Peter Walker (architect)
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Peter Walker is a landscape architect in the United States.
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[edit] Biography and Influences
Peter Walker grew up in California and attended the University of California, Berkeley. Walker initially started out in Journalism but quickly changed his field. He received his Bachelors of Science in Landscape Architecture in 1955, and soon moved onto the University of Illinois and studied under Stanley White where he did his graduate studies. The next year, Walker attended Harvard University Graduate School of Design where he received his masters in Landscape Architecture in 1957, and won the school's Weidenman Prize that year.
At Harvard, Walker was deeply influenced by his professor, Hideo Sasaki who is a prominent landscape architect and has done numerous projects internationally. Upon graduating from Harvard University Graduate School of Design, Peter Walker worked for Sasaki and gained valuable work experience under one of the best landscape architects. Shortly thereafter, they both went into partnership to form Sasaki Walker Associates in 1972.
[edit] Career
Peter Walker and Sasaki later went their own separate ways. In 1983, he formed Peter Walker and Partners and has developed a world-class interdisciplinary firm that employs around thirty to forty landscape architects well trained in the field. Peter Walker was also a co-author of Invisible Gardens, which touches on the modernist movement in America and the comparison of other landscapes to those in Europe. In the book, there are influential landscape architects that are talked about, such as Hideo Sasaki. Recently, Peter Walker was awarded the highest honor any landscape architect can receive: the International Federation of Landscape Architects awarded Walker the Geoffrey Jellicoe Gold Medal.
In 2006, he was invited to join the judging panel for an international design competition for the new Gardens by the Bay in Singapore.
[edit] Projects
Peter Walker and Partners has developed many beautiful and successful landscapes in the Americas as well as internationally. One of his team’s projects that is currently being worked on is the World Trade Center Memorial in New York, New York. Although it is not complete and cannot be deemed a successful project quite yet, his team did win the honor of first place in the contest of designers across the globe. The World Trade Center Memorial will incorporate two large voids that commemorate the lost towers. Around the two voids there will be space to roam around as well as ample green space. There are other projects his team has created that have been highly praised and awarded:
- Toyota City Art Museum
- McConnel Foundation
- Nasher Foundation Sculpture Center
- Sony Center in Berlin
- Solana (Dallas, Texas)
- Tanner Fountain — Harvard University
- Burnett Park
- Jamison Square, Portland, OR
