Philip Cox

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Philip Cox
AO FAHA
Born
Philip Sutton Cox

(1939-10-01) 1 October 1939[1]
New South Wales, Australia
Alma mater
OccupationArchitect
SpouseLouise Cox (sep. 1988)
PartnerJanet Hawley
Children2
Awards
PracticeCox Architecture 1963–2015
Buildings
ProjectsSydney Olympic Park
Websitecoxarchitecture.com.au
Sydney Football Stadium, Moore Park, Sydney
Australian National Maritime Museum, Sydney
Craigieburn railway station, Melbourne
Energex headquarters located in Newstead, Brisbane
The Helix bridge at night, located in Marina Bay, Singapore
Kaohsiung Exhibition Center located in Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Philip Sutton Cox AO FAHA is an Australian architect. He is the founding partner of Cox Architecture, one of the largest architectural practices in Australia. His work has won him multiple awards, the first being in 1963, one year after graduating from the University of Sydney.

Early years and education

Philip Sutton Cox grew up in Killara on the North Shore in Sydney.

Cox attended Gordon Public School and then the Sydney Church of England Grammar School (Shore) in North Sydney. In his first years at Shore, art was taught by John Lipscombe, who had helped plan the new art block which had been praised by the architect Harry Seidler, who had lectured in the building in July 1952. Cox decided at quite an early age that he wanted to be an architect, though this was not clear until it was nearly time to leave school. He won a Commonwealth scholarship which was to pay his fees.[2]

Cox studied at the University of Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning between 1957 and 1962, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture, then at the University of New South Wales between 1970 and 1975, where he was awarded a Doctorate of Science.[2]

Career

Cox commenced his first practice with Ian McKay in 1962, and in 1967 he founded his own practice, Philip Cox and Associates.[3][4]

Shortly after he had graduated in 1980, Michael Rayner joined Philip Cox & Partners, working closely with Cox for the next ten years. Rayner was responsible for designing noted public buildings, including Australian National Maritime Museum and the Sydney Exhibition Centre (now demolished) in Darling Harbour.[5][6] In 1990 Rayner moved to Brisbane and established Cox Rayner Architects.[7]

The firm grew, becoming become Cox Architecture, with offices across Australia as well as in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.[8][9]

Involved in much of concept design for each project over 50 years, Cox stepped back from the business in 2015. Cox Architecture is responsible for projects throughout Australia and also in Southeast Asia, China, the Middle East, South Africa, and Europe.

Cox has been described as "epitomising the Sydney School of Architecture" in earlier projects.[10][11]

Awards and honours

Cox has won many architectural awards, the first being in 1963, one year after graduating from the University of Sydney.[3]

Cox has received the Royal Australian Institute of Architects Gold Medal in 1984, the Sir Zelman Cowen Award for Public Architecture in 1985. His was given Life Fellowship to the RAIA in 1987 and Honorary Fellowship of the American Institute of Architects in the same year.

In 1988 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in recognition of service to architecture.[12]

In 1993 he received the inaugural award for Sport and Architecture from the International Olympic Committee, and was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities in the same year.[13]

Other roles

Cox has held a range of voluntary positions during his professional career including Vice President, Environment Board, RAIA, NSW Chapter; a Member, Historic Buildings Committee, Cancer Patients Assistance Society of NSW; Vice President, Cancer Patients Assistance Society of NSW; Vice Chairman, Architecture and Design Panel, Visual Arts Board, Australia Council; and Chairman of Education Board of the RAIA, Federal Chapter.

Major works

Cox was the architect responsible for initially implementing the American Radburn design for public housing in New South Wales.

Cox and his firm have designed many iconic public buildings in Australia and throughout South East Asia, including a number of the buildings used for the 2000 Summer Olympics. The following list provides a summary of some of the major architectural design works of Cox and his firm, ordered from earliest to most recent, where Cox has either worked individually or as part of consortia:

