GEORGE FREEDMAN – A LIFE OF COLOUR & DESIGN

George Freedman is one of Sydney’s most admired interior designers.

Working fluidly within the corporate, commercial retail and residential architectural context, George Freedman occupies a a unique position within architecture and interior design in Sydney.

He is a lover of vivid, varied and inventive colours.  However whilst  he is often stereotyped as a gifted colorist,  with skill in the formulation of distinctive palettes, he also demonstrates a selective ability to manipulate essential form.

Freedman’s early work in Sydney was mainly commissioned by corporate customers, but he quickly established a reputation and wide connections.

He has the ability and courage to reinvent himself with each new project. With this rare talent a multitude of spaces have found their realization.

George has developed an inimitable approach to interior design over the past 45 years years, recognizable for its relentless attention to detail, inventive use of materials and commitment to creating spatial interventions rather than merely applying surface decoration.

He has now orchestrated numerous commissions across varied design typologies, each maintaining a paramount standard.

Few Australian interior designers and architects have realized such a legacy, and fortunately his conjuring of space continues to materialize in enchanting, idiomatic clarity.

Brief Overview about George Freedman  

George joined Knoll International’s Planning Unit in New York with responsibility for all the Knoll International’s globally based corporate clients interior fitouts

In 1969, Knoll International sent George to Sydney ( upon the recommendation of Peddle Thorp & Walker Architects ), to help design the Executive Offices and Boardroom accommodation for the Bank of New South Wales ( now Westpac).

Upon the Bank of NSW project’ completion – he stayed in Australia and formed a partnership ( both personally and  professionally ) with Neville Marsh, eventually establishing Marsh Freedman Associates in 1973.

NEVILLE (L) AND GEORGE AT THE OFFICES OF NEVILLE MARSH INTERIORS AROUND 1971

Specialising in residential interiors, Neville Marsh ( 1931 – 1994), formerly with the British Colour Council, was also widely known for his colour work.

In the ensuing years, George has built a strong profile, with an impressive portfolio of work across a number of sectors.

Marsh Freedman Associates ( MFA ), would go on to foster the careers of many young architects and designers. ( Bill McMahon, Arthur Collin, Steven Varady, Rob Puflett, Tim Allison, Sam Marshall, Andrew Stanic, Iain Halliday, Ralph Rembel and a number of other key designers setting the pace today ), they all trained in the legendary interior design office of Marsh FreedmanAssociates in the early 1980s

Later Neville Marsh retired in 1986, and moved to Italy. He died in 1994

In 2002, the MFA practice became Freedman Rembel ( in partnership with Ralph Rembel ) and has been recognised for its outstanding interior design, with projects including the refurbishment of the Queen Victoria Building, Sydney, and stage set designs for the Sydney Dance Company.

In 2010 Freedman joined PTW Architects as Head of Interior Design.

Australian Timeline

1968 Neville Marsh Interiors established
1969 George Freedman arrives in Australia
1970 George Freedman joins Neville Marsh Interiors
1972 Partnership Pacific Sydney
1973 Marsh Freedman Associates established
…..Her Majesty’s Theatre Sydney collaboration with Syd Baggs Architect
1974 Hoyts Theatres Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth
1980 Five Ways Fusion Fashion Boutique Sydney
1981 Price Waterhouse and Partners Sydney
…..Kinselas Theatre Restaurant collaboration with Glenn Murcutt and Michael Davies
1983 Leightons Holdings Sydney
…..Order Imports Sydney
1984 Ralph Rembel joins Marsh Freedman Associates
1985 State Bank of New South Wales Executive Offices, Board Accommodation and Garden Level
1986 Powerhouse Museum Sydney
…..Apple Computers collaboration with Allen Jack and Cottier Sydney
1987 George Freedman Architects established
…..Claude’s Restaurant Sydney
1988 Australian Pavilion Expo ’88 collaboration with Anchor Mortlock and Woolley
…..Kraanerg set design for Sydney Dance Company
1988 Bilson’s a la Carte Restaurant Sydney
1990 Arredorama Knoll Showroom Sydney
1991 Marsh Freedman Associates becomes George Freedman Associates
…..Soft Bruising set design for Sydney Dance Company
1993 Penrith Panthers Leagues Club collaboration with Gazzard Sheldon Architects
…..Macquarie Bank Executive Offices collaboration with Allen Jack and Cottier
1994 Neville Marsh dies
1996 Ralph Rembel becomes Partner at George Freedman Associates
1998 Ampersand Restaurant Sydney
2000 Mythologia set design for Sydney Dance Company
2002 George Freedman Associates becomes Freedman Rembel
2003 Queen Victoria Building Master Plan collaboration with Anchor Mortlock and Woolley Sydney
2004 Medina Grand Perth
…..Quay Restaurant Sydney
2005 Freedman Rembel wins RAIA Commendation for Interior Architecture 2005
2005 Elizabeth Bay Trust spaces exhibition
2007 Buon Ricordo Ristorante, Sydney
…..PBL Ground Floor Lobby, Sydney
…..Qualia Resort, Hamilton Island, Queensland
…..Onslow Apartments
2009 Elizabeth Apartments
2010 Joined PTW as Head of Interior Design
2013 Curates dedece’s Knoll 75th anniversary showroom

