Barry Patten

Barry Beauchamp Patten (11 July 1927 – 13 March 2003) was an Australian architect and Olympic alpine skier.

Background and early career

Patten was born in McKinnon, Melbourne, Victoria and educated at Caulfield Grammar School, he studied architecture first at Melbourne Technical College before completing his degree at the University of Melbourne in 1951. At age 24, he competed for Australia at the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo as an alpine skier, although did not progress to the medal rounds.

Patten is the father of Samuel Patten, a former world champion and Olympic rower, who was part of the first incarnation of the Oarsome Foursome coxless four.

Architectural career

Patten joined the architecture firm of Yuncken Freeman and Griffiths and Simpson, and in 1957 submitted a design for the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne. His design was chosen for the Bowl, and he worked as the project architect. Patten designed three buildings in Victoria that are now on the Victorian Heritage Register: the Myer Music Bowl, the former BHP House (now called 140 William Street), and the Victoria State Government Offices.