Roger Walker: A Biography of a New Zealand Architect between 1967-1997

By Abdel-moniem El-Shorbagy

The New Zealand architect Roger Walker (b.1942) is one of the few architects who has created a new style which has affected the establishment and evolution of a New Zealand architectural identity. Walker was born when modern movement architecture started to appear in New Zealand, he studied architecture when modern architecture reached maturity and the theories of post-modern architecture were being formulated, and he began to practice as post-modernism began its initial development. During his growing practice Roger Walker has significantly developed his personal architectural style and has contributed to an emerging concept of regional architecture and strengthened the notion of New Zealand architectural identity.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookRix
• Release date: Jul 20, 2020
• ISBN: 9783748750611

Book preview

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Roger Walker

A Biography of a New Zealand Architect between 1967-1997

Content

Acknowledgments

Introduction

Chapter 1 Early Life

Chapter 2 Late Life and Career

Conclusion

Appendix 1 Chronological List of Walker’s Buildings

Appendix 2 Awards and Competitions

Bibliography

Acknowledgments

I am enormously indebted to my wife for her enthusiastic support, helpful comments and effective criticism. The kindness of my wife and family made it possible for me to write this book.

Introduction

The New Zealand architect Roger Walker (b.1942) is one of the few architects who has created a new style which has affected the establishment and evolution of a New Zealand architectural identity. Walker was born when modern movement architecture started to appear in New Zealand, he studied architecture when modern architecture reached maturity and the theories of post-modern architecture were being formulated, and he began to practice as post-modernism began its initial development. During his growing practice Roger Walker has significantly developed his personal architectural style and has contributed to an emerging concept of regional architecture and strengthened the notion of New Zealand architectural identity. Roger Neville Walker was born in Hamilton, New Zealand in 21 December, 1942. His father, Andrew Frank Walker, was a chemist and his mother Margaret (neé Clothier) was a doctor’s receptionist. Roger Walker is the eldest of three children, having one sister and one brother. His brother Gavin still lives in Hamilton and is a builder specialising in roofing contracts. His sister, Sandra, is a book-shop manager in Auckland. Walker himself has been twice married. From his first marriage, which was dissolved in 1984, he has two sons and one daughter; Emily Susan is 27 years old and working as a television broadcaster in Sydney; Jacob Llewellyn is 25 years old and working as an artist, and Edward is 23 years old and working as an art director in films. In 1986 Walker married Elizabeth Street, and they have one son, Maxwell, who is 10 years old.

Chapter 1

Early Life and Career

Walker’s early life was little different from that of thousands of other New Zealand children born in the 1940s. He grew up in quarter acre suburban section in Hamilton in a single storey brick and tile, builder-designed house with a large front lawn and a straight concrete path to the front doorway. This conventional environment formed the backdrop to the upbringing of the younger Roger Walker, a backdrop which was to become a powerful motivating factor in his development. The strongest impression made by this early environment was its disagreeable and disappointing qualities, its flatness and absence of surprise. Roger Walker’s picture-books told him about castles, secret passages, spiral staircases and hidden corners. But in the real world he was confronted by a depressing landscape and homes with meaningless forms and boring shapes. Walker preferred his colourful books that enlightened him and increased his knowledge about forms, colours and materials.

Walker’s parents enthusiastically provided him with every opportunity to develop and extend his own identity