John McAslan (original) (raw)

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John McAslan
Born John Renwick McAslan (1954-02-16) 16 February 1954 (age 70)Glasgow, Scotland
Nationality British
Alma mater Dunoon Grammar School, Dollar Academy, University of Edinburgh
Occupation Architect
Awards RIBA International Awards: King's Cross station, London; Max Mara HQ, Italy; Iron Market, Haiti; Stanislavsky Factory, Moscow; Olympic Energy Centres, LondonEuropa Nostra awards 2005, 2007, 2013Queen's Award for Enterprise in International Trade, 2014, 2022
Practice John McAslan + Partners
Buildings The Roundhouse, LondonKing's Cross station, LondonMsheireb Mosque, DohaBritish Embassy, AlgiersSydney Central Station, SydneyBurrell Collection, GlasgowIron Market, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Website Official website

John Renwick McAslan (born 16 February 1954)[1] is a British architect.

Education and career

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John McAslan was educated at Dunoon Grammar School, Dollar Academy and University of Edinburgh, Scotland, obtaining an MA in Architecture in 1977 and a Diploma in 1978.[2] He trained in Boston, USA, with Cambridge Seven Associates[3] before joining Richard Rogers and Partners in 1980.[4] He founded John McAslan + Partners in 1996, where he is Executive Chair and is active in all of the practice's work.[5]

Western concourse, King's Cross station

While much of McAslan's work focuses on new buildings, he is also well known for his careful, sustainable restoration and redevelopment of historic buildings in the UK and overseas, including iconic London landmarks such as the Roundhouse. Such work typically brings both new form and function to old structures; the 2012 western concourse at London's King's Cross station, for example, combines striking design with efficient and practical central purpose, allowing large numbers of people to move freely between platforms at the busiest times of day.[6]

McAslan has taught and lectured widely[7] and is a trustee of a number of cultural bodies.

In 1997 McAslan and his wife Dava Sagenkahn established the John McAslan Family Trust,[8] a registered charity which provides support for arts and educational projects both in the UK and overseas.[4] In 2008 the Trust acquired the Burgh Hall at Dunoon from a property developer for the token sum of £1,[9] with the aim of restoring the building and creating a new community-focused centre for contemporary arts. The final phase of this £3.5 million project was completed in 2017,[10] and is now a leading arts centre for the local and wider area.

In 2004, John McAslan + Partners, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) jointly established a new bursary to recognise and support innovative design projects. In recent years, the bursary has strengthened its focus on the role of design as an instrument for positive change, particularly in projects addressing environmental and community issues. In 2015, the Environment Agency contributed £10,000 to the bursary scheme to support projects demonstrating progress towards sustainable climate change solutions.[11]

In 2019 John McAslan + Partners and the American Institute of Architects jointly launched the McAslan Architecture Travel Fellowship[12] which awarded two US Architecture students annually with an initial study and travel scholarship to work with the World Monuments Fund in the restoration program for the Madame Gauthier Villa in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

John McAslan + Partners was named World Architect of the Year in 2009 by Building Design magazine.[13] The practice's work has been extensively exhibited and has received more than 200 international design awards, including 30 RIBA international, national, regional and special awards.

McAslan was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year Honours 2012, for his services to architecture.[14] He was also appointed Honorary Consul of The Republic of Haiti (to the Court of St James's) in the United Kingdom between 2012 and 2013, following the practice's work and assistance in the wake of the 2010 Haiti earthquake. In 2014 he was appointed Regent to the University of Edinburgh,[15] and was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor honoris causa in 2015.[16] In 2019 McAslan was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.[17]

  1. ^ "Weekend Birthdays", The Guardian, p. 49, 15 February 2014
  2. ^ "John McAslan". University of Edinburgh – Alumni Services. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  3. ^ McMeeken, Roxane (13 August 2010). "John McAslan: Our man in Haiti | Magazine Features". Building. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  4. ^ a b "The Prime Minister's Better Public Building Award – The Summit – Speakers – John McAslan CBE". Pmawardsummit.com. 27 November 2012. Archived from the original on 30 July 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  5. ^ "John Renwick McAslan". cbetta.com. cbetta.com. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  6. ^ "All change at King's Cross". Evening Standard. 14 March 2012. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  7. ^ "The Mackintosh Lecture: The Architecture of John McAslan & Partners". The List. 14 June 2013. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  8. ^ "John McAslan Family Trust – About Us". Mcaslan-family-trust.com. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  9. ^ Newlands, Emma. "The Big Interview: JMP Founder John McAslan". The Scotsman. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  10. ^ Hunter, Jenny. "Halls worth restoring for the good of the community". The Scotsman. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  11. ^ "RIBA ICE McAslan Bursary". architecture.com. RIBA. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
  12. ^ "Architects Foundation/McAslan Fesllowship". ArchitectsFoundation.org.|publisher=AIA|accessdate=19 March 2019
  13. ^ "World Architect of the Year – John McAslan & Partners | Competitions | Building Design". Bdonline.co.uk. 6 November 2009. Retrieved 3 August 2013.
  14. ^ "No. 60009". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 31 December 2011. p. 7.
  15. ^ "University Regents". The University of Edinburgh. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  16. ^ "Honorary Graduates 2015/16". The University of Edinburgh. Retrieved 24 September 2017.
  17. ^ "Mr John McAslan CBE FRSE". The Royal Society of Edinburgh. 15 March 2019. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
  18. ^ "Open Data Service, University of Southampton".