Mitchell, Giurgola and Thorp

The Collaboration

The architecture firm Mitchell, Giurgola and Thorp was founded in 1980 in Deakin, Australian Capital Territory by the American architect Ehrman B (Ukman) Mitchell, Italian born Romaldo (Aldo) Giurgola and Australian architect Richard Graham Thorp. The collaboration was formed after winning the international competition for the design of the Australian Parliament House in Canberra, ACT in 1978.

Ehrman Mitchell was born in Harrisburg in 1924 and died in Philadelphia on January the 18th, 2005. Romaldo Giurgola was born in Galatina, in the south of Italy, in 1920 and currently resides in Canberra Australia. Richard Thorp was born in Sydney in 1944.

These architects contributed in the development of the architecture in Australia by designing Parliament House, an iconic building of Canberra and symbol of the national unity and commitment to the democratic process of government within Australia. This historic building is distinct in terms of its aesthetic, architecture and landscapes.

Personal Lives

Romaldo Giurgola

Architect, professor and author Romaldo Giurgola began his studies at Sapienza University of Rome before moving to the USA where he completed his master’s degree at Columbia University. Giurgola later taught at Cornell and the University of Pennsylvania before being made chair of the Columbia architecture department in 1966. Through his contributions and style he became known as an important member of the ‘Philadelphia School’ of architecture along side others including Louis Kahn, a subject on which he has published several book. In 1958 he and Ehrman Mithell established Mitchell/Giurgola Architects in Philadelphia, USA, a company that has completed more than 200 projects in 100 cities around the world.

Ehrman Mitchell

Ehrman Mitchell was an architect, author and co founding partner of Mitchell/Giurgola. Mitchell studied architecture at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, receiving his master’s degree in 1948. During his career he was made national president of the American Institute of Architects in 1979. Mitchell was a fellow of the American Institute of Architects from 1969, an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Canadian Institute of Architects from 1979, an honorary member of the Sociedad Arquitectos Mexicanos from 1980, and a Fellow of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects from 1980. Mitchell retired in 1985.

Richard Throp

Richard Thorp completed his Bachelor of architecture at the Melbourne of University. He is a Fellow of the Royal Australian Institute of Architecture, an Associate Institute of Actuaries, and an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects. During his career he has been the Managing Director of Francis-Jones Morehen Thorp (2002-09), Partner in Mitchell Giurgola architects (1980-2001), President (Australian Capital Territory) Association of consulting architects (1987-91), Senior architect Mitchell Giurgola architects (New York) (1978), Brown and Daltas architects, Rome (1976), Potoatic group architects, Washington DC (1975), Associate APR associates, Washington DC (1973), Jackson and Walker architects, Melbourne (1966), member of the professional development committee of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects, NSW (1990-91), Arts Council of Australian capital territory (1984-85), President of NSW Architect Registration.

Awards

In 1978 Mitchell, Guirgola and Thorp won the competition to design Australia’s new Parliament House.

In 1989 the Parliament House was awarded the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA) national Sir Zelman Cowen Award and the RAIA (ACT chapter) Canberra medallion as well.

It also was awarded the Civic Design award in 1990.