RIBA President, Simon Allford pays tribute to former RIBA President, Marco Goldschmied who passed away on Thursday 7 July 2022.
RIBA President, Simon Allford, said:
“My condolences to Marco’s family and friends at this very sad time.
I have known Marco for many years and feel honoured to follow in his footsteps as RIBA President. His term of office spanned 1999 to 2001 – a time of great ambition, when architecture was on a millennium high. As a co-founder and Managing Director of the then Richard Rogers Partnership, his professional credentials are outstanding. When I pass the Channel 4 HQ, Lloyds of London, Billingsgate and the ultimate millennium project – the Dome – I will forever think about the mark he has left on the capital. As I will when I next have the pleasure of visiting the Pompidou Centre in Paris.
A long-time champion of inclusion, Marco sought to create opportunity for others. In 1998 he and Doreen Lawrence established the annual Stephen Lawrence Prize, set up in memory of the teenager who was on his way to becoming an architect when he was tragically murdered in a racist attack in 1993. RIBA continues to award the prize in Stephen’s name, with the Marco Goldschmied Foundation today.
I recently re-read Marco’s RIBA election priorities of almost 25 years ago: a promise to shake-up architecture, raise professional standards and the profile of the profession, as well as a campaign for a radical revision of the planning process. He achieved a considerable amount, much of which remains valid today.
I last saw him at his home where we spoke of the challenges ahead. In particular of PII, on which he did much of the recent groundwork to shape our own project. We will continue this with the vigour and intelligence with which he initiated it. We also spoke of his ideas for supporting the next generation and of constructing new ways into the profession.
Marco was always generous with his time. We reminisced of the people he had known, his family, of architecture and life. As ever it was illuminating and, despite his difficult circumstances, fun!
Marco’s death is a huge loss, and his generosity and passion will be greatly missed.”
