Emil Sodersten

Emil Lawrence Sodersten (30 August 1899 – 14 December 1961) was an Australian architect active in the second quarter of the 20th century. His work encompassed the Australian architectural styles of Art Deco and Functionalist & Moderne. His design for the Australian War Memorial was "the first national architectural monument in Australia". The Australian Institute of Architects presents the Emil Sodersten Interior Architecture Award annually in his honour.

Early life and background Sodersten was born in the inner-Sydney suburb of Balmain, the second of seven children born to Julia (née Dolleen) and Emil Sodersteen. Emil Junior and his brothers, Erik and Karl, later changed their surnames by deed poll to Sodersten.

Architecture career In 1915 at age 16, Sodersten was articled in architecture to the firm of Ross & Rowe and in the ensuing five years studied architecture at Sydney Technical College. During 1921 he also attended lectures at the University of Sydney given by the new Dean of Architecture, Leslie Wilkinson.

The Queensland firm Hall & Prentice was commissioned to design Brisbane City Hall in the early 1920s and Sodersten worked on the project with Bruce Dellit and Peter Kaad. and office buildings, including the City Mutual Life Assurance Building, also with Crust. In 1951, he designed a Canberra chancellery and residence for the High Commissioner of Pakistan but the project remains unbuilt. Sodersten designed the Reid Building for St Andrew's College, University of Sydney, completed in 1953.

Personal life Sodersten married 37-year-old secretary, Elsie Vera Wynn, in the Catholic Sacred Heart Church, Pymble on 7 July 1951, age 51.

Death Sodersten died of a coronary occlusion at home in Manly aged 62, on 14 December 1961 and was survived by his wife.

Notable projects