Robert Riddel
Biography
Robert Riddel was born in 1945 and started his architectural degree at the Central Technical College, (now the Queensland University of Technology) in 1964. In the same year, he obtained a job as a first-year student in the office of Conrad & Gargett, where he worked under Louis “Lou” Hailey (1927-2018) and alongside Graeme Thiedeke. After leaving Conrad & Gargett, Riddel worked for architect Bill Moulds, prefabrication firm O'Neill Industries, architecture firm Bligh Jessup Bretnall in Brisbane and then on the Gold Coast with Frank Welz, Ron Burling and Clarke Gazzard.
By 1969, Riddel had become disenchanted with his architectural education in Brisbane and he applied to the Royal College of Art in London and was accepted for three years of study. During his time there (1970-3), Riddel became interested in the development of flat packed furniture design and produced a range of tables. During this time he also designed and built a full size living capsule and tested it by living in it.
After returning to Australia for a brief period in 1973-74, he worked for Geoffrey Pie (1938-2017) and for Goodsir Baker Wilde, before returning to London where he undertook further study at the Architectural Association, graduating in 1976. Whilst in London, Riddel worked for the architecture firms Bernard Hartley and Partners and also briefly @ Turner Landsdown Holt. After returning to Australia in 1978, Riddel worked in Sydney with Wills Denoon while being caretaker of Eryldene (1913) @ Gordon on the North Shore. Late in 1979 he returned to Brisbane and worked with Richard Allom (1947-), which sharpened his interest in Queensland's architectural heritage. He also worked with his friend Rex Addison on several occasions.
In 1982 he began his own practice: Riddel Architecture, which focused largely on the adaptive re-use of existing buildings and the conservation of buidings with cultural significance. Until recently, his practice was based in a former furniture showroom in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley, originally designed in 1954 by émigré architect Karl Langer (1903-1969) and carefully conserved and reconstructed by Riddel’s practice in 2008. Other notable projects completed by the firm include additions to the Law Faculty @ UQ (1987-89), The Maryborough City Hall after fire damage (1991-2), the Brisbane Customs House adaptive re-use (1992-5), the Spring Hill Baths (1992-99),7 Diddams Lane the adaptive re-use of a tea warehouse (1992-5) the Brisbane City Hall, conservation of external fabric (1994-2004), the Balmoral Water Reservoir converted to a house (1994), Glengallan Homestead (1995-7), Rockhampton Customs House (1999-2002), adaptive re-use ot the NAB Queen St (1999-2005), Blackall Wool Scour (2000-07),Extension to the Goddard building @ UQ ( 2010-12), Qld Police Academy, 13 buildings adapted from a former asylum, (unrealised 2007-12). Some new houses were designed within the practice including Aquila (1998-99) Cois Fharraige (1999-2000) and the Ecohouse (2004-2005) all of which received awards, as did the work on the Indoorpoopilly Uniting church (2006-10) and the Holland Park Police Station (2005-7).
In 2008, Robert Riddel completed his PhD thesis: RS (Robin) Dods 1868-1920: the life and work of a significant Australian architect, at the University of Queensland. The Dods work led to an Exhibition at the State Library and publication of a book: Robin Dods: Selected Works. In November 2012, the practice merged with Conrad Gargett as Conrad Gargett Riddel. and Riddel became a principal in the new firm. When a year later the enlarged practice merged also with Anchor Mortlock & Woolley, the name reverted to Conrad Gargett.To celebrate 125 years of cotinuous practice,Riddel edited an extensive history of the firm as a book.(2016-17) Before retiring from the practice in 2018, Riddel took a leading roll in the preparation of two important Coservation Managent Plans, namely for Australian Parliament House and the Qld Cultural Centre. He is currently living in Europe.
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