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Canberra Today 15°/17° | Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Obituary / Significant Canberra architect dies at 93

Enrico Taglietti. Photo: Vikky Wilkes

OBITUARY / Dr Enrico Taglietti April 26, 1926 – May, 2019

WELL-known Canberra architect, Dr Enrico Taglietti has died. He was 93. 

The outstanding architect of national significance made a major contribution to the growth of the national capital.

Enrico was known for projects such as the McKeown House (1965), the Church of St Anthony (1965), the Embassy of Italy Chancellery (1974), the St Kilda Library in Melbourne (1972), the Australian War Memorial Repository (1979) and Dickson Library (1995).

Arriving in Australia as a young graduate in the 1950s, Taglietti settled in Canberra. His first impression was of “the sort of emptiness which was very conducive to creation”. His work demonstrated the architectural story of an immigrant – seeing a new country with a clear vision – and he continued an important tradition of successful immigrant architects.

In 1965, Taglietti was commissioned by the Order of St Vincent de Paul to complete his only major church, the 600-seat St Anthony’s Catholic Church at Marsfield in Sydney. In 1978, he also completed the Apostolic Nunciature in Red Hill and received a Papal Knighthood of St Gregory the Great from the Pope for his work.

In 2014, in recognition of his contribution to ACT architecture, the ACT Chapter named a category award in his honour: “the Enrico Taglietti Award for Educational Architecture”.

Australian Institute of Architects ACT chapter president Philip Leeson says: “The passing of Dr Enrico Taglietti is time to reflect on the immense contribution and influence of a passionate immigrant architect who chose Canberra as his hometown.”

“His beautiful idiosyncratic buildings have forever changed Canberra’s built environment and leave a lasting legacy for generations to enjoy,” he says.

“We have lost a great visionary and professional but know that his work will inspire generations of architects to come.”

 

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Ian Meikle, editor

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