Sir Terry Farrell, the architect known for designing the MI6 headquarters in London and other postmodern landmarks, has died at the age of 87. His studio confirmed the news in an Instagram post, describing him as a 'nonconformist' who relished his maverick status.
Farrell was born in Sale, Cheshire, in 1938 and grew up in Newcastle upon Tyne. He studied architecture at Newcastle University and later earned a master's degree in urban planning at the University of Pennsylvania. After a brief stint at the Greater London Council, he formed a partnership with Nicholas Grimshaw in 1965, sharing a studio with the Archigram collective.
Among Farrell's most famous buildings are the TV-am studios in Camden, the MI6 building in Vauxhall, and The Deep in Hull. He also designed Embankment Place, the Home Office headquarters, and Alban Gate in London, as well as major projects in China, including Beijing railway station and the 442-metre KK100 tower in Shenzhen, the tallest building by a British architect.
Farrell was knighted for his services to architecture and urban planning. He invested £1m of his own money in the Farrell Centre at Newcastle University, which opened in 2023 and includes a gallery and 'urban room' for public engagement. He died at the age of 87, following the death of his former partner Nicholas Grimshaw earlier this month.
