The far-flung titans of architecture who helped design Canberra, then stayed

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Among his [Roger Johnson's] designs was the UC extension building 7X. UC Lecturer in Architecture Sally Farrah says this remarkable poured concrete structure, with its diagonal stair and courtyard, was typical of Roger’s approach.

“Some people might call his style Brutalist but at its core, it was deeply humanist. It was all about a building’s connection to people, behaviour and landscape,” she said.

“Building 7X, for example, has all these mezzanines and double-height spaces, the stairwell strategically placed. It’s like an internal street, and it facilitates interaction in a way.

“That’s what architectural focus was like post-war. Architects were interested in building better ways of occupying space, with a focus on social ethos.”