The grand stone colonial buildings of North Adelaide were the earliest influence on Robert Dickson's architectural eye. His first design brief in the era of building restrictions post World War 2 was to design and build himself a house using only the quantity of materials then available. Meant as a first house, he is still living in it six decades later, a testament to the deep design philosophy evident in a young student and carried through his professional life.
Robert Dickson is committed to the place, space, light and materials that are South Australian. To challenge and refine this philosophy of faithfulness to place and conditions he travelled and worked with renowned architects in Italy and London, and learned the influence of centuries of design on place and materials.
Robert has collaborated across the disciplines of architecture, town planning and landscape. He has written extensively and taught. His many awards show the esteem of his contemporaries across Australia, especially as the winner of the Institute of Architects inaugural Twenty-Five Year Award.
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'Alongside archival and contemporary photography and hand-drawn plans, Dickson explores in precise, accessible prose the briefing, design, construction, challenges and successes of each project. And the tales are fascinating - charming anecdotes of how to build a space for comfortable, contented, long-term occupation.' - Peter Davies, ARCHITECTUREAU