Rick Mather

Rick Mather (May 30, 1937 – April 20, 2013)^[1] was an American-born architect working in England. Born in Portland, Oregon and awarded a B.arch. at the University of Oregon in 1961, he came to London in 1963 where he became a leading figure at the Architectural Association in the 1970s, and in 1973 founded his own practice, Rick Mather Architects,.^[2]

Rick Mather Architects

Rick set up his own practice, Rick Mather Architects, in 1973.

Style

Rick was widely respected for his sensitive and carefully considered approach, and his innovation in low energy design. Rick’s vision and insight, with its clear logic, and elegant articulation, is reflected in many award winning buildings, both in the UK and abroad. Characteristics of his buildings include extensive use of structural glass and natural lighting of interior spaces, respect for existing buildings, and sustainability.^[3]

Work

Rick oversaw many significant buildings, including The Ashmolean Museum, Keble College, The Dulwich Picture Gallery, together with the masterplan for London’s Southbank Centre. His built projects include:

• School of Education and Information Systems (1980, now housing School of Education and Norwich Business School), Climatic Research Unit (1988; RIBA Award) and development plan for the campus, University of East Anglia.
• The Times headquarters, London Docklands (1991).
• Series of restaurants for the Zen chain in London, Hong Kong and Montreal (1985-1991).^[4]
• Technology Tower, London Metropolitan University (2000).
• Masterplan for Southbank Centre, London (2000 to date).^[5]
• Arco Building (1995; RIBA Award, Civic Trust Award, British Construction Award) and Sloane-Robinson building (2002; RIBA Award,Civic Trust Award, Brick Award, Oxford Preservation Trust Award) at Keble College, Oxford.
• Master plan, Gower Building (1997) and Jubilee Sports Centre (2004) for Highfield Campus of University of Southampton.
• Klein House, Hampstead (1998; RIBA Award and runner-up for Stirling Prize).

Dulwich Picture Gallery showing extensions

• Extension and refurbishment of Dulwich Picture Gallery, London (1999; RIBA Award, Civic Trust Award, AIA Award).^[6]
• ISMA Centre for the University of Reading (1999; RIBA Award, Civic Trust Award)
• National Maritime Museum
  

  In Neptune Court, National Maritime Museum.
  (1999; Civic Trust Award)
• Wallace Collection Centenary Project, London (2000).
• New galleries and refurbishment for National Maritime Museum, Greenwich (1995-9) and Masterplan for Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site landscape (1998–2003).
• School of Architecture, University of Lincoln, Brayford campus (2003; RIBA Award, Shortlisted for the Prime Ministers Award for Better Public Buildings).
• Lyric Theatre Hammersmith (2004).
• Towner Gallery, Eastbourne (2005-9; RIBA Award, British Design Award, Sussex Heritage Trust Award)^[7]

Liverpool John Moores University Art and Design Academy

• Art and Design Academy, Liverpool John Moores University (2008; RIBA Award).
• Ashmolean Museum Masterplan and Expansion Ashmolean, Oxford (2009; RIBA Award, Shortlisted for the Stirling Prize 2010, Building - Project of the Year Award).
• Stowe School Masterplan (2001-2020) and Girls' Boarding Houses (2008; RIBA Award).
• Barking Town Centre London Road Masterplan
• Central Milton Keynes Residential Quarter
• Corpus Christi College Auditorium,^[8] Oxford (2009; RIBA Award).
• Sunken library extension, The Queen's College, Oxford (2006–).
• Campus wide masterplan and expansion of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts,^[9] Richmond, Virginia USA (2010).
• James Allen's Community Music Centre (RIBA Competition Winner 2008).
• Acland Hospital Site development, Keble College (2008-)
• North Harlow Masterplan (2010-).
• Barking Skills Centre (2009-).
• South Kilburn residential development, Brent, London (2009-)
• Chester Balmore residential development, Camden, London (2010-)

Further reading

• Amery, Colin (1987). Four London architects: Chipperfield, Mather, Parry, Stanton & Williams. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press. ISBN 0-262-51043-X.
• Maxwell, Robert; Bellew, Patrick; Macfarlane, Tim (2006). Rick Mather Architects. London: Black Dog Publishing. ISBN 1-904772-38-2.
• Pearman, Hugh (1992). Rick Mather: Urban Approaches. London: Fourth Estate Ltd. ISBN 1-85702-007-3.

References

1. "Rick Mather 1937-2013". Dezeen.com. Retrieved 2013-04-24.
2. "Rick Mather Architects". Retrieved 2009-06-12.
3. "Rick Mather". Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. Retrieved 2009-06-12.
4. Gardner, Carl (July 1991). "Zen and the art of restaurant design". RIBA Journal 98 (7): 40–5.
5. Baldock, Hannah (1999). "Rick Mather". Building. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
6. "Cloistered life". RIBA Journal 103 (9): 18–19. September 1996.
7. Rattenbury, Kester (April 16, 2009). "Towner Gallery, Eastbourne". Architects' Journal.
8. "practice". Rick Mather. Retrieved 2013-04-24.
9. "practice". Rick Mather. Retrieved 2013-04-24.