Edmund Dykes FDIA

Edmund Dykes of NSW was an interior designer.

Edmund Dykes ASTC (Design), MSIDA, FRAIA, FDIA was regarded as one of Australia’’s first significant Interior Designers/Architects in private practice of the post-War era. His forte was exhibition, commercial furniture and aircraft seating while in the commercial arena Dykes developed projects for office, hotel and retail shop design in addition to commercial interior design.

After graduating from East Sydney Technical College in 1950, Dykes commenced practice with the late Donald Johnston offering interior and industrial design services. Gaining registration as an Architect by the Board of Architects Examination in 1958, Dykes then established the office of Edmund Dykes and Associations, architects and interior designers. For several years, the work of the Practice was largely consumed by commercial interiors with projects taking place in most capital cities in Australia in addition to Hong Kong and New Zealand. Dykes made a point of keeping abreast of global trends and feeding new ideas back into the Australian setting. He undertook five key study tours between 1969-1979 visiting Europe, USA, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore and Manila. Each assumed a particular focus such as office landscape planning; banking institution planning for communications, document conveying and security; through to work stations and systems. His business expanded in 1979, becoming Edmund Dykes, Coward and Partners.

Noteworthy projects included: Qantas Airways as Dykes, Johnston (1956); Housing Commission of NSW Head office (1958); Public Trust Building (1972); PW Parker Furniture Factory Offices and Showrooms (1973); and National Australia Bank, Collins Street redevelopment in conjunction with Peddle Thorpe and Walker (1978/1982).

Dykes was an active participant in advancing the professions of architecture and interior design. He was elected Associate of the Society of Interior Designers of Australia in 1951 (SIDA) and became a member of the Industrial Design Institute of Australia in 1960, serving six years as State Councillor during the sixties. He was elected Fellow of AIA in 1970 followed by the Industrial Design Institute of Australia in 1971. The induction of Edmund Dykes to the Design Institute of Australia’’s Hall of Fame in 2011 recognises his significant contribution to Australian design.