Peter Blundell Jones Library

Memoirs

Dean Hawkes

Emeritus Professor of Architectural Design at Cardiff University and Emeritus Fellow of Darwin College, University of Cambridge.

I first met Peter when he joined the Cambridge school as an Assistant Lecturer in 1978. I had been at the school since 1965, first as a Research Assistant/PhD student and then, from 1973, as a Lecturer. Peter was amongst the first (maybe the first) member of staff to be appointed during the headship of Colin (Sandy) St John Wilson. I recall Sandy’s enthusiasm for Peter’s interest in the architecture of northern European architects such as Hugo Häring, Hans Scharoun and Erik Gunnar Asplund. This coincided with Sandy’s own interest in these and other architects that he went on the celebrate in his books, “Architectural Reflections’ (1992) and ‘The Other Tradition of Modern Architecture’ (1995).

My overriding recollection of Peter’s years in Cambridge is of his enormous energy and enthusiasm for his work. I have no detailed memory of his teaching but am certain that he lectured in the courses on the History and Theory of Architecture and taught in the studio, this possibly in partnership with Sandy. He and I didn't teach together, I worked elsewhere in the courses, but we had many informal encounters over coffee and so on.

Peter left the department after five years because, as I recall, the university as part of an ‘economy drive’ decided to suspend the procedure by which Assistant Lecturers were promoted to full Lectureships with tenure after five years. Peter and one other highly valued colleague were victims of this. He then moved to South Bank before his appointment at Sheffield. (NB This is my recollection for which I have no documentary evidence but could almost certainly be verified.)

My next long term encounter with Peter came in the mid-1990s, when were both joined the original Editorial Board of ‘architectural research quarterly’, the first British refereed academic journal for architecture that was published originally by The Architectural Press and edited by Peter Carolin, former editor of ‘The Architects’ Journal’ and Sandy Wilson’s successor as head of the Cambridge school. I remember exciting preparatory meetings at which the board discussed the terms of reference for the journal to which Peter made vigorous contributions. Then, subsequent meetings to review progress became enjoyable forums for friendly debate.

Over the years Peter and I kept in touch on a number of fronts and I have followed his outstanding output of publications, many of which became essential references in my own work. Specific monographs that I have frequently referred to from are, ‘Hans Scharoun’ (1978), ‘Hugo Häring’ (2002), ‘Gunnar Asplund’ (2005). I also greatly value the two volumes on ‘Modern Architecture through Case Studies’ (2000 & 2007). I was pleased to be invited by Peter to be external examiner for one of his Sheffield PhD students, Alex Griffin, for his dissertation on the Ecole Beaux Arts in Paris. It is pleasing that this eventually led to the publication of a book, ‘The Rise of Academic Architectural Education’ (2019).