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Vitaly A. Gzell (b.1908, Manchuria, China - d.1977 Brisbane, Australia) was an Australian architect who was based in Brisbane, Queensland.

Architectural
In his early life he worked with his father Alexander A. Gzell at carpentry and joinery. In 1933 he received a Dip.Arch. from a university in Queensland and then worked as a draftsman in the office of G.A. Blackburne in Brisbane in years 1933-1934. He gained a qualified interim Registration in 1934 and became a Registered Architect (Qld) in 1935. He then gained partnership with Blackburne and became Blackburne and Gzell Architects in Brisbane from 1934-1953. He achieved the Associate of The Incorporated Association of Architects and Surveyors in 1937 and ARAIA in 1938.

Personal Life
Gzell was born in Manchria, China and arrive to Australia with his parents in the early 20th century. He was the only son of Mr. Alexander A. Gzell and Mrs. A. Gzell they settled down in South Brisbane, Brisbane. He meet his wife Mrs Lorna "Martin" Gzell (1915-2012)in Brisbane and then he engaged her on the 18th of December 1936. They had two children Ian and Julie and several grandchildren and great grandchildren. After the second world war broke out he enlisted into the Australian Army at the Annerley Barracks, Brisbane on the 6 Nov 1940. He rised to the ranking of Major and then he was discharged after the end of the war on the 19th of October 1945. He then continued his architectural career at Blackburn and Gzell Architects and then in 1966 Vitaly had become the President of the Twelfth Night Theater Wickham Terrace, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane. He then proposed a redevelopment of the existing theater but latter announced a new building for the theater on 4 Cintra Road, Bowen Hills on land donated to the theater by Majorie and Brian Johnstone.

Works
Vitaly had worked on a range of different projects through out his career with Blackburne in Blackburne and Gzell Architects and independently while working in the his own practice Gzell and Associates. He worked on Industrial Warehouses for different companies, commercial retail shops for private businesses however he was most famous for residential houses which are still popular today. His works are spread out through out Queensland such as regional areas like Roma and Sunshine Coast however most of his important works are based in the inner city suburbs of Brisbane. He was one of the instrumental architects in the post-war era to developed a new post-war houses in Brisbanes subtropical climate. He borrowed ideas for the original Queensland House type that were popular in the early in the 20th century and added his own touch to the houses he designed. The ideas from the Queensland vernacular he used were the veranda/balcony spaces, the easy ventilation of the Queensland house and the raised floor level and he mixed them with his ideas which were the clever use of brickwork and new materials, the fashionable chimney of the time (post-war era) and the play with the different heights of the floors.

Mawby's House
One of the most interesting Houses he had designed was a house for the Mawby's in Hamilton, Brisbane in 1958 and then remodeled by his practice when they adding an extra room to the north in 1967 which was showcases in well made plans a catalogue by Fryer Memorial Library and an exhibition held at the Brisbane City Hall in 1988. The slopped site is on top of a ridge so therefore the site would have access to good natural air ventilation. The house is defined by the large floor to ceiling glass southern facade facing the street, he orientates the building using the topography to his advantage by allow great daylight into the building while also block the harsh summer sun as the sun would not impact the southern facade in summer. While also encourages great street interaction as the balcony is next to this facade which is a common aspect of the Queensland House veranda. The house also has a carport which not common to the original Queensland House that is situated under the house therefore raising the house which is a key characteristic of the Queensland House. On the lower level / basement level on the southern facade there is a decorated brick wall with holes in it, which typified his work. This brickwork patterns can be see in other house he design such as multi-dwelling house in Auchenflower and in other house in St. Lucia. The inside of the house is also interesting as he breaks the common form of a single floor level of the typical Queensland House and plays with split level. There are three levels in this house: the basement / ground floor which is used as a carport and storage facilities; the lower 1st floor which is five steps below the upper 1st floor contains the two rooms and the bathroom; and the upper 1st which contains the main living room, dining, kitchen, laundry and outdoor balcony facing the street. The house also has a distinct skillion roof slopping from the south of the building to the north. This creates a large more exposed living areas on the southern side while also creating more intimate private rooms located on the north side. The building response well to the environment as it has openings on all four sides of the building allow for easy of cross ventilation and good natural daylight with large openings to the south of the house while limited and openings on the east and west with even a sunshading fins on the east of the house.

Twelfth Night Theater
The Twelfth Night Theater was one of his icon buildings in Brisbane and one that would have been very personal to him as he was also the President of the Theater. The Theater started off in Wickham Terrace, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane where he became the President of the Theater by 1963 there were plans for a redevelopment of the theater as it was getting to old and small. Gzell created plans and renders for the redevelopment and which including a small cafe at the entrance of the building which an interesting brick facade. However the proposal did not go through and the theater acquired land donated by the Johnstones just a few minutes away from the original. In 1967-1969 Gzell went to work on a new plans of this new theater and the building was completed in 1969 with a seating capacity of 520.