Can any one tell me what’s happened to Robin Gibson? When I left Brisbane in ’89 he was designing everything, from the QCC to the Mall (loved the blue sails) and even the City Garden’s redevelopment.
Now I’ve come back, and he seems to have disappeared off the map. I’ve searched on the net for him, but can’t find a thing. I’d be really interested to hear his input on changes to his original designs, like the Art Gallery, Library, Mall and Mayne Hall at UQ (BTW what have they replaced it with for graduations, and has the organ moved too? – nothing on the UQ website)?

Last year UQ opened the UQ Centre - http://www.pf.uq.edu.au/UQCentre/ExhbtnHall.html

Graduation are held there - but even that is too small now for some ceremonies.

Heard a story where 15% of parents had to watch their children from an adjacent room via video screen - bummer!

Last year UQ opened the UQ Centre - http://www.pf.uq.edu.au/UQCentre/ExhbtnHall.html

Graduation are held there - but even that is too small now for some ceremonies.

Heard a story where 15% of parents had to watch their children from an adjacent room via video screen - bummer!


Thanks for the link. All I can say is that I'm glad I graduated in Mayne Hall. The space looks best designed as an exam space then a graduation hall.

Well, since no local Brisbanites seem to know....Robin Gibson recently designed the second stage of 111 George Street just completed / being built. He also designed the first stage and Bligh Voller documented and completed. He kicked up a big stink about not being invited to compete in the extention of the library which is fair enough. Brisbane does generally not respect or acknowledge its architects. Personally, I think the biggest statement about where Robin Gibson is now, is when his ugly little office building on the corner of George and Queen Streets was demolished to make way for Queens Square.

Basicly, Robin Gibson is very close to retirement (and really never moved on from the 80's anyway...)

Thanks for the update.

His buildings are very 80s, but then again, they were mostly designed and built in the 80s too (and so many buildings in Brisbane at the time weren’t even close to that decade, I remember a particularly fowl yellow arcade between Queen St and Adelaide St that was torn down after only a couple of years – does anyone else remember what it was called?). I know his work is not to everyone’s taste, but he has a talent for creating spaces that I have always appreciated. His work is not always spectacular to look at, but can be quite fulfilling to be in. The water mall in the Art Gallery, for example, is one of my favourite spaces, and from it’s completion I have always included it on my “Tour of Brissie”. No matter how jaded the visitor, it always impresses.

No architect likes someone else to work on their vision. I just wanted to hear if he was given any input, I’m not surprised he’s not happy. When it comes down to it, governments rarely treat their architects well. I think it has to do with the ‘ol politician’s edifice complex.

I think Robin Gibson designed the Wallace-Bishop HQ in Commercial Rd Teneriffe. It was previously an ugly brown brick 70's warehouse but he turned it into a more interesting building, particularly the towers that anchor both ends. My understanding is that he also designed the new museum entrance for the Queensland Museum. The entrance is currently under construction.

I think Robin Gibson was so far up Joh Bjelke Petersens arse in the 80s in getting to design all the QPAC, Art Gallery Museum Library when Joh got booted out, that was the end of their nice little run of buildings

didnt he oversee the refurb of the state law building aswell?

Its now to 2006 and Robin is very much alive and kicking. In recent years his work has included the new entry to the Museum/Sciencentre, the Busway outside the Cultural Centre, 2 Catholic Churches in northern Qld one winning the FDG STANLEY AWARD FOR PUBLIC BUILDINGS, 33 Charlotte Street, a new rear entry to the Qld Art Gallery linking into the Millenium Plaza and many more, he is far from retirement.

phew

I saw that he was doing the new entrance to the Art Gallery, which is great (not that I can get much detail on it), it would be interesting to hear his thoughts on the Library extensions. Was he involved in the change in Mayne Hall at UQ I wonder? His buildings seem to be getting a bit of repurposing and revamping, which must be interesting for him to go through.

Its now to 2006 and Robin is very much alive and kicking. In recent years his work has included the new entry to the Museum/Sciencentre, the Busway outside the Cultural Centre, 2 Catholic Churches in northern Qld one winning the FDG STANLEY AWARD FOR PUBLIC BUILDINGS, 33 Charlotte Street, a new rear entry to the Qld Art Gallery linking into the Millenium Plaza and many more, he is far from retirement.

^
The conversion of Mayne hall was by Wilson Architects.

Hopefully he is buried deep in some hole somewhere....preferably 6 feet under.......

Hopefully he is buried deep in some hole somewhere....preferably 6 feet under.......

double post.

Hopefully he is buried deep in some hole somewhere....preferably 6 feet under.......

i dont think thats really called for. perhaps just request he retire early?

i dont think thats really called for. perhaps just request he retire early?


Me, I'm a fan of his work. He can create some fantastic internal spaces. The watermall in the Art Gallery is just wonderful, I’ve spent a lot of time there, just enjoying the space itself (and some of the other hidden little spaces – they are very relaxing), and the QPAC theatres are fantastic. Even the spaces in between the theatres are well designed to create mini performance areas. The Cultural Centre was a hard brief, it's a lot of buildings all in one, there's not many like it. OK, it's no Sydney Opera House on the outside, but it works much better as a building (just ask anyone who's worked in both), and it’s a much better building on the inside (yes I said it). So, it is a shame that it's not more daring, but that was the point at the time, to reflect Brisbane's more relaxed approach, a series of terraces, gently reflecting the contours of the mountains behind them. A single purpose building can be a lot more daring, that’s why the new contempary Art Gallery should be more daring (and I’m not getting into that argument here). Robin Gibson’s externals aren’t always as good as his internals, but my lord, I love it when he gets it right.

i dont think thats really called for. perhaps just request he retire early?

Yeah, maybe...as long as he does not bore me with anything else in Brissie...

Well here we are in 2011.... Robin Gibson is still alive and kicking. 2 of his buildings have taken out the 25 year awards in the past couple of years ... He celebrated his 80th birthday last year.

Watch out for a new building that should start to emerge in the heart of the city this year.

Watch out for a new building that should start to emerge in the heart of the city this year.

Oh come on, don't leave us hanging like that! Can you at least give us a hint about what this new development is?

As for Gibson's work, love it or hate it, it is definitely iconic. What would South Bank be without the Cultural Centre buildings?

Well here we are in 2011.... Robin Gibson is still alive and kicking. 2 of his buildings have taken out the 25 year awards in the past couple of years ... He celebrated his 80th birthday last year.

Watch out for a new building that should start to emerge in the heart of the city this year.

Presumably you are just talking about 190 Albert St...?

Oh, if it's just 190 Albert St, I knew about that one. Should be an interesting building to see in the flesh!

Hi there people - i have joined the convo a little late but i just wanted to say how much i adore the work of robin gibson - especially the cultural centre - just amazing.
I was hoping to find out if anyone had any idea in relation to his residential work and specifics in that regard.
Thanks for your time and hope somebody out there can provide some guidance, otherwise i guess i just try to call his offices.
Cheers

call his offices anyway, i reckon it would be interesting to get some info... you might be even able to talk to the man himself?!

Don't expect much, they still have analogue dialing phones. Just kidding, people who have worked with him before will get what I mean :) . I think they operate out of the same office as Thomson Adsett these days...

Oh, and Robin is still very much hands on, and good on him...

FYI, rumours Robin has officially hung up his boots.