Richard Paxton

Richard Lauderdale Paxton (born 21 May 1956 in Cosford, Shropshire; died London 20 March 2006),^[1] was an English architect, largely working in London.

Life and work

Paxton was one of four children of a Royal Air Force officer and spent his childhood travelling around the world, Malaysia in particular. He attended Brighton and Hove Grammar School, followed by architecture school at Kingston Polytechnic.^[1]

After graduating, Paxton worked for Ahrends, Burton & Koralek. In 1985 he established the practice of Paxton Locher, with Heidi Locher (whom he married in 1987).^[1] He supplemented their income with part-time teaching at Kingston and the Bartlett School in London. The practice worked on a number of house projects in London, including a revamp of the home of author Douglas Adams. ^[1]

In 1996 the practice won a commission to design the new Soho Theatre. Their design incorporated a redundant synagogue as the theatre auditorium. It opened in 2000.^[1]

Richard Paxton died in London on 20 March 2006, aged 49, on the verge of completing a low-energy house project in Hampstead, where he planned to celebrate his 50th birthday.^[1]

Paxton designed homes featured on BBC Four's Living with the Future (aired on 15 January 2007 in the UK) and Channel 4's Grand Designs (aired on 2 April 2008 in the UK).

References

1. Kenneth Powell (24 March 2006). "Richard Paxton: Architect of the Jerwood Space and Soho Theatre - as well as houses striking for their use of natural light". The Independent. Retrieved 27 January 2014.

External links

• Richard Paxton Architects
• The Times Online, Space invader
• Channel 4, Grand Designs