Nicholas Grimshaw, Architect of the Month, October 2013

It seems that engineering has always flowed in Nicholas Grimshaw’s blood. His buildings are noted for their innovative approach to construction and this urge to engineer solutions goes back further than his enthusiastic childhood experiments with Meccano and tree house projects. Two of his great grandfathers were engineers, one creating dams in Egypt and the other oversaw the construction of the sewers in Dublin. Grimshaw has said of his architecture that it, “glorifies construction, and the beauty of the way things go together.”

This beauty is exemplified in the gridshell domes designed for the Eden Project in Cornwall. The project was initiated in 1996 with the idea to create giant greenhouse biomes containing different eco-climates. The aim was to educate people about environmental matters. The Eden Project has become an international success and is the largest tourist attraction in Cornwall.

Despite his grim, northern sounding surname Nicholas Grimshaw (who shouldn’t be confused with Radio DJ Nick Grimshaw) was born in Hove, the quieter neighbour to the bright lights of Brighton, on 9 October 1939, just a month after the outbreak of WWII. He was sent to Wellington College, a public school for the children of British armed services officers. One of his childhood pleasures was building tree houses.

He subsequently studied architecture at Edinburgh College of Art before winning a scholarship to the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London – he graduated in 1965 and went into partnership with Terry Farrell. They worked together for fifteen years and one of their joint creations, the 1976 Herman Miller Factory in Bath, described as an outstanding early Hi-tech building, was given a Grade II listing just last month.


Grimshaw set up his own practice in 1980 and has continued his technologically advanced approach to design which is particularly appropriate for the transport projects the practice has become famous for. Structures include the new International Terminal for London's Waterloo Station, whose enormous curved roof welcomes international visitors to London via border controls within the station.

Nicholas Grimshaw has been acknowledged as one of the most foremost, technologically modern architects in the UK, alongside Richard Rogers, Norman Foster and his former Partner, Terry Farrell. He has lectured internationally and received a Knighthood in 2002. In 2004 he was elected to the presidency of the Royal Academy of Arts, a post he held until 2011.

He continues to lead his much expanded practice, now known simply as Grimshaw, which has offices in London, New York and Melbourne, Australia, where it has completed yet another award winning railway project with the Melbourne Metro. The most recent offices are in Sydney and Doha, in Quarter. The latest Grimshaw project is a watery version of the Eden Project. NIRAH (National Institute for Research into Aquatic Habitats) will be the first large aquarium project devoted to freshwater species of plants and animals. 

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sources include:
http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/academicians/architects/nicholas-grimshaw-ra,136,AR.html

http://grimshaw-architects.com/person/grimshaw-sir-nicholas/

 http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2004/dec/19/architecture.highereducation )

I shot the photographs at the Eden Project in 2003.