Professor Ian Ritchie CBE
Professor Ian Ritchie CBE
Professor Ian Ritchie leads ritchie*studio, recognised as one of the world’s most thoughtful, innovative and influential architectural practices. His studio supports Ritchie-Net – A Eurasian network of ‘graduate’ practices, all of whom are led by former colleagues at ritchie*studio.
Ian co-founded Rice Francis Ritchie (aka RFR) in Paris in 1981, design engineers who created the professional design discipline of facade engineering while contributing to the Villette Cité des Sciences with the bioclimatic innovative structural glass facades. Other significant work in Paris includes the Louvre Pyramids and Sculpture Courts, L’Arche de La Défense, Opéra de La Bastille and terminal 2F and RER transport buildings at Roissy Airport. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RFR_Engineers).
Ian is a Fellow of the Society of Façade Engineering, Royal Society of Arts, Society of Industrial Artists and Designers, SHARE https://share-architects.com and Member of the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering, Scientists for Global Responsibility, and UCL Natural Sciences Club.
Ian is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, American Institute of Architects, Royal Academy of Music, Royal Academy of Engineering, and the Royal Scottish Academy.
Ian is currently advisor to Backstage Trust (performing arts), ambassador for Global Returns Project (climate charity), patron of Hawksmoor300, and formerly advisor to the IDBE Course Cambridge University (post-grad pan-disciplinary education), the Director Centre for Urban Science and Progress NYU (post-grad urban education), the President of Columbia University (Manhattanville Project), The Ove Arup Foundation (post-grad engineering education), The Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 (design R&D grants), governor and advisor RSC (design + construction), Lord Chancellor (estates policy), British, Natural History, and National Maritime museums (design- exhibition-space planning and R&D).
Ian has chaired international juries including the RIBA Stirling Prize, French Govt. Jeunes Albums, Czech Architecture Grand Prix, World Architecture Festival, the Berlin Art Prize, and co-chaired the RIAS Doolan Awards. Ian has been RIBA External Examiner at several UK + EU Universities.
Ian was nominated for the RIBA Gold Medal 2023 + 2024.
Ian is Royal Academician, member of the Akademie der Künste, visiting professor at Liverpool University, academic board member Milan Polytechnic, and formerly professor at TU Vienna and Leeds University of Civil Engineering and the Royal Academy of Arts. He was a Royal Fine Art Commissioner, founder member of CABE, and member of the EU and UK Govt. Construction Technology Panels and Steel Construction Institute. He has received several Honorary Doctorates from UK and EU universities.
His architectural and design realisations include monuments, bridges, theatres, music and sports venues, museums and exhibitions, glass structures, transport stations and infrastructure, landscape, university science buildings, offices, shopping centres, housing, private houses, urban developments and masterplanning https://www.ritchie.studio/, and R&D with UK and EU industries. https://www.ritchie.studio/profile/world-firsts/
Ian is also a published writer and poet, guest editor, and his art is held in several international galleries and museums including the UK Art Collection, Royal Collection Trust- Queen Elizabeth II, and the Royal Academy of Arts. https://www.ianritchieart.work/
Ian has contributed to more than a hundred books, published many research and technical papers, given tv, radio, and print press interviews, and given lectures worldwide on art, glass, metals, light, neuroscience and design, education, urbanism, engineering design and architecture.