GEORGE WAS ALWAYS SEEN WITH ONE OF HIS BELOVED ABERDEEN TERRIERS . HE HAS OWNED 6 SCOTTY DOGS OVER THE YEARS

George Freedman’s Chronology

George Henry Freedman was born in 1936 in Brooklyn New York

He grew up in Brooklyn

GEORGE AGED 5

He attended Grammar School at Brooklyn Public School 167 from 1943 to 1948

GEORGE AT ABOUT 15 – FROM AN EARLY AGE GEORGE BECAME A LONG TIME LOVER OF HORSES AND BOW TIES

He attended Manhattan High School from 1949 to 1953

He studied architecture at Syracuse University from 1953 to 1958.

GEORGE AGED 19 AT SYRACUSE UNI

Architectural Work in the USA

During the 1960s he worked as an interior designer for architect Ely Jacques Kahn, / Kahn & Jacobs Architects, New York – whose work spanned the decades from Art Deco to the post-War International Style.

ELY JACQUES KAHN (CENTER) AT WORK IN THE 1960S

GEORGE IN 1958 AGED 22 – JUST COMMENCING ARCHITECTURE WORK AT KAHN & JACOBS ARCHITECTS

His work with Kahn & Jacobs included the interiors for the First Class lounge areas in the American Airlines passenger terminal at John F Kennedy Airport, formerly Idlewild Airport ( with Robert Jacobs) .

TERMINAL 8 AMERICAN AIRLINES (KAHN & JACOBS, 1960)

GEORGE DESIGNED THE AA FIRST CLASS EXECUTIVE LOUNGE

Between 1961 to 1965 George then pursued his passion for travel and painting for the next five years living and working in Ibitha, Amsterdam and London – exhibiting his Art in Amsterdam and Brussels in 1963 and 1964.

Project work in the UK

In 1965 Freedman resumed his career as an interior designer with Tandy, Halford and Mills in London

Bovril Group. Enfield

WAITING ROOM

THE CEO’S OFFICE AT BOVRIL

Beecham Pharmaceuticals, UK offices

.

George returns to the USA and joins Knoll’s International Planning Unit in New York – 1968

His projects included the US pavilion for the 1970 Osaka World Fair and Price Waterhouse Offices in Buffalo, New York.

In keeping with the historic 1967 moon landing and subsequent space explorations, the U.S. pavilion had a space age theme

The interior was inflated like a balloon, and made of fabric and cables. Artifacts such as the Apollo 11 space capsule were displayed to demonstrate NASA’s achievements, and the centerpiece was a large piece of moon rock brought back by astronauts from Apollo 12 in 1969.

George designed the V.I.P dignitaries hospitality areas within the Pavilion.

George comes to Australia for Knoll International’s “Planning Unit”

In 1969, Knoll sent Freedman to Sydney to design the Executive Offices and Board accommodation for the Bank of New South Wales, now Westpac ( at the recommendation of the then Peddle Thorp & Walker Architects ).

The Bank of New South Wales, was Australia’s first bank and operated from 1817 until 1982 when it became part of Westpac

His goal was to ” Manhattanise and Internationalise ” one of Australia’s oldest banks’ Corporate Headquarters

THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE GENERAL MANAGER OF THE BANK OF NSW – MR R.W NORMAN

BANK OF NSW GENERAL MANAGERS OFFICE

His training in the formidable commercial environment of New York in the 1960’s was under the sagacious guidance of Florence Knoll.

