Peddle Thorp
# Peddle Thorp

Peddle Thorp is an Australian-based architecture, interior design, and urban planning firm, with offices located in Melbourne, Victoria, in Asia and in the Middle East. The Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo inspired from "The Underwater Paradise" is one of the notable project of Peddle thorp.

## Major architectural works

Peddle Thorp has designed some of Australia's landmark buildings including the following major architectural projects:

| Completed | Project name | Location | Award |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1988 | National Tennis Centre at Flinders Park (now Rod Laver Arena) | Flinders Park, Melbourne, Victoria | |
| 1997 | Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre | Albert Park, Melbourne, Victoria | |
| 2000 | Hilton Melbourne Airport (now Parkroyal) | Melbourne Airport, Victoria | Excellence in Construction Award (2001) |
| | Melbourne Aquarium and Antarctic Exhibition | Melbourne Aquarium, Victoria | Australian Property Council, Category Winner (2001) |
| 2004 | TEDA Football Stadium | Tianjin, China | Zhan Tian You Award, Winner (2005) Lu Ban Award, Winner (2005) |
| | Royal Hobart Hospital | Hobart, Tasmania | Australian Institute of Architects Awards, Urban Design Award, Winner (2008) |
| | Kardinia Park | South Geelong, Victoria | |
| 2010 | ANZ Bank Headquarters | Docklands, Melbourne, Victoria | World Architecture Festival Interiors and Fit Out, Overall Winner (2011) |
| 2012 | RMIT Design Hub | RMIT University, Melbourne City campus, Victoria | Victorian Architecture Medal (2013) William Wardell Award for Public Architecture (2013) International Prize for Sustainable Architecture (2013) |

The firm produced highly innovative design features such as the roof opening at the tennis centre at Melbourne Park, which was one of the first in the world to use this approach; to allow for play in all kinds of weather. The firm's New Zealand branch, established in 1968, has also designed various buildings of note, including the Metropolis in Auckland, and Vodafone on the Park in Wellington.

## Criticism

Despite its success, Peddle Thorp was criticised by Norman Day, an architectural critic, for producing buildings of little value. Day's views have been contested by Peddle Thorp's design director, Peter Brook. The dispute reflects a broader tension in architectural circles about its role in the commercial sphere. The dispute was seen publicly when a group of architects opposed Peddle Thorp designed changes to Harold Holt swimming pool in 2007. The dispute lost ground when the original architect Daryl Jackson praised Peddle Thorp's revised designs. The highly successful commercial architect Barry Patten, who designed the Sidney Myer Music Bowl, also faced similar criticism from Day and other critics during his career. He was later seen as one of Australia's greatest architects.

