George Ferguson (architect)
Encyclopedia
George Robin Paget Ferguson, CBE
, PPRIBA, RWA
(born 22 March 1947 in Winchester
, Hampshire
) is a British architect, who has made a significant contribution to architecture
, town planning and design in the South West of England and Europe
.
George Ferguson read architecture at the University of Bristol
from 1965-1971. He was co-founder of Ferguson Mann Architects in 1978 and founded the national UK wide network of practices, Acanthus, in 1986. He has a wide variety of experience in architectural, masterplanning and regeneration projects, commencing with regeneration and historic building work that formed the foundation of the practice. This includes many award winning schemes such as the At-Bristol
Millennium project with its new urban spaces, Royal William Yard in Plymouth and his Tobacco Factory
mixed use project, including the renowned Tobacco Factory Theatre and other creative activities that have helped kick start the regeneration of South Bristol. Ferguson lives at the top of the building.
He has been described as "a prime mover for change in attitude to planning and redevelopment in the South West Region and beyond." Ferguson has been awarded honorary degrees from the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England
. Ferguson was appointed High Sheriff of Bristol when that office was revived in 1996 and served for one year. He is a past president of the Royal Institute of British Architects
(2003–2005). when "he was noted for championing the causes of education, the environment and good urbanism." He writes, broadcasts and lectures on planning and architectural matters and sustainability, and was a presenter on the 2005 Channel 4
television series Demolition
. He is amongst many other things a trustee
of the London based think tank
Demos
and his interests include local food (he has a restaurant and brewery), theatre, and travel. He is known in Bristol for always wearing red trousers.
Ferguson was the first Liberal
councillor to be elected to Bristol City Council in the 1970s and he stood unsuccessfully for the Liberals in the 1983 and 1987 General Elections.
, saving it from demolition. Through his vision it has become a model of urban regeneration and is now a multi-use building housing a restaurant, performing arts school, apartments, a café bar, a performance venue and more.
Inspired by the Manchester Independents campaign, George Ferguson he launched a Bristol based campaign from the Tobacco Factory. The purpose of the campaign is to encourage the support and patronage of independent outlets and businesses to help redress the balance that has swung strongly in favour of the multiples at the expense of local character and enterprise. Business at the Tobacco Factory epitomises this, with home grown enterprises, such as media company Fanatic, software company CLIK, and Teoh's restaurant.
Ferguson also owns The Bristol Beer Factory, located in the former Ashton Gate Brewery near to The Tobacco Factory. It manufactures several award winning ales which it supplies to the Tobacco Factory bar as well as other local outlets. In autumn 2009 a new 90 seat performance space and rehearsal facilities were opened there. He has another bar on a converted barge called 'The Grain Barge' in Hotwells
.
Ferguson was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2010 New Year Honours.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, PPRIBA, RWA
Royal West of England Academy
The Royal West of England Academy is an art gallery where Queens Road meets Whiteladies Road, in Bristol, England.- History :The Academy was the first art gallery in Bristol. Its foundation was financed by a bequest of £2000 in the will of Ellen Sharples in 1849, and a group of artists in...
(born 22 March 1947 in Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
) is a British architect, who has made a significant contribution to architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
, town planning and design in the South West of England and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
George Ferguson read architecture at the University of Bristol
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
from 1965-1971. He was co-founder of Ferguson Mann Architects in 1978 and founded the national UK wide network of practices, Acanthus, in 1986. He has a wide variety of experience in architectural, masterplanning and regeneration projects, commencing with regeneration and historic building work that formed the foundation of the practice. This includes many award winning schemes such as the At-Bristol
At-Bristol
At-Bristol is a public science and technology "exploration" and education centre and charity in Bristol, England.As a visitor attraction, At-Bristol has hundreds of hands-on exhibits, and a Planetarium with seasonal shows for the over fives, and a 'Little Stars' show for children aged five and under...
Millennium project with its new urban spaces, Royal William Yard in Plymouth and his Tobacco Factory
Tobacco Factory
The Tobacco Factory is the last remaining part of the old Wills Tobacco site on Raleigh Road, Southville, Bristol. It was saved from demolition by the architect George Ferguson and through his vision has become a model of urban regeneration...
mixed use project, including the renowned Tobacco Factory Theatre and other creative activities that have helped kick start the regeneration of South Bristol. Ferguson lives at the top of the building.
He has been described as "a prime mover for change in attitude to planning and redevelopment in the South West Region and beyond." Ferguson has been awarded honorary degrees from the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England
University of the West of England
The University of the West of England is a university based in the English city of Bristol. Its main campus is at Frenchay, about five miles north of the city centre...
. Ferguson was appointed High Sheriff of Bristol when that office was revived in 1996 and served for one year. He is a past president of the Royal Institute of British Architects
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
(2003–2005). when "he was noted for championing the causes of education, the environment and good urbanism." He writes, broadcasts and lectures on planning and architectural matters and sustainability, and was a presenter on the 2005 Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
television series Demolition
Demolition (TV series)
Demolition is a 2005 television series from Channel 4, which can be seen as being the reverse of the BBC's 2003 series Restoration. The public were encouraged to vote for buildings which they want demolished and replaced, with 12 buildings making The Dirty Dozen.The show was shown on four days,...
. He is amongst many other things a trustee
Trustee
Trustee is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, can refer to any person who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility for the benefit of another...
of the London based think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
Demos
Demos (UK think tank)
- History :Demos was founded in 1993 by former Marxism Today editor Martin Jacques, and Geoff Mulgan, who became its first director. It was formed in response to what Mulgan, Jacques and others saw as a crisis in politics in Britain, with voter engagement in decline and political institutions...
and his interests include local food (he has a restaurant and brewery), theatre, and travel. He is known in Bristol for always wearing red trousers.
Ferguson was the first Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
councillor to be elected to Bristol City Council in the 1970s and he stood unsuccessfully for the Liberals in the 1983 and 1987 General Elections.
The Tobacco Factory
Ferguson bought the last remaining part of the Old Wills Tobacco site on Raleigh Road, Southville, BristolSouthville, Bristol
Southville is an inner city ward of Bristol, England, situated on the south bank of the River Avon and northwest of Bedminster. Most of the area's houses were built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries either for workers in the Bristol coal mining industry or the tobacco factories of W. D. &...
, saving it from demolition. Through his vision it has become a model of urban regeneration and is now a multi-use building housing a restaurant, performing arts school, apartments, a café bar, a performance venue and more.
Inspired by the Manchester Independents campaign, George Ferguson he launched a Bristol based campaign from the Tobacco Factory. The purpose of the campaign is to encourage the support and patronage of independent outlets and businesses to help redress the balance that has swung strongly in favour of the multiples at the expense of local character and enterprise. Business at the Tobacco Factory epitomises this, with home grown enterprises, such as media company Fanatic, software company CLIK, and Teoh's restaurant.
Ferguson also owns The Bristol Beer Factory, located in the former Ashton Gate Brewery near to The Tobacco Factory. It manufactures several award winning ales which it supplies to the Tobacco Factory bar as well as other local outlets. In autumn 2009 a new 90 seat performance space and rehearsal facilities were opened there. He has another bar on a converted barge called 'The Grain Barge' in Hotwells
Hotwells
Hotwells is a district of the English port city of Bristol. It is located to the south of and below the high ground of Clifton, and directly to the north of the Floating Harbour. The southern entrance to the Avon Gorge, which connects those docks to the sea, lies at the western end of Hotwells. The...
.
Ferguson was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2010 New Year Honours.