Alexander Tzannes
Alexander Tzannes | |
|---|---|
| Born | 27 December 1950 |
| Alma mater | University of Sydney |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Practice | Tzannes Associates |
Alexander 'Alec' Tzannes AM (born 27 December 1950) is an Australian architect and academic. He has taught at a number of Australian universities, including at the University of New South Wales as Dean of the university's Faculty of Built Environment from 2008 to 2016. He is also the founding director of Tzannes, a Sydney based architecture and design practice.[1]
Education
Growing up in the suburb of Centennial Park he attended the nearby Sydney Boys High School.
He studied architecture and science at the University of Sydney, where he graduated in 1974. He later studied in a postgraduate capacity at Columbia University, where he graduated in 1978.[1][2]
Career
Tzannes has taught at a number of Australian universities, including as a Visiting Professorial Fellow at the Queensland University of Technology in 2003. He is currently Emeritus Professor of Design Practice in Built Environment at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, having previously served as Dean of the university's Faculty of Built Environment from 2008 to 2016.
He founded Tzannes in 1982, which has grown into a leading Australian architecture and design practice,[1] that has won over 200 national, international and state awards[3]. Described as "a quintessential Sydney architect in his artful responsiveness to its sense of place"[4] he is also strongly influenced by his Greek heritage.[5]
Tzannes designed the Federation Pavilion in Centennial Park, New South Wales, which was erected in 1988, during the Australian Bicentenary. The site was previously used to mark the Federation of Australia during the official ceremony on 1 January 1901.[6]
The adaptive reuse of the historic Kent Brewery[7] in Sydney's Central Park precinct, undertaken by Tzannes, won the 2025 International Architecture Award for Restoration/Renovation.[8]
Recognition
Tzannes was the National President of the Australian Institute of Architects from 2007-2008.
He was made a member of the Order of Australia in 2014 for 'significant service to architecture, as a practitioner and educator, and through professional organisations'.[9]
In 2018 he was awarded the Australian Institute of Architects Gold Medal.[1][10]
In 2019 the Hellenic Union of Eptanisians honoured Tzannes for his academic and architectural work. A stamp was issued in recognition of this honour by the Hellenic Post.
References
- ^ a b c d "Emeritus Professor Alec Tzannes". UNSW Sites. Archived from the original on 28 September 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
- ^ deborahw (6 February 2017). "Alexander (Alec) Tzannes AM". Sydney Living Museums. Archived from the original on 28 September 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
- ^ "Homepage". Tzannes Architect. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
- ^ Favaro, Paola; Freestone, Robert (2024). Tzannes: Adaptive Urban Architecture and Design (1st ed.). Australia: Thames & Hudson Australia. p. 47. ISBN 978-1-760-76292-6.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ Koilakou, Marilena (12 December 2025). "Building with Purpose: Alec Tzannes on Architecture and Ethics". Global Design News. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
- ^ Federation Monument, Centennial Park, NSW Profile Archived 29 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Brewery Yard". Tzannes Architect. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
- ^ "Brewery Yard wins international design award | Architecture & Design". www.architectureanddesign.com.au. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
- ^ "Award Extract - Australian Honours Search Facility". honours.pmc.gov.au. Archived from the original on 28 September 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
- ^ "Alec Tzannes wins 2018". Dezeen. 15 June 2018. Archived from the original on 28 September 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
Further reading
- Tzannes: Adaptive Urban Architecture and Design Edited by Paola Favaro and Robert Freestone, (1st ed) Australia, Thames & Hudson 2024