Ralph Erskine 1914-2005

About the architect and his work.

Ralph Erskine, 24/2 1914 - 16/3 2005

Distinguished architect and urban planner, Ralph Erskine CBE FRS ARIBA, has died peacefully, aged 91, in his hometown of Drottningholm, near Stockholm, Sweden.

Ralph Erskine was based for most of his career in Sweden where he has designed numerous office buildings and housing developments. He was best known in Great Britain for his housing scheme at Byker in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and a commercial project, the Ark in Hammersmith, London. Most recently his achievement in designing the winning scheme in the 1997 competition to develop the Government's first Millennium Community at Greenwich, London, has brought his work to the attention of many in the capital.

As a young architect, Ralph was committed to the new ideas of architecture and planning. He became interested in the political development of Scandinavia and set off for Sweden, despite the looming war with Nazi Germany, with a bicycle, rucksack and sleeping bag. Also, he was attracted to Sweden partly by the work of Asplund, Markelius and Lewerentz. Sweden was building a prototype for the welfare state with architecture to match. The Stockholm exhibition of 1930 had confirmed Sweden's position at the time as a country that was building extensively using a modern architecture. As an immigrant in Sweden he saw the impact of the arctic climate and its challenge for the built environment. Early in his career, this insight became a distinguishing feature in his architectural expression, in urban planning and in detailing.

Ralph Erskine has had an immense influence on the Scandinavian architectural debate. He has been faithful to his belief in the development of a good and equal society and he has, without compromises, pledged and fought for the need for social and political awareness in the built environment.

Ralph was a true humanist. His buildings radiate optimism, appropriateness and wit, which endear them to many. His philosophy of work accommodated the climate and the context together with the social and humanistic needs of people. He was concerned that the expression of buildings should engage the general public interest, generate a sense of ownership and appeal to genuine participation.

Donations to the Ralph Erskine Award

Over the years, Ralph Erskine has received several of the world's most principal distinctions and prizes for his architecture. He has amalgamated the proceeds into a fund, the Ralph Erskine Nordic Stipend Fund, administered by the Swedish Association of Architects.

The Ralph Erskine Award was established by the fund in 1988 and amounts to 10.000 USD. According to the jury instruction the Award is to be conferred upon an individual, group or organization for innovation in architecture and urban design with regard social, ecological and aesthetic aspects. The efforts of the applicant are to have benefitted primarily the less privileged in society.

The board of the fund welcome all those who want to promote the architectural ideals of Ralph Erskine to give donations to the fund. Donations should be deposited at the swedish bank Nordea on the plusgiro account no 58186-8. Please mark "erskine" on the bank receipt.

Bengt Ahlqvist, President of the board