Paul Finch's Letter from London Peter Melvin led a life in architecture

摘要

The architect Peter Melvin, who died last week, was a representative of a generation of British professionals who could truly be said to have experienced and influenced architecture in the round. Born in 1933 and brought up in Harrow, he attended that classless educator of generations of London children, Marylebone Grammar School, before studying architecture at Regent Street Polytechnic. His introduction to architecture came via teachers including James Stirling, Douglas Stephen and Bill Howell. As a student he worked in the office of Freddie Gibberd on the early Heathrow development, and helped supplement his income by playing jazz piano -on one occasion having to take refuge under a table when a gang fight broke out in a club in Manor House.