Professor Philip Cox
Architect
If Sydney was a building...
It would be a building garden with broad
terraces of landscape onto which the workspace and living spaces
integrated. By doing so the building would be integral with leisure,
nature and the harbour.
Local architect Philip Cox runs Cox, one of the world's best architectural firms with a staff of 400. His major Sydney works include Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney Maritime Museum and Sydney Exhibition Centre.
What inspires you?
I delight in the flotsam, shells, unique marine material washed up, weathered sandstone cliffs that bear images of gargoyles, sculptural forms, patterns of the sand that are suggestive of building forms. It is the edge condition that fascinates, the in between zone of land and water. I register the images for further reference.
Outdoor space
If I am in the city my favourite walk is around the foreshore of Sydney Harbour starting at Darling Harbour ending in the Botanic Gardens. There is a myriad of forms and spaces, buildings of different eras, the new forms of Darling Harbour, the old timber wharfs of Walsh Bay, diving under the great arch of the Harbour Bridge, skirting Circular Quay glancing the Opera house and then the Gardens with their verdant sweeps of lawn and trees. Occasionally I will have a coffee in the gardens.
Gallery
I go to art shows regularly and to the major galleries. I am on the Board of Vis Asia which promotes Asian Art. I am constantly inspired by painting and sculpture. I also paint myself. I see Architecture as an all encompassing profession where it is integral with the visual arts. It is by far the hardest to perform as it involves many people and players plus an understanding of science and technologies. I believe architects are and should be universal in their approach, as the greats were. I also like writing and have written several books on architecture.
Shop
I like wet markets with fresh vegetables, colours, shapes, patterns, people, flowers, poultry shouts and cries. Flemington Market is a real market, trucks and produce, earthy people, different ethnic groups and the fascination of the unknown. It is good to have some dirt beneath the fingernail. I intensely dislike artificial markets where bric a brac is sold especially to tourists. They scream of insincerity a type of artificiality we can do without.
Food
I love cooking on the weekends as much as I like eating out. My favourite restaurant is Becasse in the city and the Dunes at Palm Beach where they make a very memorable Bouillabaisse.
Creative space
My best creative space is a studio at our house on the south coast. It is mainly glass and looks across through spotted gums to the lake. I am inspired just by staring out the window. I like working at a large table with plenty of pencils and paint as I like exploring ideas in different medias. It is essential that I have immediate access to the garden to walk and contemplate tossing ideas about. I believe I am at my happiest when doing this.
What advice would you give to aspiring people in your field ?
My advice to young architects is to be inspired to stick to their moral code. Don't get seduced by money. Learn to walk in architecture before you can run.