Richard Murphy (architect)
Encyclopedia
Richard Murphy OBE is an architect
based in Edinburgh
, Scotland
, and principal architect in Richard Murphy Architects.
-funded projects. His work, in its desire to create contemporary architecture but with a sense of place and history, shows the influence of Carlo Scarpa
, who he has done academic research into. In 1998 he presented a Channel 4
documentary on Scarpa, directed by Murray Grigor
. In 2004 the practice exhibited at the Venice Biennale
.
He was appointed an OBE in the New Year's Honours December 2006.
's birthplace in Dunbar
attracted angry letters from around the world, in the belief that he was destroying the house as it was when Muir was born. It was in fact simply replacing a new interior representing how the house 'may have been' at the time.
His Mews House on Circus Lane in the New Town of Edinburgh was dubbed the 'Japanese House' by the local press, and felt an inappropriate design for a World Heritage Site
, though it subsequently won planning permission.
The proposed Sean Connery
Filmhouse would be built over Festival Square in Edinburgh. The square, part of The Exchange Business district designed by Terry Farrell
, is felt by many to be a failure. The square is often empty, and as Murphy pointed out, is, despite its name, one of the few places in the city without any presence of the Edinburgh festival
in the summer. The MSP
Brian Monteith
even dubbed the square Ceauşescu
piazza. Despite this, the Sheraton Hotels is deeply against the proposals, as the building would be right in front of the hotel, and block residents' views of Edinburgh Castle
.
, Aberdeen
, Scotland
.
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
based in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and principal architect in Richard Murphy Architects.
History
Murphy was educated at Newcastle and Edinburgh Universities, and has taught at the latter. He formed his practice in 1991, which has since grown to over twenty architects, and is now housed on Old Fishmarket Close, in the Old Town of Edinburgh. The practice made its name designing small scale extensions to houses and mews conversions, and found great success with buildings for the arts, particularly lotteryNational Lottery (United Kingdom)
The National Lottery is the state-franchised national lottery in the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man.It is operated by Camelot Group, to whom the licence was granted in 1994, 2001 and again in 2007. The lottery is regulated by the National Lottery Commission, and was established by the then...
-funded projects. His work, in its desire to create contemporary architecture but with a sense of place and history, shows the influence of Carlo Scarpa
Carlo Scarpa
Carlo Scarpa , was an Italian architect, influenced by the materials, landscape, and the history of Venetian culture, and Japan. Scarpa was also a glass and furniture designer of note....
, who he has done academic research into. In 1998 he presented a 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...
documentary on Scarpa, directed by Murray Grigor
Murray Grigor
Murray Grigor is a Scottish film maker, writer and exhibition curator. He has made over 50 films with a focus on arts and architecture documentaries.-Early life:...
. In 2004 the practice exhibited at the Venice Biennale
Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
.
He was appointed an OBE in the New Year's Honours December 2006.
Controversy
Murphy has sometimes attracted controversy. The conversion of John MuirJohn Muir
John Muir was a Scottish-born American naturalist, author, and early advocate of preservation of wilderness in the United States. His letters, essays, and books telling of his adventures in nature, especially in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, have been read by millions...
's birthplace in Dunbar
Dunbar
Dunbar is a town in East Lothian on the southeast coast of Scotland, approximately 28 miles east of Edinburgh and 28 miles from the English Border at Berwick-upon-Tweed....
attracted angry letters from around the world, in the belief that he was destroying the house as it was when Muir was born. It was in fact simply replacing a new interior representing how the house 'may have been' at the time.
His Mews House on Circus Lane in the New Town of Edinburgh was dubbed the 'Japanese House' by the local press, and felt an inappropriate design for a World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
, though it subsequently won planning permission.
The proposed Sean Connery
Sean Connery
Sir Thomas Sean Connery , better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globes Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born 25 August 1930), better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy...
Filmhouse would be built over Festival Square in Edinburgh. The square, part of The Exchange Business district designed by Terry Farrell
Terry Farrell (architect)
Sir Terry Farrell, CBE, RIBA, FRSA, FCSD, MRTPI is a British architect.-Life and career:Farrell was born in Sale, Cheshire. As a youth he moved to Newcastle upon Tyne, where he attended St Cuthbert's High School. He graduated with a degree from Newcastle University, followed by a Masters in urban...
, is felt by many to be a failure. The square is often empty, and as Murphy pointed out, is, despite its name, one of the few places in the city without any presence of the Edinburgh festival
Edinburgh Festival
The Edinburgh Festival is a collective term for many arts and cultural festivals that take place in Edinburgh, Scotland each summer, mostly in August...
in the summer. The MSP
Member of the Scottish Parliament
Member of the Scottish Parliament is the title given to any one of the 129 individuals elected to serve in the Scottish Parliament.-Methods of Election:MSPs are elected in one of two ways:...
