Peter Cook (architect)
Professor Sir Peter Cook, founder of Archigram [1], former Director the Institute of Contemporary Arts, London and the Bartlett School of Architecture [2] at University College London, has been a pivotal figure within the global architectural world for over half a century.
His ongoing contribution to architectural innovation was most recently recognised via the conferral of an honorary doctorate in April 2010, by Lund University, Sweden. Peter’s achievements with radical experimentalist group Archigram have been the subject of numerous publications and public exhibitions and were recognised by the Royal Institute of British Architects in 2004, when members of the group were awarded the RIBA’s highest award, the Royal Gold Medal.
In addition to his roles at the ICA and UCL, Peter has been director of Art Net in London and curator of the British Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale. He continues to curate, organise and exhibit innumerable exhibitions across the world: in Seoul, LA and Cyprus, the Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris and Design Museum, London as well as within more ambiguous spaces: decrepit castles, weird sheds and oily garages.
Peter was knighted in 2007 by the Queen for his services to architecture and teaching. Peter is also a Royal Academician and a Commandeur de l’Ordre des Arts et Lettres of the French Republic. He is a Senior Fellow of the Royal College of Art, London. Peter’s professorships include those of the Royal Academy, University College, London and the Hochschule fur Bildende Kunste (Städelschule) in Frankfurt-Main, Germany. Peter has from the very beginning made waves in architectural circles, however, it is in the last few years that the construction of his arts building, the Kunsthaus Graz aka The Friendly Alien in Graz, Austria, with Colin Fournier has brought his work to a wider public, a process set to continue with the construction of the Vienna Business and Economics University’s new law faculty.
Peter has also built in Osaka, Nagoya, Berlin, Frankfurt, Graz and Madrid. His continuing work as a lecturer of considerable renown makes him a familiar voice on campuses and within cultural institutions around the world, where many have enjoyed an opportunity to hear Peter expound (among other subjects) upon his love affair with the slithering, the swarming and the spooky. Peter has lectured in all continents.
He practices with Gavin Robotham as CRAB [3] (Cook Robotham Architectural Bureau).
Peter Cook is married to the Israeli architect, Dr. Yael Reisner (author of ‘Architecture and Beauty’).
Awards and honours
- 2010 - Honorary Doctorate of Technology, Lund University, Sweden
- 2010 - Mario Pani Award for Architecture, Mexico City
- 2008 - Senior Fellow of the Royal College of Art, London
- 2007 - Knighted in Queen’s Honours’ list (for services in architecture)
- 2004 - Finalist for Stirling Prize for Kunsthaus Graz, with Colin Fournier
- 2003 - Commandeur de l’ordre des Arts et letters of the France Republic
- 2002 - Royal Gold Medal (with Archigram) by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)
- 2002 - Annie Spink Award, jointly awarded to David Greene (for contribution to architectural education) by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)
- 2000 - Kunsthaus Graz, Austria (with Colin Fournier)
- 1996 - Jean Tschumi Medal, International Union of Architects
- 1969 - Grant awarded by Graham Foundation, Chicago, for Instant City
- 1965 - Selected as one of ‘Young British Designers’ Sunday Times exhibition
- 1962 - Gas Council House Design (First Prize)
- 1961 - Piccadilly Circus Competition (Mention)
- 1960 - Henry Florence Student A.A. (Building Centre research Scholar)
Success in architectural competitions
- 2011 - Soheil Abedian School of Architecture, Bond University on the Gold Coast, Australia (with Gavin Robotham and Brit Andresen)[1]
- 2010 - 2nd prize in the Taiwan Tower International Competition (with Gavin Robotham)
- 2009 - Faculty of Law, Vienna Business and Economics University (with Gavin Robotham)
- 2006 - New Theatre Verbania, Italy (with Gavin Robotham)
- 2000 - The Kunsthaus, Graz (with Colin Fournier)
- 1992 - Museum of Antiquities, Austria (with Christine Hawley)
- 1990 - Solar Housing, Landstuhl, Germany (with Christine Hawley)
- 1970 - Monte Carlo Entertainments Centre (with Archigram)
Current appointments
Former appointments
- Chair of Architecture of the Bartlett School, University College London. 1990-2006
- Director, Institute of the Contemporary Arts, London. 1970 - 1972
Exhibitions
- Archigram exhibition - 1994 onwards: Vienna, Paris, New York, London, Pasadena, Chicago, Milan, Hamburg, Seoul, Mito, Taipei, Winnipeg, Zurich, Cracow, Zaragoza, Brussels, Rotterdam etc.
- Curator of Venice Biennale of Architecture British Pavilion 2004, Cyprus Pavilion 2006
- Personal exhibitions – various dates: Los Angeles, Tokyo, Oslo, Berlin, Osaka, Frankfurt etc.
Publications
- 2008 - Drawing: The Motive Force of Architecture. Chichester: Wiley.
- 2003 - The City, Seen As A Garden Of Ideas. New York: Monacelli.
- 2001 - (with others). The Paradox of Contemporary Architecture. Chichester: Wiley-Academy.
- 2000 - Bartlett Book of Ideas. London: Bartlett School of Architecture.
- 1999 - (with Neil Spiller). The Power of Contemporary Architecture. London: Academy Editions.
- 1999 - (with John Hedjuk and Helene Binet). The House of the Book: Building, Zvi Hecker. London: Black Dog.
- 1999 - Archigram. London/New York: Princeton Architectural Press (also in Japanese, German, Chinese)
- 1996 - Primer. London: Academy Editions.
- 1993 - Six Conversations. London: Academy Editions, (Architectural Monographs Special Issue, No. 28).
- 1991 - (with Rosie Llewellyn-Jones). New Spirit in Architecture. New York: Rizzoli.
- 1989 - Peter Cook 1961-89. A+U.
- 1987 - (with Christine Hawley). Cities. London: Fisher Fine Arts, (published to accompany exhibition at the Fischer Fine Arts).
- 1985 - (editor with Olive Brown). Lebbeus Woods. London: AA Publications, 1985, (published to accompany exhibition at the Architectural Association).
- 1985 - Peter Cook - 21 Years, 21 Ideas. London: AA Publications, (foreword by Banham, Reyner and narrative by Hawley, Christine; published to accompany exhibition at the Architectural Association).
- 1983 - (with Barbara Goldstein). Los Angeles Now. London: AA Publications, (published to accompany exhibition at the Architectural Association).
- 1980 - (with Christine Hawley). Six Houses. London: AA Publications, (published to accompany exhibition at the Architectural Association).
- 1976 - Arcadia: The Search for the Perfect Suburb. London: Art Net/Peter Cook.
- 1976 - Art Net The Rally: Forty London Architects . London: Art Net/Peter Cook, (published to accompany Art Net exhibition).
- 1975 - Melting Architecture. London: Peter Cook, (published to accompany Art Net exhibition).
- 1972 - Archigram. London: Studio Vista/Reinhold, Birkhauser
- 1970 - Experimental Architecture. London/New York: Studio Vista/Universal Books.
- 1967 - Architecture: Action and Plan. London: Studio Vista.
References
External links
| Persondata |
| Name |
Cook, Peter |
| Alternative names |
|
| Short description |
|
| Date of birth |
22 October 1936 |
| Place of birth |
Southend-on-Sea, England |
| Date of death |
|
| Place of death |
|