CompletedProject nameLocationAwardNotes
1963St Andrews Presbyterian ChurchLeppington, South-western Sydney, New South Wales (demolished)[4][14]
1965C B Alexander Agricultural CollegeTocal, New South Wales [3][4]
1969Hawkins Residence19 Norma Crescent, Cheltenham [10]
1977Bruce StadiumBruce, Australian Capital Territory[3][15]
1985Ayers Rock ResortYulara, Northern Territory
1987Haileybury ChapelSpringvale Road, Melbourne, Victoria
1988Sydney Convention & Exhibition CentreDarling Harbour, Sydney, New South Wales (demolished 2013)[16]
1988Rod Laver ArenaFlinders Park, Melbourne, Victoria1995[15]
1991Australian National Maritime MuseumDarling Harbour, Sydney, New South Wales[17]
1988Sydney Football StadiumMoore Park, Sydney, New South Wales(demolished 2019) [15]
1995Brisbane Convention & Exhibition CentreSouth Bank, Brisbane, Queensland
1994Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic CentreSydney Olympic Park, Sydney, New South Wales
1997Sydney Harbour CasinoDarling Harbour, Sydney, New South Wales[15]
1999Sydney SuperDomeSydney Olympic Park, Sydney, New South Wales
1999Singapore ExpoChangi, Singapore
2001National Wine Centre of AustraliaNorth Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia[18]
1996Cairns Convention CentreCairns, Queensland
2000Princess Alexandra Hospital RedevelopmentWoolloongabba, Brisbane, Queensland
2001Goodwill BridgeSouth Bank, Brisbane, Queensland[19]
2002WA Maritime MuseumVictoria Quay, Fremantle, Western Australia
2004Brisbane Magistrates CourtGeorge Street, Brisbane, Queensland
2005Challenger Institute of Technology, Marine CampusFremantle, Western Australia
2006Northern Stand, Melbourne Cricket Ground
2007National Institute of Circus ArtsPrahran, Melbourne, VictoriaAward for Architectural Steel Design – Large Project, Australian Steel Institute VIC (2008)
2008District Court of Western AustraliaPerth, Western Australia
Australian Film, Television and Radio SchoolMoore Park, Sydney, New South WalesState Commendation for Commercial Architecture, AIA NSW (2010)
2010Energex HeadquartersNewstead, Brisbane, Queensland
The HelixMarina Bay, Singapore[20]
AAMI ParkSports & Entertainment Precinct, Melbourne, VictoriaWorld's Most Iconic and Culturally Significant Stadium, World Stadium Congress (2012)
National Award for Public Architecture, AIA (2011)
State Architecture Medal, AIA VIC, (2011)
William Wardell Award for Public Architecture, AIA VIC (2011)		[15]
2012One One One Eagle StreetBrisbane, QueenslandJohn Dalton Award for Building of the Year, AIA QLD (2013)
Corian Design Awards Winner (Project) (2015)		[21]
Queensland Performing Arts Centre RefurbishmentSouth Bank, Brisbane, QueenslandInterior Design Impact Award, AIDA (2016)
2013Neuroscience Research AustraliaRandwick, Sydney, New South WalesThe People's Choice Award, Randwick City Council (2013)
2014Kaohsiung Exhibition CenterKaohsiung, TaiwanExcellence Award, Chinese Institute of Engineers (2014)[22]
2015Carnarvon Police and Justice ComplexCarnarvon, Western Australia
Newcastle CourthouseNewcastle, New South Wales
Indonesia Convention Exhibition BSD City, Tangerang, Indonesia [23]
2016Anna Meares VelodromeChandler, Brisbane, QueenslandVenue for 2018 Commonwealth Games[24]
2018Sir John Monash CentreVillers-Bretonneux, France[25]
Jakarta International VelodromeJakarta, Indonesia
2020National Maritime Museum of ChinaTianjin, China
Christchurch Justice and Emergency Services PrecinctChristchurch, New Zealand
2021Oman Across Ages MuseumMuscat, OmanSpecial prize for an Exterior, Prix Versailles (2024) [26]

Personal life

Cox is separated from wife Louise Cox AO, a fellow architect.[3] They married in Sydney in April 1972 and have two daughters.[2]

His longtime partner is the journalist Janet Hawley.[2]

References

  1. "Philip (Sutton) Cox, architect". Arch Inform. 18 May 2026. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  2. Towndrow, Jennifer (1991). Philip Cox. Portrait of an Australian Architect. Penguin Books.
  3. Bleby, Michael (20 August 2016). "Architect Philip Cox delivers upfront on architecture's deficiencies". Australian Financial Review. Australia. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  4. Cox, Philip (7 September 2015). "Vale Ian McKay". Architecture AU. Archived from the original on 28 August 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  5. Wheeldon, David. "Construction & Architecture News". Architecture & Design. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  6. "Qld architects to design Chinese museum - 9News". www.9news.com.au. 11 April 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  7. Kelly, Amy (5 February 2012). "Interview: Michael Rayner – Brisbane bridge builder and rebuilder". The Fifth Estate. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  8. "Cox Architecture Sydney". ArchitectureAU. 16 August 2017. Archived from the original on 31 March 2015. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  9. "Cox Architecture official website". Archived from the original on 30 October 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
  10. Lynch, Owen (10 September 2013). "Philip Cox: A half century". In design live. Archived from the original on 21 May 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  11. "ULTIMATEHIDES website". Archived from the original on 19 February 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
  12. "Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) entry for COX, Philip Sutton". Australian Honours Database. Canberra, Australia: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 26 January 1988. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  13. "Fellow Profile: Philip Cox". Australian Academy of the Humanities. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
  14. Rushton, Gina (17 April 2014). "Philip Cox bristling at garden plan critics". The Australian. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  15. Pickett, Charles (4 November 2013). "Casinos and stadiums: Philip Cox". Inside the collection. Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences. Archived from the original on 15 August 2020. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
  16. Hasham, Nicole (16 January 2013). "Architect lashes out at 'stupid' demolition". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 7 February 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  17. Meacham, Steve (3 December 2001). "How the museum boss got engaged". Sydney Morning Herald. p. 14.
  18. Australian Institute of Architects: "National Wine Centre" Archived 4 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine, retrieved 15 November 2013
  19. Musgrave, Elizabeth (September 2002). "Goodwill overture". Architecture Australia. 91 (5): 66. ISSN 0003-8725. Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2011.
  20. "Helix Bridge / Cox Architecture with Architects 61". ArchDaily. 10 January 2012. Archived from the original on 11 November 2020. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  21. "One One Eagle Street / Cox Rayner Architects". ArchDaily. 15 May 2013. Archived from the original on 1 September 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  22. "Cox wins Taiwanese project". Architecture & Design. 27 August 2010. Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 20 August 2016.
  23. "Indonesian Convention Exhibition (ICE)". coxarchitecture.com.au. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  24. "Sleeman Sports Complex Anna Meares Velodrome". Stadiums Queensland. Archived from the original on 15 January 2019. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  25. Crowe, David (24 April 2018). "'We must remember': PM opens $100m Monash centre in France". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 24 April 2018. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  26. "Prix Versailles 2024 World Titles unveiled". Archilovers. 4 December 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2024.

Further reading