Peter Buchanan (architect)


Peter Laurence Alexander Cockburn Buchanan was a British architect, urbanist, writer, critic, lecturer and exhibition curator.
Buchanan is best known for his series of critical essays for The Big Rethink published by The Architectural Review and for his books on architecture.

Life and career

After schooling in Zimbabwe, Buchanan studied architecture at the University of Cape Town, and after completing his degree in 1968 he worked with architects in Cape Town, first with Gabriel Fagan and then until 1971 with Revel Fox. Subsequently, he worked as architect and urban designer in Africa, Europe and the Middle East.
In 1979 Buchanan took up work with The Architects' Journal and with The Architectural Review, and in 1982 became The Architectural Review's deputy editor. Since 1992 he worked as freelancer.
Buchanan curated the travelling exhibitions Renzo Piano Building Workshop: Selected Projects and Ten Shades of Green for the Architectural League of New York. His books included works stemming from these exhibitions: the five volumes of Renzo Piano Building Workshop: Complete Works and Ten Shades of Green. Buchanan has also worked as a consultant on urban design projects and publications.
At the end of 2011, The Architectural Review launched "The Big Rethink", a year-long campaign of essays and events with at its core a series of monthly essays by Peter Buchanan. The essays are intended to involve architects in the challenges posed by the global economic and environmental crises. Architects are encouraged to re-evaluate the role of their profession, and to change architecture and design practice in order to meet the challenges posed by the crises while improving the quality of life.
Buchanan lectured and taught summer schools and master classes and lectured in a wide range of places including universities, and has published in journals of many countries.
Peter Buchanan died from lung cancer on 23 August 2023, at the age of 80.

Publications

"The Big Rethink" Series of The Architectural Review :
Other publications:
Books:
  • Peter Buchanan. Norman Foster: Free University of Berlin: The Philological Library, Prestel, 2011,
  • Peter Buchanan, Paul Finch, Felix Mara, Hattie Hartman, Peter Blundell Jones : The London 2012 Velodrome, Hopkins Architects, Expedition Engineering, BDSP, Grant Associates. The Architects' Journal, Emap Inform, 2011,
  • Anthony Sargent, Peter Buchanan: The Sage Gateshead: Foster + Partners, Prestel, 2010,
  • Peter Buchanan, Michele Alassio: Emilio Ambasz Casa de Retiro Espiritual, Skira, 2005,
  • Peter Buchanan, Frances Dunkels : The Great Court and The British Museum, British Museum Press, 2000,
  • Norman Foster, Martin Pawley, Helmut Engel, Peter Buchanan: Der neue Reichstag, Brockhaus in der Wissenmedia, 1999,
  • P. Buchanan: Renzo Piano Building Workshop: Complete Works, Volumes 1 to 5, Phaidon Press
  • P. Buchanan: Ten Shades of Green, WW Norton
  • Josep Martorell, Peter Buchanan: UIA Barcelona 96 Competitions: Three Areas in Barcelona, Actar Coac Assn of Catalan Arc, 1997,
  • P. Buchanan: Vazquez Consuegra, Gustavo Gili, 1993,
  • Oriol Bohigas, Peter Buchanan, Vittorio Magnago Lampugnani: ''Barcelona, arquitectura y ciudad, 1980–1992.''

Awards

  • 15th Sophia Gray Memorial Lecture Laureate