Peter Barber (architect)

Peter Barber OBE RA
Born	Peter Ambrose Barber November 1960 (1960-11) (age 64)
Alma mater	University of Sheffield Central London Polytechnic
Occupation	Architect
Buildings	Mixed-use and residential schemes

Peter Ambrose Barber OBE RA (born November 1960) is a British architect recognised for his work designing social housing. ^{[1] [2] [3]} He has been praised for his attempts to address the lack of homeless shelters and social housing provision in a way that aspires to well-designed urbanism. ^{[4] [5] [6]}

Early life

Barber is from Surrey. He studied at the University of Sheffield, graduating in 1983, and Central London Polytechnic (now the University of Westminster), graduating in 1986. ^[7]

Career

Houses in Enfield designed by Peter Barber

Barber began his career working with Richard Rogers, Will Alsop, and Jestico + Whiles. In 1989, Barber opened Peter Barber Architects, a practice that principally designs mixed-use and residential schemes. ^[8] His studio is housed in a Victorian former printworks shop in Kings Cross. ^[9]

He is currently a lecturer and reader in architecture at the University of Westminster. ^[10]

He has presented at numerous events including the Architecture Foundation and Babican's series Architecture on Stage; ^[11] the Royal Institute of British Architects; ^[12] the Architectural League of New York; ^[13] and international and domestic university schools of architecture including Helsinki, Pretoria, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Burma, Munich, Genoa, Istanbul and Colombo as well as Oxford University and The Bartlett - University College London.

In 2019, his work was displayed at the Design Museum, London. ^[14]

Barber was one of three selected to be a new Royal Academician at the Royal Academy of Arts (RA) in 2022. ^[15] He curated the RA's 2023 summer exhibition architecture room. ^[16] In addition, Barber won the 2022 Soane Medal. ^[17]

Philosophy and artistry

Barber considers himself left-wing, though his designs have been positively received across the political spectrum. ^[18] Justin Davidson of New York Magazine described Barber's practice as a "mixture of progressive politics and ye olde urbanism... By training a modernist, by necessity a pragmatist... at bottom a romantic rooted in English scenery and traditions." ^[19] Barber is an advocate of social housing, against right to buy, and critical of policies that prioritise private development. He has also encouraged revitalising the economies of depopulating cities and towns in the Midlands, North, and on the coast, which would ease housing pressures in addition to creating new jobs and bringing life back into such places. ^[9]

Selected awards

• 2021 Architects' Journal AJ100 award for an outstanding contribution to architecture ^[20]
• 2021 Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to architecture in the 2021 Birthday Honours ^{[21] [22]}
• 2021 four RIBA National Awards ^{[23] [24]}
• 2022 Soane Medal ^[17]

Publications

• Project Interrupted: Lectures by British Housing Architects, published by the Architecture Foundation, ISBN 9781999646202

References

1. "How a modernist architect won over traditionalists". The Economist. 2021-09-11. ISSN   0013-0613 . Retrieved 2021-12-27.
2. "Washing line warrior: the architect who wants to get the neighbours singing". the Guardian. 2018-10-08. Retrieved 2021-12-27.
3. Zarzycki, Lili (2021-03-01). "Filling in: Kiln Place in London, UK by Peter Barber Architects". Architectural Review. Retrieved 2021-12-27.
4. Brooks, Michael. "Peter Barber - interview". www.designingbuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-12-27.
5. "Peter Barber interview: housing's architectural evangelist". The Architects’ Journal. 2021-09-15. Retrieved 2021-12-27.
6. "Architect Peter Barber Is Reinventing London's Housing". Metropolis. Retrieved 2021-12-27.
7. "Peter Barber RA (b. 1960)". Royal Academy of Arts. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
8. "Peter Barber". Peter Barber Architects. Retrieved 2021-12-27.
9. Wainwright, Oliver (7 November 2022). "Have I got mews for you: Peter Barber, the miracle creator of dazzling streets". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
10. "Barber, Peter | University of Westminster". www.westminster.ac.uk. Retrieved 2021-12-27.
11. "Architecture on Stage: Peter Barber Architects | Architecture Foundation". www.architecturefoundation.org.uk. Retrieved 2021-12-27.
12. "Peter Barber – Peter Barber Architects: The Social Life of Housing | University of Westminster". www.westminster.ac.uk. Retrieved 2021-12-27.
13. "Peter Barber: 100 Mile City and Other Stories". The Architectural League of New York. Retrieved 2021-12-27.
14. Q42, Fabrique &. "Winter at the Design Museum". Design Museum. Retrieved 2021-12-27.
15. "Architecture academic Peter Barber selected as Royal Academician at the Royal Academy of Arts". University of Westminster. 28 January 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
16. Ing, Will (19 December 2022). "Peter Barber to curate Royal Academy Summer Exhibition architecture room". Architects' Journal. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
17. "Announcing architect Peter Barber as recipient of the 2022 Soane Medal". Sir John Soane's Museum. 8 November 2022. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
18. Mark, Laura (8 March 2022). "Why Peter Barber is the go-to architect for social housing in London". The Developer. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
19. Davidson, Justin (30 October 2019). "Does the Future of Public Housing Lie in These Cozy London Projects". Intelligencer. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
20. Waite, Richard (2021-09-06). "Peter Barber wins AJ100 Contribution to the Profession Award 2021". The Architects’ Journal. Retrieved 2021-12-27.
21. "Queen's Birthday Honours List 2021" (PDF). Retrieved 4 April 2023.
22. "Peter Barber, Sumita Singha and Peter Murray honoured in Queen's Birthday Honours". Dezeen. 2021-06-14. Retrieved 2021-12-27.
23. "North street". www.architecture.com. Retrieved 2021-12-27.
24. Hopkirk2021-08-26T18:01:00+01:00, Elizabeth. "Peter Barber sweeps the board as RIBA London Award winners revealed". Building Design. Retrieved 2021-12-27.