Ralph Erskine: Now Tovatt Architects and Planners (1914-2005)

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RALPH ERSKINE (1914-2005)

Now Tovatt Architects and Planners

Education:
• Quaker School 1925-1931
• Grad. Regent School
Polytechnic in 1938

Background:
• Born In London
• Worked for Louis de Soissons
• Moved to Sweden Before War began
own practice
• became a member of Team X with
Giancarlo De Carlo & Aldo Van Eyck
in the ‘50s

Awards:
• Honorary fellow AIA in 1966
• RIBA Gold Metal of
Architecture 1987
• Royal Swedish Academy of
Arts 1972
• Appointed “Commander of
British Empire” 1979
Photo:Arkspace.com
Design Philosophy

Ralph Erskine is an influential architect in the 20th century . He has a strong belief “in the de-
velopment 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.”

His buildings are a strong reminder of this belief. His design philosophy used “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 own-
ership and appeal to genuine participation.”

Now the Tovatt firm uses the teachings


and ideas of Erskine to design their proj-
ects today. They focus on the needs of
the people as well a concern for environ-
mental issues. Tovatt focuses on com-
munity planning more in their practice.

“We represent a Scandinavian tradition


in our view of environmental questions
as a whole, of the persistence of social
structures and in our contacts with the
people and the specific environments in
which we work.”

photo: Tovatt.com
Greenwich Millennium Village

Where: Greenwich Peninsula (London)


When: 1997- 2010
What: Mixed use development All Photos: Tovatt

Why: The goal of this prestige filled


Competition is to create an ecological
and socially sustainable city district.

Green Aspects:
Reduction of Energy 80%,
Reduction water consumption by 30%
30-40% Wood & aluminum construction
waste was recycled.
Aluminum chosen for recyclability and
long life
Once a Brownfeild site
Projects

Byker Housing Complex


Newcastle upon Tyne, England.

The Ark
London England
Location

Address:

Gustav III ’s väg 4


Box 156
178 02 Drottningholm Sweden

Contact: Johannes Tovatt


email: info@tovatt.com

Travel Options:
3 day round trip flights on Travelocity start-
ing at $249

References

Barker, Don. “Erskine’s Millennium Village”.


Architecture Week. Nov. 28, 2001. <http://www.archi
tectureweek.com/2001/1128/design_1-1.html>

Byker Wall. < http://www.timarchive.freeuk.com/html/body_


byker_wall.htm>

Davey, Peter. “Ralph Erskine 1914-2005”. The


Architecctural Review. April 2005. <http://www.findar
ticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3575/is_1298_217/ai_
n13675916>

“Ralph Erskine 1914-2005”. Arcspace.com 3/18/05.


<http://arcspace.com/architects/erskine/1erskine.jpg>

“Two International Masters”. ArchitectureWeek. 13


April 2005. Page N1.1 . <http://www.architecture
week.com/2005/0413/news_1-1.html>

“Tovatt Architects and Planners”. <www.tovatt.com>

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