We recently received the sad news that John Sutherland, the founding Head of School for the architecture programme at Unitec, has passed. John had an illustrious architectural career that spanned more than 60 years, and contributed to many aspects of the profession. He was made a distinguished fellow of the NZIA in recognition of his many contributions to the profession.
He was also involved with a number of notable buildings including the University of Auckland Arts and Commerce and the Old Arts Building, the Majestic Centre in Wellington and The Museum of New Zealand – Te Papa Tongarewa.
“Over the course of more than 60 years in the profession, he contributed his leadership, knowledge and expertise to architectural and engineering practices, industry groups and government agencies, academic institutions and his own professional body, Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA).”
Read Architecture Now Obituary here
“He infused into the programme a professional character so desired by the New Zealand Institute of Architects, and led the programme to full accreditation. His professional networks contributed to identify Unitec as a new and different presence for the profession. John’s wit and humour will be remembered by us all, along with his enquiring mind that put great focus on people, and giving them time.”
Peter McPherson – Head of School – Architecture.
This is a huge loss because not only did John Sutherland have a wonderfully talented feel for how an architecture that embodies New Zealand and Polynesian design could be infused with construction, but John’s oblique and humanistic angle of view enabled a most gentle and persuasive wielding of that design with construction, procurement, finance and especially its effects within our New Zealand trades and professions, I think John had the ability to enable these designs to not only transform schools of thought but to lift up our many trades and procurement practices in the eyes of New Zealanders with its strong sense of purpose. Long may John’s contributions and guiding models continue to captivate and hold us all spellbound.
John’s formative influence on the early School of Architecture was profound and built from his values that sought the combination of creative design and sound construction practices. He was instrumental in helping the School build its credibility and reputation as an educator of architects who were sought after by the profession, and helped develop Unitec’s reputation as a place to come for real-world learning. The profession and industry have lost a visionary who will be hard to replace. Vale John!