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David Mitchell (architect)

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David Mitchell
Born
David John Mitchell

(1941-03-08)8 March 1941
Auckland, New Zealand
Died26 April 2018(2018-04-26) (aged 77)
Takapuna, New Zealand
Alma materUniversity of Auckland
OccupationArchitect
AwardsNZIA Gold Medal (2005)

David John Mitchell (8 March 1941 – 26 April 2018) was a New Zealand architect based in Auckland. He presented the 1984 television series The Elegant Shed, and co-authored the book of the same name. Mitchell was awarded the gold medal of the New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA) in 2005.

Biography

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Born in Auckland on 8 March 1941, Mitchell was the son of John McFarlane Mitchell and Leonelle Lucy Mitchell (née Tizard),[1] and the nephew of psychologist Jack Tizard.[2] Mitchell was brought up in Morrinsville, and completed his architecture studies at the University of Auckland, graduating with a Bachelor of Architecture in 1964.[3][4] He became a registered architect in 1967.[5]

In the early 1970s, Mitchell was involved with Aardvark Films. With Roger Donaldson and Ian Mune, he co-wrote the 1974 television film, Derek.[6][7] Through the 1970s and 1980s, Mitchell was in practice with Jack Manning and Peter Hill, and he also taught at the University of Auckland between 1972 and 1987.[3] In 1984, Mitchell presented the six-point television documentary series The Elegant Shed, which traversed New Zealand architecture since 1945.[8] To accompany the series, Mitchell and Gillian Chaplin wrote the book The Elegant Shed: New Zealand architecture since 1945, which was published by Oxford University Press in 1984.[9]

Mitchell was an avid traveller, adventurer and sailor. In his 30s, he worked on documentaries with Roger Donaldson, travelling to Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary, and then sailing around Cape Horn.[10][11] In 1990, Mitchell began collaborating with Julie Stout, and they split their time between sailing or travelling around the world while working on projects in Hong Kong and in New Zealand.[3][10] After living overseas for much of the 1990s, the pair returned to Auckland in 2000 and established Mitchell Stout, later Mitchell Stout Dodd, Architects.[3][11]

In 2014, Mitchell was the creative director of New Zealand's first ever exhibition at the Venice Biennale of Architecture, entitled "Last, Loneliest, Loveliest".[12][13]

Mitchell died aged 77 in North Shore Hospital in Auckland on 26 April 2018, having suffered from prostate cancer.[10][12][14]

Works

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Recognition

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In 2005, Mitchell was awarded the New Zealand Institute of Architects' gold medal, for his outstanding contribution to the theory and practice of architecture in New Zealand.[22]

Mitchell was the recipient of a distinguished alumni award from the University of Auckland in 2016.[23] He was also a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Architects.[24]

The building designed by Mitchell (with Jack Manning) housing the School of Music at the University of Auckland won the NZIA supreme national award in 1986, and in 2013 received an enduring architecture award from the NZIA.[25][26] The Gibbs House in Parnell won the NZIA supreme national award in 1985 and, 30 years later, an NZIA enduring architecture award.[27][28]

In 2015, Mitchell & Stout won the NZIA Heritage award for the refurbishment of Lopdell House and the Public Architecture award for Te Uru Waitakere Contemporary Gallery.[29][30]

References

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  1. ^ "Births". The Press. 10 March 1941. p. 1. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  2. ^ "Leonelle Lucy Tizard". Steigenbergers of London. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Mitchell & Stout in Auckland" (PDF). Block Architecture Guides (3). Auckland branch, NZIA. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  4. ^ "Architect, educator, author, commentator". ArchitectureNow. 2 March 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  5. ^ "Mr David Mitchell". New Zealand Registered Architects Board. 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  6. ^ "Derek (TV Movie 1974)". IMDB. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  7. ^ Dix, John. "Dave Hurley". AudioCulture. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  8. ^ "The Elegant Shed". NZOnScreen. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  9. ^ Skinner, Robin (2010). "The whare in the bush" (PDF). Fabrications. 18 (1). Society of Architectural Historians Australia and New Zealand: 56–73. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  10. ^ a b c Rosenberg, Matthew. "'An endless, kind of constant desire to keep on moving': Acclaimed architect David Mitchell's son". Stuff. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  11. ^ a b Wichtel, Diana (27 August 2005). "Making places sing – The Listener". NZ Listener. Retrieved 1 May 2018.
  12. ^ a b "Vale: David Mitchell". ArchitectureNow. 27 April 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  13. ^ Bruhn, Cameron (6 June 2014). "New Zealand's pavilion in Venice". ArchitectureAU. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  14. ^ "David John Mitchell death notice". The New Zealand Herald. 28 April 2018. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  15. ^ "Building". Auckland Art Gallery. Auckland Art Gallery. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  16. ^ Hansen, Jeremy (17 October 2014). "Auckland home pushes architectural boundaries with unique footprint". Homes to Love. Home Magazine. Retrieved 28 April 2018.
  17. ^ "Public art gallery for Tauranga". New Zealand Herald. 18 December 2003. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  18. ^ "WAIHEKE HOUSE". Mitchell Stout Dodd Architects. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  19. ^ "Otoparae House". Mitchell Stout Dodd Architects. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  20. ^ Gibson, Anne (25 May 2015). "Gallery revamp becomes a challenging job for architects". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  21. ^ Monsalve, Federico (December 2014). "Te Uru". Interior (14). Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  22. ^ "2005 Gold medal: David Mitchell". New Zealand Institute of Architects. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  23. ^ "Our 2016 distinguished alumni award winners". University of Auckland. 26 January 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  24. ^ "Alumni gala dinner". University of Auckland. 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2018.
  25. ^ "University of Auckland School of Music". Mitchell Stout Dodd. Archived from the original on 27 April 2018. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  26. ^ "School of Music". NZIA. 2013. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  27. ^ "Gibbs House (1985)". NZIA. 2015. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  28. ^ "Parnell House". Mitchell Stout Dodd. Retrieved 26 April 2018.
  29. ^ "Accolades aplenty – Te Uru". www.teuru.org.nz. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  30. ^ "Mitchell Stout Dodd Architects Ltd". www.nzia.co.nz. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
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