Sean Godsell Architects

Education and Early Career

Sean Godsell, born in Melbourne in 1960, graduated with First Class Honours from the University of Melbourne in 1984. After traveling to Japan and Europe in 1985, he worked in London for Sir Denys Lasdun from 1986 to 1988. Upon returning to Melbourne in 1989, he collaborated with The Hassell Group and in 1994 founded his own firm, Godsell Associates Pty Ltd Architects.

Further Academic Pursuits and Publications

In 1999, he completed a Master of Architecture at RMIT University with a thesis titled "The Appropriateness of the Contemporary Australian Dwelling." His works have been featured in prominent international architecture magazines such as Architectural Review (UK), Domus (Italy), A+U (Japan), and GA Houses (Japan).

International Recognition and Awards

In 2002, the English magazine Wallpaper named him one of the ten individuals set to "change the way we live." A year later, he received recognition from the President of the American Institute of Architects for his work with the homeless, particularly for the Future Shack prototype exhibited at the Cooper Hewitt Design Museum in New York.

Some of the major awards he has received include:

• Victorian Premier’s Design Award and RAIA Robin Boyd Award (2006)

• Cappochin Residential Architecture Award in Italy and Chicago Athenaeum Award (2007)

• Finalist in the Wallpaper International Design Awards (2008)

• AIA Record Houses Award for Excellence for the Glenburn House (2008)

In 2012, he was selected to design the new Australian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale, and in 2013, he received the RAIA Victorian Medal and the William Wardell Award for the RMIT Design Hub.

Recent Academic Activities and Publications

In 2013, the Spanish magazine El Croquis published the monograph Sean Godsell – Tough Subtlety, featuring an essay by Juhani Pallasmaa. Between 2013 and 2014, he was a visiting professor at the IUAV WAVE Workshop in Venice and delivered a UNESCO lecture in Mantua.

Recent Projects and Awards

In recent years, Godsell has been a finalist for significant projects such as the Sydney Modern Project (2015) and the National Conservatory in Canberra (2016). In 2018, he received a Papal Silver Medal for his Vatican Chapel on the Island of San Giorgio Maggiore during the Venice Architecture Biennale.

Finally, in 2022, he was awarded the AIA Gold Medal, one of the most prestigious recognitions in the field of architecture.