大象传媒

Piers Gough co-founded his own architectural practice while he was still at college, at the age of only twenty-two. He made his name during the redevelopment of London鈥檚 Docklands, though you can also see his work in Liverpool (the golden 鈥渂ling bling鈥� building), in Nottingham, where he built a centre for Maggie鈥檚 cancer charity, and in Glasgow, where he designed the masterplan for the redevelopment of the Gorbals. He鈥檚 won numerous awards for his buildings, not least for his bright-green triangular public lavatory in London鈥檚 Westbourne Grove. And six of his buildings have been listed by English Heritage, protected for posterity. He鈥檚 been president of the Architectural Association, he鈥檚 a Royal Academician... which all sounds steady enough, but trying to sum up his style, the Architects Journal said: 鈥淥ne鈥檚 never certain whether one is in a town house, a country house, a castle, or a gigantic piece of sculpture.鈥�

In conversation with Michael Berkeley, Piers Gough reflects on the challenges of designing for the modern city, and on the influence of the accident that broke his spine and which at one point made him doubtful that he would ever walk again. He shares, too, the surprise and fun of becoming a father in his sixties.

Music choices include William Walton鈥檚 鈥淏elshazzar鈥檚 Feast鈥�; Monteverdi鈥檚 haunting love duet 鈥淧ur ti miro鈥�; Handel鈥檚 鈥淪emele鈥�; and Piers's favourite country-music track, 鈥淭ruckstop Honeymoon鈥�.

A Loftus production for 大象传媒 Radio 3
Produced by Elizabeth Burke.