Friends and family in memorial service tribute to remember renowned architect
THE life of a renowned architect who died suddenly of a heart attack has been celebrated at a memorial service in his honour in Edinburgh.
Friends, family and colleagues gathered in the National Museum of Scotland to share their memories of Gareth Hoskins, 48, who died in January.
Mr Hoskins, who was recognised as one of Scotland’s finest architects, was behind the museum’s redesign and also a hotel plan for the old Royal High School in Edinburgh.
About 300 people paid tribute to his contribution to Scottish architecture at the event, which included music performed by singers from George Watson’s College, conducted by David Elliot.
Speakers included the former president of the Royal Institute of British Architects, Sunand Prusad, family friend John Hicks and Heather Chapple, of Architecture and Design Scotland.
Edinburgh-born Mr Hoskins trained at the Glasgow School of Art and Florence University. He went on to set up Hoskins Architects in Glasgow in 1998, the firm of which he was managing director.
Fellow director Chris Coleman-Smith said: “It was a very moving service and Gareth is going to be particularly missed.
“It was good to have the chance for so many people to celebrate his life and mark his passing.
“People came from all across Scotland and the UK and it was touching to see the deep regard they all shared for Gareth.”
Mr Hoskins served as an adviser to the Royal Institute of British Architects, was a design panel member of the Scottish Government’s design “watchdog” Architecture and Design S c ot l a nd , and between 2006 and 2010, he held the post of the Scottish Government’s National Healthcare Design Champion.
Hoskins Architects’ past projects include the Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre, Aberdeen Art Gallery and Berlin City Library, the German city where Hoskins Architects also has offices.
The firm Hoskins also collaborated on the design for the Athletes’ Village at the 2 014 Commonwealth Games
In 2008, he was commissioned to create the masterplan for American tycoon Donald Trump’s controversial £1 billion golf resort near Aberdeen.