Derek Walker

Architect

THE ARCHITECT Derek Walker, who died this week aged 85, was one of the country’s foremost urban planners. Better known abroad than in the UK, where he designed the new home in Leeds for the Royal Armouries collection, his international work included the city of Jubail in Saudi Arabia, a ski resort in Telluride, Colorado, and the Happy Valley Racecourse and Kowloon Park development in Hong Kong.

Although Mr Walker was born in Blackburn, his parents running a pub in Ribchester, he was brought up in Leeds. He went to Leeds Modern School (now Lawnswood School) where he was a competitive all-rounder, academically competent and good at sport, which was for him a life-long passion. He later developed a love of art, filling his London home with modern paintings and sculptures.

He set up his first architectural practice in Quebec Street in Leeds, receiving his first commission to design an extension for the Donisthorpe Hall Jewish care home. He went on to design a number of houses and churches in Yorkshire, including the Holy Family Church in Pontefract, which was recently listed.

His big break came in 1970 when he was appointed chief architect and planner of the new town of Milton Keynes in North Buckinghamshire. Among his work in Milton Keynes, he

GRAND DESIGN: Derek Walker, one of the UK’s leading urban planners. designed the town’s shopping centre, also now listed.

In addition to his work as a practising architect, he was professor and head of architecture at the Royal College of Art, and a professor at the University of California Los Angeles and the University of Southern California.

In 1996, his last great project in the UK was completed in Leeds with the opening of the Royal Armouries at Clarence Dock, the redevelopment of which he was also responsible.

Highly motivated – seemingly driven to succeed – he led from the front and was constantly making things happen. He was good at communicating ideas and could be charming but disliked what he called “posh chat” at dinner parties, preferring deep friendships. Uncompromising, he set himself high standards, worked enormously hard and was good at spotting talent and creating strong teams.

As his professional work wound down, he continued to take great pleasure from books and music and the theatre, the cinema, every type of sport, his friends and his family. He was thinking, planning and designing to the end of his life. At the time of his death he was working on his autobiography and a book to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Milton Keynes.

Mr Walker is survived by his wife Eve, his two sons Matthew and Alex from his previous marriage and eight grandchildren.