Sir Terry Farrell, the 'nonconformist' architect known for designing the MI6 headquarters in London and other bold postmodern landmarks, has died at the age of 87. His studio confirmed the death in an Instagram post, expressing deep sadness on behalf of his family and colleagues.
Farrell was born in Sale, Cheshire, in 1938 and grew up in Newcastle upon Tyne. He studied architecture at Newcastle University before earning a master's degree in urban planning at the University of Pennsylvania. After a brief stint with the Greater London Council, he formed a partnership with Nicholas Grimshaw in 1965, collaborating on projects such as the Herman Miller Factory in Bath and the 125 Park Road residential building in London.
Farrell's most famous building is the MI6 headquarters in Vauxhall, a 'flesh-coloured ziggurat' that opened in 1994. Other notable works include Embankment Place, the Home Office headquarters, The Deep in Hull, and Alban Gate in the City of London. He also designed major projects in China, including Beijing railway station and the 442-metre KK100 tower in Shenzhen, the world's tallest building by a British architect.
Farrell was known for his commitment to urbanism and conservation. He invested £1m of his own money in the Farrell Centre at Newcastle University, which opened when he was 84 and includes a gallery and 'urban room' for public engagement. He once said, 'Conservation is a mind thing rather than a designation.'
