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Leeds's civic architect to step down after 40 years
HIS work has done much to shape modern-day Leeds and now civic architect John Thorp is preparing to step down from his influential role.
The man behind a host of major projects including Millennium Square, revamped City Square and the new City Museum will on Wednesday retire as civic architect after a council career spanning 40 years.
But it will not mark the end of John's involvement with flagship schemes in the city.
For the next six months he will continue to work two-and-a-half days a week for the council, liaising with private sector architects working on the proposed Harewood-Eastgate Quarter development and Leeds Arena.
The role of civic architect in Leeds has its roots in the 1870 Education Act and a decision by the city's School Board to appoint an architect to oversee the building of new schools.
Since then only seven people, including John, have held the role.
His job has been to take the lead on public sector schemes, help attract lottery funds for projects and work with private sector architects to refine designs that councillors have found fault with.
It is a role that has proved pivotal in the transformation of Leeds from a northern industrial city to a cosmopolitan financial legal centre.
John, who six years ago was awarded an OBE for his services to architecture and regeneration, studied architecture at Liverpool University and joined Leeds City Council in 1970 as an architectural assistant. He said the role of civic architect had been rewarding and challenging.
Among the biggest challenges was the renewal of the city's civic quarter which included the laying out of Millennium Square, refurbishment of surrounding buildings, conversion of the former Civic Theatre into a new City Museum and development of the Carriageworks theatre and arts centre.
John said: "In a way we were working backwards by starting with the square and then moving out to the buildings."
Digging up the gardens in front of the Civic Hall to create Millennium Square sparked some controversy, with some critics dubbing the large paved public square "the people's patio." John said: "There was a lot of opposition at one stage but I think today it's seen as an asset to the city."
Over the next six months John, who was born in Woodlesford, hopes to complete a book about Leeds.
He said: "It's not an autobiography but it is about working with one city for 40 years, what is it about the city that makes it special and what keeps us here and loyal to it."
At a meeting of the council's city centre plans panel, councillors paid tribute to John's work as civic architect. Among them was Coun Colin Campbell (Lib Dem, Otley and Yeadon) who said: "John has done more to shape the city than anyone else I know and he has shaped it for the better."
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Friday 25 May 2012
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