RIBA president Simon Allford pays tribute to 鈥檆ommercially astute鈥 mastermind behind remarkable but divisive schemes

Owen Luder

Source: RIBA Collections

Owen Luder

Architect Owen Luder, whose 1960s and 1970s brutalist buildings memorably starred in films and divided opinion, has died at the age of 93.

Luder also has the unique claim to fame of having served as president of the RIBA for two separate terms: from 1981-83 and 1995-97. He also served as chair of the Architects Registration Board.

Current RIBA president Simon Allford paid tribute to Luder, who set up his own firm 鈥 the Owen Luder Practice 鈥 while he was still in his 20s and ran it for more than 30 years.

鈥淢ade famous as the commercially astute brutalist, Luder designed several remarkable schemes throughout the 1960s and 1970s, which divided opinion 鈥 attracting both admiration and condemnation 鈥 in equal measure,鈥 Allford said.

Tricorn Shopping Centre, Portsmouth

Source: Sam Lambert/RIBA Collections

Part of Owen Luder Partnership鈥檚 Tricorn Shopping Centre in Portsmouth, which was built in 1965 and demolished in 2004

鈥淎 south London boy with working class parents, Luder began his esteemed career at Brixton School of 好色先生TV. In 1957 he went on to establish his own successful practice, developing schemes across the UK and further afield.

鈥淟uder will be remembered for his powerful and raw schemes that were celebrated in critically acclaimed movies (鈥楪et Carter鈥 featuring Gateshead car park) and 鈥 in the case of the Tricorn Centre 鈥 celebrated and demolished.

> From the archive: Owen Luder鈥檚 fight to save Gateshead carpark 

Get Carter

The Trinity Square car park in Gateshead, by Owen Luder Partnership. It was built in 1967 and demolished in 2010. The building featured in the 1971 crime thriller Get Carter, starring Michael Caine

鈥淥wen鈥檚 life was long and well lived 鈥 dedicated to his family, friends, the profession and his beloved Arsenal FC.鈥

The propensity for brutalist buildings of the 1960s and 1970s to fall victim to the wrecking ball saw Luder earn the moniker 鈥渒ing of the Rubble Club鈥, in a reference to the society created for architects whose buildings are demolished during their lifetime.

In addition to huge shopping centres, such the Tricorn Centre in Portsmouth, Luder also designed individual homes and oversaw the conversion of a Victorian former fire station in Norwood into the South London Theatre.

Trinity Square car park, Gateshead

Source: Sam Lambert/RIBA Library Photographs Collection

Part of the Trinity Square car park in Gateshead