Luminous simplicity : the architecture and art of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta

Melbourne : Macmillan Art Publishing, 2006. Quarto, lettered cloth in illustrated dustjacket, pp. 192, illustrated. New copy of an out of print title.

International multi-award winning architect, Romaldo Giurgoila (b. Rome, 1920) is best known in Australia as the principal architect of the New Parliament House in Canberra. His latest major work is St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta, a new Cathedral complex which incorporates the old 1857 building which was destroyed by fire in 1996. The opening of the new Cathedral was celebrated on 29 November 2003. For Romaldo Giurgola this project provided an opportunity to reflect on his life’s work and to incorporate in the buildings, and the art works which were specially commissioned for them, the architectural principles he values most. These have been developed over many decades from the time of his education in Italy through to academic post and architectural projects undertaken in the USA, Europe, Australia and Asia. He regards architecture as ‘… a symbolic expression of people’s cultural identities and aspirations’. With this in mind, he has created in Parramatta a singular masterpiece characterised by its simplicity, serenity and contemplative character. This beautifully written and illustrated publication provides eloquent insights into the art of architecture and Romaldo Giurgola’s spatial philosophy.