester Road Residences, 1987
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Downe-Stoney House, East Perth, 1983
