Praise on high for Enrico Taglietti's Apostolic Nunciature in Institute of Architects awards

Enduring architecture award nominee, the Apostolic Nunciature by Enrico Taglietti. Photo: Enrico Taglietti

When Canberra architect Enrico Taglietti set out to design the Apostolic Nunciature in Red Hill, he began by thinking about one of Pope Paul VI's letters to Catholic bishops.

"I went to Rome. I found there an incredible acceptance of architectural urban design, which was supported by the then pope, Paul VI," Dr Taglietti said. "He had an encyclical recognising the revelation of design of art had an enormous impact on all the life of the planet."

Dr Taglietti's design of an all-embracing roof, accepted in the Holy See, proposed practically emphasising the total roof as a symbolic embrace from the Catholic Church towards the rest of the world, as protection, and protection of principle.

Enrico Taglietti with Archbishop Paul Gallagher at the Apostolic Nunciature in Red Hill. Photo: Jay Cronan

The Holy See rewarded Dr Taglietti with a papal knighthood.

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The Australian Institute of Architects has acknowledged Dr Taglietti and the Catholic Church as custodians of the building, short-listing the Apostolic Nunciature for the 2014 national awards in the enduring architecture section.

The Vatican gave Italian-born Dr Taglietti plenty of freedom over his design of the two-storey brick, concrete and terracotta tile building, which has wide timber eaves and is on the national heritage list.

"It was quite exceptional; I did not have carte blanche, in relation to expression of architecture, I was in control, they were happy for me to be in control, apart from [the] usual constrain on costs," Dr Taglietti said.

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Praise on high for Enrico Taglietti's Apostolic Nunciature in Institute of Architects awards