Quinlan Terry, a renowned architect who dedicated over 60 years to his craft, has recently retired from practice. His son, Francis Terry, credits his father for keeping traditional architecture's 'flame alive'. Terry's career began in his mid-20s working for Raymond Erith, and he later formed a partnership with Erith in 1962, establishing Erith & Terry. This collaboration led to the creation of a new house at Kings Waldenbury, Hertfordshire, for the Pilkington family in 1971.
However, it was the 1980s that marked Terry's rise to public prominence. Francis describes his father as 'something of an outsider [who had been] quietly honed his skills in near obscurity'. This changed when the then Prince of Wales delivered his infamous carbuncle speech in 1984, inadvertently promoting traditional architecture. Terry became the Prince's favorite architect, and classical architecture, once declared dead in the 1970s, emerged as a vital, growing, and celebrated part of contemporary design.
Terry's notable projects include the redevelopment of Richmond Riverside (1984-1987), a series of three new villas (1989) in London's Regent's Park based on Palladio's Villa Saraceno, and the Maitland Robinson Library at Downing College, Cambridge (1992). In 1994, Francis joined his father in practice, becoming a partner in 2004 and the formal partnership registration in 2007. However, the partnership ended in 2016, with Francis setting up his own studio.
Terry's contributions to classical architecture were recognized in 2015 when he was made a Commander of the British Empire. He continued as a director of Quinlan Terry Architects until his recent retirement. The company has since changed its name to Quinlan Terry Architecture. Terry's legacy is one of dedication to traditional architecture, and his influence on the field is undeniable, even as he steps away from active practice.
