Arthur Erickson

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Arthur Charles Erickson

Academic Quadrangle, Simon Fraser University
Personal information
Name Arthur Charles Erickson
Birth date June 14, 1924(1924-06-14)
Birth place Vancouver, British Columbia
Date of death May 20, 2009 (aged 84)
Place of death Vancouver, British Columbia
Work
Significant buildings Simon Fraser University campus in British Columbia
Canadian Embassy in Washington
Kuwait Oil Sector Complex in Kuwait City
Kunlun Apartment Hotel Development in Beijing, Suki's Building in Vancouver, British Columbia

Arthur Charles Erickson, CC (June 14, 1924 – May 20, 2009) was an internationally celebrated Canadian architect and urban planner. He studied Asian languages at the University of British Columbia, and later earned a degree in architecture from McGill University.[1]

Contents

[edit] Biography

Canadian Chancery, Washington, D.C. (1989)

Most of his buildings are modernist concrete structures designed to respond to the natural conditions of its location, especially climate. Many buildings, such as the Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver, are inspired by the post and beam architecture of the Coastal First Nations. Additionally, Erickson is also known for numerous futuristic designs such as the Fresno City Hall and the Biological Sciences Building at the University of California, Irvine.

The personal selection of Arthur Erickson as the architect for the Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC by then-Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau was controversial because Trudeau overruled the objections and choices of the embassy's design committee. Erickson's biographer Nicholas Olsberg described the building as "making fun of the ridiculous terms to which buildings must adhere in Washington... mocking the US and all of its imperial pretensions."[2]

Erickson was born in Vancouver, the son of Oscar Erickson and Myrtle Chatterton. He served in the Canadian Army Intelligence Corps during World War II. After graduating from McGill in 1950, Erickson taught at the University of British Columbia and designed houses in partnership with Geoffrey Massey. In 1963, Erickson and Massey submitted the winning design for Simon Fraser University.[3]

In 1973 he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada and was promoted to Companion in 1981.[4] His family announced that he died in Vancouver on May 20, 2009.[3]

Erickson lived in Point Grey with his life partner and interior design collaborator, Francisco Kripacz.[5]

[edit] Works

McGaugh Hall, University of California, Irvine (1991)
Museum of Anthropology at UBC, (1976)

[edit] References

  1. ^ Cook, Maria (2006-08-20), "The architect of soul", Ottawa Citizen, http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/arts/story.html?id=179e7228-6733-427c-9d2e-2070f872f0e0&k=27738 
  2. ^ Schelling, Steven. "Arthur Erickson, 1924-2009." Xtra, Friday, May 22, 2009.
  3. ^ a b Martin, Sandra. "The greatest architect we have ever produced," The Globe and Mail, Friday, May 22, 2009.
  4. ^ "Arthur C. Erickson, C.C., B.Arch., D.Eng., F.R.A.I.C.". Order of Canada. Governor General of Canada. http://www.gg.ca/honours/search-recherche/honours-desc.asp?lang=e&TypeID=orc&id=500. Retrieved on 2009-05-25. 
  5. ^ Schelling, Steven. "Arthur Erickson, 1924-2009." Xtra, Friday, May 22, 2009.

[edit] External links

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