Ricky Burdett
Biographical interview
SUMMARY
In this interview, Ricky Burdett discussed his role in reshaping London’s architectural culture during the 1980s and early 1990s, when modern architecture in Britain was often regarded as a foreign import. Originally founded as a magazine by Wilfried Wang, 9H became a gallery in 1985 under Burdett’s direction, with support from David Chipperfield.
The gallery connected European architectural currents with emerging London practices, fostering dialogue and visibility for figures including Chipperfield, Caruso St John, Sergison Bates, and 6a. This network continued through Papers in Architecture, while 9H evolved into the Architecture Foundation, which Burdett founded in 1991 as a platform for young practices.
Drawing on his work with Bill Hillier and his interest in spatial and social questions, Burdett used the Architecture Foundation to advance discussions about London’s urban identity and later its urban renaissance. His subsequent work at the London School of Economics and the Venice Biennale broadened this focus toward cities and globalization, while 9H and the Architecture Foundation left a lasting mark on British architectural culture.
The gallery connected European architectural currents with emerging London practices, fostering dialogue and visibility for figures including Chipperfield, Caruso St John, Sergison Bates, and 6a. This network continued through Papers in Architecture, while 9H evolved into the Architecture Foundation, which Burdett founded in 1991 as a platform for young practices.
Drawing on his work with Bill Hillier and his interest in spatial and social questions, Burdett used the Architecture Foundation to advance discussions about London’s urban identity and later its urban renaissance. His subsequent work at the London School of Economics and the Venice Biennale broadened this focus toward cities and globalization, while 9H and the Architecture Foundation left a lasting mark on British architectural culture.
BIOGRAPHY
Ricky Burdett is Professor of Urban Studies at LSE and Director of LSE Cities, a global centre of research and teaching at LSE which received the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education 2016-18. At LSE he teaches in the Executive MSc in Cities and other courses and co-directs the Urban Age programme.
Burdett is a member of the Mayor of London’s Cultural Leadership Board, former Council Member of the Royal College of Art and a Trustee of the Norman Foster Foundation. He was Director of the Venice International Architecture Biennale and Curator of the Global Cities Exhibition Tate Modern in London. He was a member of the UK Government Airport Commission (2012-2015) and a member of UK Government’s Urban Task Force. In 2014, Burdett was a Visiting Professor in Urban Planning and Design at the Graduate School of Design, Harvard University and Global Distinguished Professor at New York University (2010-2014).
Alongside his academic activities, Burdett acts as a consultant to national and city governments, private companies and philanthropic agencies. He was Chief Adviser on Architecture and Urbanism for the 2012 London Olympics and Adviser on Architecture and Urbanism, Mayor of London (2001-2006).
He is co-editor of ‘Shaping Cities in an Urban Age’ (2018), ‘The SAGE Handbook of the 21st Century’ (2017), ‘Living in the Endless City’ (2011) and ‘The Endless City’ (2007). Burdett was appointed CBE in the 2017 New Year’s Honours list for services to urban design and planning and awarded an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal College of Art in 2019
Burdett is a member of the Mayor of London’s Cultural Leadership Board, former Council Member of the Royal College of Art and a Trustee of the Norman Foster Foundation. He was Director of the Venice International Architecture Biennale and Curator of the Global Cities Exhibition Tate Modern in London. He was a member of the UK Government Airport Commission (2012-2015) and a member of UK Government’s Urban Task Force. In 2014, Burdett was a Visiting Professor in Urban Planning and Design at the Graduate School of Design, Harvard University and Global Distinguished Professor at New York University (2010-2014).
Alongside his academic activities, Burdett acts as a consultant to national and city governments, private companies and philanthropic agencies. He was Chief Adviser on Architecture and Urbanism for the 2012 London Olympics and Adviser on Architecture and Urbanism, Mayor of London (2001-2006).
He is co-editor of ‘Shaping Cities in an Urban Age’ (2018), ‘The SAGE Handbook of the 21st Century’ (2017), ‘Living in the Endless City’ (2011) and ‘The Endless City’ (2007). Burdett was appointed CBE in the 2017 New Year’s Honours list for services to urban design and planning and awarded an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal College of Art in 2019
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