This preparative association gave him the necessary ammunition to tear down the provincial bastions he encountered in his first Sydney project for the Bank of New South Wales

In 1970, 341 George Street ceased to be the Bank of NSW’s Head Office and it lost its star tenant.

Thereafter it has been the premier CBD branch of NSW, now Westpac

During the projects duration George met Nevile Marsh and they quickly became good friends

As the Bank of NSW project was finalising, George decided to remain working in Australia and worked 50 % for Knoll International and 50% for the then leading interior designer Leslie Walford Interiors.

A short time later in 1970, he started working with Neville at Neville Marsh Interiors ( est in 1968 )

About Neville Marsh ( 1931 – 1994 )

NEVILLE MARSH

Neville was born in Perth in 1931

After High School ( 1934- 1939 ) he followed family tradition to go on work on the land at his uncle’s farm at Kogenup in South Western Australia ( Near Albany ) .

But raising cattle on the wide plains of Australia’s south west did not really hold his attention , so he moved back to Perth

NEVILLE MARSH FAR LEFT IN PERTH 1950

Neville Marsh became a strong, vigorous, progressive West Australian decorator without any particular allegiance to a period or a fashion.

He moved from Perth to Sydney, and worked at David Jones for a few years

SMH OCT 6TH 1960

He had always been surrounded by pleasant objects in the home and stimulated to an appreciation of colour and form in an international setting.

ADVERTISEMENT IN ART AND AUSTRALIA MAGAZINE – JUN 1971

Surrounded by an eclectic collection of fabulous stock from art nouveau lamps to Finnish chairs, all housed in a Georgian showroom, Neville Marsh was one of the new breed of decorators bringing exciting design and refreshing outlook to Australian homes.

In the seven years he was established in his own business he left his distinctive mark on houses, theatres, and office in all states.

SMH MAY 10 1970

1964 – NEVILLE MARSH AND MRS HARRY M MILLER CHOOSING FURNITURE FOR THE DRESSING ROOM OF JUDY GARLAND

SMH MAY 3 1964 JUDY GARLAND

FROM THE BOOK >> HARRY M MILLER: CONFESSIONS OF A NOT-SO-SECRET AGENT

Very much a part of decorator Neville Marsh’s establishment, Ray Siede’s brilliant modern work was uncompromisingly keyed in to the immediate scene.  He used colour boldly and well and combined it with stainless steel and black leather in a stylish blend of texture.

Originally from South East Victoria where he spent some of his childhood on a farm, Siede began working with the Myer Emporium in Melbourne where he received his basic training in colour co-ordination and design.

He also attended Art courses at the Melbourne Technical College, including painting, fashion drawing, industrial and textile design and pottery making. He was interested in amateur theatrical, designing clothes and in carpentry – all which enriched his talents as an interior designer.

In 1964 Ray came to Sydney and decided to try out the ability he felt he had – with remarkable results.

RAY SEIDE

He preferred a stark uncluttered line in both architecture and room planning but compromises by using colour to offset the style of the room.

If the room appears to devoid of character and bare of exciting furniture shapes he uses bold flamboyant colours, but if the furniture is intricate and complex or complemented by important painting he uses a subtle monotone.

‘I have a passion for Perspex, Acrylics and Plexiglas. I like metal and polished wood, blocks of glass and lacquerwork.’ He uses pure wools, cottons and bright linens, leather and fur for upholstery.

Ray Seide left Neville Marsh Interiors in 1970 ( before George joined) to begin his own design company

SMH AUG 5 1967

AUSTRALIAN STYLE BOOK COVER BY BABETTE HAYES AND APRIL HERSEY 1970

1970 saw the publication of the first design book in full colour on Australian design and architecture – Australian Style – whichBabette Hayes and April Hersey collaborated

It featured the leading names of the times such as Harry Seidler, Ken Woolley, Neville Marsh, Albert Read, Graham Gunn, Tom Gillies, Bruce Douglas, Dennis Bellotte, Ray Seide, Marion Hall Best, Reg Riddell, Robin Boyd, , Barry Little, Joyce Tebbutt, Leslie Walford, Florence Broadhurst, John Anderson, Gordon Andrews, Russell Whitechurch and many more.

It is now a reference book for Australian design in the 1960′s

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