Brian Monteith
Brian Monteith
Brian Monteith is a Scottish public relations consultant, politician and commentator, who was a Conservative Member of the Scottish Parliament between 1999 and 2007.-Education:...
even dubbed the square Ceauşescu
Nicolae Ceausescu
Nicolae Ceaușescu was a Romanian Communist politician. He was General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party from 1965 to 1989, and as such was the country's second and last Communist leader...
piazza. Despite this, the Sheraton Hotels is deeply against the proposals, as the building would be right in front of the hotel, and block residents' views of Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is a fortress which dominates the skyline of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, from its position atop the volcanic Castle Rock. Human habitation of the site is dated back as far as the 9th century BC, although the nature of early settlement is unclear...
.
Proposed work
- 5-Star hotel on the former Edinburgh Royal InfirmaryEdinburgh Royal InfirmaryThe Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh or RIE, sometimes mistakenly referred to as Edinburgh Royal Infirmary or ERI, was established in 1729 and is the oldest voluntary hospital in Scotland. The new buildings of 1879 were claimed to be the largest voluntary hospital in the United Kingdom, and later on...
site (within in masterplan drawn up by Norman FosterNorman Foster, Baron Foster of Thames BankNorman Robert Foster, Baron Foster of Thames Bank, OM is a British architect whose company maintains an international design practice, Foster + Partners....
) - Sean ConnerySean ConnerySir Thomas Sean Connery , better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globes Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born 25 August 1930), better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy...
Filmhouse, Edinburgh - Conversion of William Henry PlayfairWilliam Henry PlayfairWilliam Henry Playfair FRSE was one of the greatest Scottish architects of the 19th century, designer of many of Edinburgh's neo-classical landmarks in the New Town....
's Donaldson's CollegeDonaldson's CollegeDonaldson's School, in Linlithgow is Scotland's national residential and day school, providing education, therapy and care for pupils who are deaf or who have communication difficulties.-Headteacher and management team:...
, Edinburgh into luxury apartments
Notable completed work
Projects by year of design- Fruitmarket GalleryFruitmarket GalleryThe Fruitmarket Gallery is an art gallery in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is located in the centre of the city on Market Street, beside Edinburgh Waverley train station....
, Edinburgh, 1991 - Maggie's EdinburghMaggie's centresMaggie's Cancer Caring Centres are a network of drop-in centres in Great Britain, whichaim to help anyone who has been affected by cancer. They are not intended as a replacement for conventional cancer therapy, but as a caring environment that can provide support, information and practical advice...
, Edinburgh, 1994 + 1997 extension- Nominated for 1997 Stirling PrizeStirling PrizeThe Royal Institute of British Architects Stirling Prize is a British prize for excellence in architecture. It is named after the architect James Stirling, organised and awarded annually by the Royal Institute of British Architects...
- Nominated for 1997 Stirling Prize
- Dundee Contemporary ArtsDundee Contemporary ArtsDundee Contemporary Arts is an art centre in the city of Dundee, Scotland which houses two contemporary art galleries, a two-screen cinema, a print studio, a visual research centre and a café bar.- History :...
, DundeeDundeeDundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
, 1996 - Eastgate Theatre & Arts Centre, PeeblesPeeblesPeebles is a burgh in the committee area of Tweeddale, in the Scottish Borders, lying on the River Tweed. According to the 2001 Census, the population was 8,159.-History:...
, 1998- Nominated for 2004 RIAS Best Building in ScotlandRoyal Incorporation of Architects in ScotlandThe Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland is the professional body for architects in Scotland. It was founded in 1916 by Robert Rowand Anderson who donated his Georgian townhouse in Edinburgh to be used as its home, where it remains to this day. It was given its first Royal charter in...
- Nominated for 2004 RIAS Best Building in Scotland
- CaernarfonCaernarfonCaernarfon is a Royal town, community and port in Gwynedd, Wales, with a population of 9,611. It lies along the A487 road, on the east banks of the Menai Straits, opposite the Isle of Anglesey. The city of Bangor is to the northeast, while Snowdonia fringes Caernarfon to the east and southeast...
Arts Centre, WalesWalesWales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, 2000 - Olorosso Restaurant, Edinburgh, 2001
- John MuirJohn MuirJohn Muir was a Scottish-born American naturalist, author, and early advocate of preservation of wilderness in the United States. His letters, essays, and books telling of his adventures in nature, especially in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, have been read by millions...
's Birthplace, DunbarDunbarDunbar is a town in East Lothian on the southeast coast of Scotland, approximately 28 miles east of Edinburgh and 28 miles from the English Border at Berwick-upon-Tweed....
, East LothianEast LothianEast Lothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy Area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Midlothian. Its administrative centre is Haddington, although its largest town is Musselburgh....
, 2001 - Tolbooth Arts Centre, StirlingStirlingStirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...
, 2002 - British High Commission, Sri LankaSri LankaSri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, 2008
Educational Links in Scotland
Richard Murphy has lectured at the Student-led 5710 lecture society of The Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and The Built EnvironmentThe Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and The Built Environment
The Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and Built Environment is situated on the Garthdee Campus of the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland.-Description:The School has a long and distinguished history, its course in architecture being one of the...
, Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
.