Leif Kristensen (1935–2015) was a Danish architect, educated at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts School of Architecture in Copenhagen, who came to Sydney in 1962 with plans (not successful) to work for Jørn Utzon’s team building the Sydney Opera House. Instead he joined the Government Architect’s Branch of the New South Wales Public Works Department, working as personal assistant to senior architect Peter Hall –– who later became one of the trio of government architects who completed the Opera House after Utzon’s departure.
After four years of architecture school, Kristensen worked for Copenhagen architect Erik Ejlers. In 1964 was registered to practice in New South Wales and in 1967 he and his second wife, Christine Wing, built a house and studio on bushland at Arcadia.
As a government architect, Kirstensen’s most significant project was the Marsden Hospital for handicapped children in Parramatta – which won the NSW RAIA’s Sir John Sulman Medal (best public building in the state) for 1969–70.
After leaving the government in 1969, he began a practice specialising in aged care facilities. His notable projects included Towradgi Park, Juliana Village (NSW merit award 1982), Norby Retirement Village and Abel Tasman Village.
During the late 1980s, Kristensen again worked at the Sydney Opera House, reviewing and designing various fitouts and facility improvements.
Source
—Drew, Philip. 2015. 'Leif Kristensen (1935–2015).’ Architecture Bulletin (Obituary), Spring edn, p. 36.
- Writers:
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- Date written:
- 2016
- Last updated:
- 2016
