Architecture world salutes pioneer Wilford

Tributes have been paid to Michael Wilford, designer of Salford’s iconic Lowry arts centre, who has died aged 84.

Born in Surrey in 1938, Wilford studied at the Kingston Technical School and the School of Architecture at the Polytechnic of North London.

He joined Stirling & Gowan in 1960 and became a partner in 1971 as the 30-year working relationship with James Stirling blossomed – the firm became Michael Wilford & Partners following Stirling’s death in 1991.

Although the partnership had delivered the Tate Liverpool project that was such a beacon of Liverpool’s 1980s waterside regeneration, Wilford is most closely associated on a personal level with the British Embassy in Berlin, No. 1 Poultry in London and the Lowry in Salford: a pioneering project intended to be bold and show the world that Salford was ready to reinvent itself for the post-industrial world.

In more recent years Wilford worked extensively as a visiting professor at the University of Liverpool’s School of Architecture.

In a statement, the school said: “Michael was one of the greatest champions of the Liverpool School of Architecture. Over the years of his association with the School; as a critic, as external examiner, and as visiting professor, he cemented a relationship that lasted until the end of a very active and intellectually engaged life.”

“His unstinting faith in humanity, and his life-long curiosity about everything creative that the human mind could offer, made him believe that Architecture retained the everlasting possibility of producing culturally inspired and socially relevant environments and settings.”

Marco Iuliano, senior lecturer at the school, added that “Michael was generous, precise and unflagging in his push for clarity of design ideas”.

A travelling exhibition of Wilford’s work was premiered in Liverpool in 2022 before moving on to Rome and Milan. It is currently in Dublin at the Irish Architectural Archive, where it will be on display until the end of May.

The Lowry – Britain’s first great building of this century? Credit: Salford City Council

The tributes

Salford City Mayor Paul Dennett: “I’m extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Michael Wilford. As an internationally renowned architect and through his work with James Stirling designing The Lowry, he has left an indelible mark on our city for many years to come.

“All Salford residents will know what is now perhaps one of the city’s most famous and instantly recognisable buildings. The Lowry sits in pride of place at The Quays as a representation of our ambitions to redevelop that area of the city, but also as a distinct celebration one of our most famous sons. My thoughts and condolences are with his family at this time.”

Through its Twitter account, the Lowry team joined the tributes, saying: “The Lowry is saddened to hear of the passing of Michael Wilford CBE, the architect who designed our wonderful and iconic building. Our thoughts are with Michael’s family and friends.”

Roger Stephenson, a titan of North West architecture for four decades, told Place North West: “Together Michael and Jim Stirling set British architecture on the world stage and were heroes to several generations of young architects. Michael carried the work on after the premature death of Jim, producing important work like the British Embassy in Berlin and the Lowry Centre in Salford.

“In his later years he gave time to being involved in architectural education, being a visiting professor at the Liverpool School where he was much loved. I also teach there and all the staff are in a state of shock to hear of his passing away.”

Later generations of architects have been been impacted by Wilford’s work, among them Sheppard Robson partner James Jones, who taught with him in Liverpool. Jones said: “Michael’s work has inspired my whole architectural career. In recent years I was fortunate enough to work alongside Michael on his visits to the Liverpool School of Architecture. I listened as he inspired students, but also enjoyed his company at dinners.

“Undoubtedly Michael was a great man. His influence will also continue through the many architects and students he inspired and encouraged.”

Tim Groom, head of the eponymous design firm, told Place: “I was at university when the Lowry was being delivered. It was one of the first local buildings by a so-called ‘starchitect’ and its strong form and bold shapes were influential. It’s been there for a while now and it still looks good.”

Architecture writer Phil Griffin said: “Michael Wilford did not take the easy route through his buildings. His late partner James Stirling had already done sketches for the Lowry on an early visit to the wastelands of abandoned docks. Michael built it out: and from the front door, under its Corbusian canopy, to the sloping, level shifting promenade circling the theatres, breakout spaces and galleries, he delivered for Salford Britain’s first great building of the 21st century.

“I know he was shocked when he first saw the anonymous shopping mall that was later built in front of it, but we have grown into the building he achieved. From the sloping blue terrazzo foyer to projecting staircases and great swathes of orange carpet, I take delight in the fact that (for me) it doesn’t all quite come together. Some pleasing dissonance.

“Michael Wilford’s Lowry is an accommodating fit for the ages. The more we use it, the more it works. The Lyric Theatre is quite simply the best in the North. I like to think Mr Lowry, the tall diffident artist, would have liked Mr Wilford, the upright, slightly patrician gentleman architect of his eponymous building. I am lucky enough to have met them both, and I think they complement each other very well.”

Michael Wilford is survived by his wife Angela and five children; Karenna, Carl, Paul, Jane and Anna.

Students at Liverpool benefitted from Wilford’s insight. Credit: James Jones