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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

The Gallery’s Acknowledgement of Country, and information on culturally sensitive and restricted content and the use of historic language in the collection can be found here.

Peter Hall

n.d.
Louis Kahan AO

fibre-tipped pen and pen and ink on paper (sheet: 47.9 cm x 32.9 cm)

Peter Hall (1931-1995), architect, completed the Sydney Opera House after the Danish architect Jørn Utzon resigned from the project and left Australia in 1966. He gained a travelling scholarship to study modernist architecture in Europe where he met Utzon. Hall was offered the job of designer appointed by the government to finish the ‘building’ which Utzon had left after other architects had refused the job. Once he had talked to Utzon, satisfied that he would never return, Hall took on the formidable task. Radical compromise to Utzon’s plans was required and Hall carried it through despite the ire and scorn of the design and architecture community. Later, he worked privately and in the Department of Construction and Housing in Canberra. Hall died prematurely, alcoholic and bankrupt in 1995. The 40th anniversary celebrations of the Sydney Opera House in 2013 virtually ignored the post-Utzon phase of the building, which was more than half of its construction time. Yet research since 2007 has built Hall’s non-existent reputation and it is now widely acknowledged that his valiant work on the building cost him his career.

Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Mrs Lily Kahan 2017
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program
© Louis Kahan/Copyright Agency, 2024

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The use of images of works from the collection may be restricted under the Act. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

Artist and subject

Louis Kahan AO

Peter Hall

Donated by

Lily Kahan (52 portraits)

© National Portrait Gallery 2024
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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

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