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Death of John Hopkins announced
The news was confirmed by colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania, where Hopkins was a visiting professor. He died of natural causes over the weekend at his home in West Philadelphia.
Hopkins, who was born in 1953, worked for the Olympic Delivery Authority from 2007 to 2011 and was instrumental in giving landscape a pivotal role in the games. This was recognised through the award of the Landscape Institute's Peter Youngman Award for an outstanding contribution to landscape.
Hopkins wrote, with Peter Neal, The Making of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park published last year. and was currently researching and writing another book The Global Garden - Ecological Economics, Planning and Design for the 21st Century.
He had worked in private practice, had taught extensively, and was an active member of the Landscape Institute.
A full appreciation will appear in due course.
Read an interview with John Hopkins.
See LDA Design's tribute.
- Posted by Joe Gardiner January 23, 2013
That is very sad news. When I started editing the Landscape Journal, John was incredibly generous with his time and knowledge. I visited him at his Cowcross St office and his passion for landscape architecture was infectious and inspiring. He’ll be missed, not only by friends and family, but by the profession as a whole.
- Posted by Avra Ploumi - Archer January 23, 2013
The landscape world is a poorer place today.
It is because of John’s vision that we all celebrated the success of the Olympic Park and its Legacy.
I only met him during the interviews of the LI Olympic Legacy videos and his passion for sustainable landscape architecture had a great impact on this landscape architect.
Along with his teachings and publications, he leaves an inspiring legacy for us all.
- Posted by Mick Timpson & Sue Manley January 23, 2013
This sad news. He was a thoughtful, sensitive and intelligent designer. The last of his kind. He will be missed.
- Posted by Howard BenTre January 23, 2013
John and I worked on the redesign of the Warrington Town Center. I as the Artist and John the MAN who helped make it happen. From design issues to ushering the town leaders and myself through the process.
Through 4 years of working together we became close friends. His knowledge, his passion and compassion were unsurpassed.John was to be married this June, he was happily in love and so his passing is even more of sadness for those of us who were close.
He will be missed by all who knew him and all he touched.
- Posted by Neil Blackmore January 24, 2013
Very sad to here this news. Only worked with/met John a small number of times but he inspired me in many ways - primarily his knowledge and skill in driving forward Landscape Architecture and I will also never forget the short guitar jam at one office party! He will be missed.
- Posted by Lionel Fanshawe January 24, 2013
This is indeed sad for the profession. I only met a few times(including being a co-juror on a couple of panels) with John but was always struck by his thoughtful nature and enjoyed his writings.
- Posted by Liz Lake January 24, 2013
This is indeed very sad news. John was a rare breed of landscape architect in that he moved between practice and academia with great ease. Such a sad loss for the profession but I am heartened that his outstanding legacy at the Olympic Park will live on. My sincere condolences to all those touched by his passing.
- Posted by Sheila Harvey January 24, 2013
Such sad news. John was a good friend and colleague, who will be a great loss to the profession to which he contributed so much. I hope that those closest to him will draw some comfort from his many achievements and the esteem in which he was held by all who knew him.
- Posted by Des Smith January 24, 2013
I had the great pleasure of meeting John on many occasions while working as head gardener at the Olympic Park during 2011 and 2012. A super bloke who enjoyed his work and what a great loss to the Landscape industry as a whole, I am shocked. Condolences to family and friends.
- Posted by David Keene January 24, 2013
I worked with John on the Speke Garston regeneration project in Liverpool in the mid nineties. His work is there for all to see - intelligent and robust. We spent many an hour in fascinating conversations on long and often delayed train journeys. He leaves a wonderful legacy. My condolences go to all his family.
- Posted by Francesco Belligerante January 24, 2013
Very sad!
I met him different time in UPenn and he was very friendly and very passionate when spoke about is idea of landscape.
I think he was very good landscaper but first of all was a very good good person!
We’ll miss him and the our condolences go to all his family.
RIP John…
- Posted by Nigel Dunnett January 25, 2013
Very sad news for the landscape world - without John the Olympic Park would have been the outstanding success that it was, and it is the most fitting legacy for such a generous and warm man
- Posted by Jeff Logsdon January 25, 2013
I am astonished and sad about this news. I have known John for ten years. We first met at an LI annual meeting. He was a warm and passionate advocate for Landscape Architecture and the profession’s prevailing issues. Our talks continued from the LI to the Olympic Site to thinking and collaborating on his way to the University of Pennsylvania. He wished for much more in his journey and ideas toward Landscape Architecture practice and education. He will be missed and what was to come will be missed. I loved his enthusiasm, ideas, and contributions to landscape practice and process. My sincere condolences to his friends and family.
- Posted by Alex Piddington - Bishop January 26, 2013
I am a Landscape Manager as opposed to Landscape Architect and having started the journey of reading the Making of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park it astonishing to hear of the sad loss. There is no doubt about it that the input from John Hopkins into the Olympic Park has made it one of the most dynamic and impressive Landscaped Urban Parks the UK and Europe has ever seen. The Park will be a further success in the future when open to the public, its down to innovative people like John Hopkins.
- Posted by Kenneth White January 28, 2013
Very Sad News- I feel I a can talk for all of the team at Frosts who had the pleasure of meeting John whilst working on the Olympic park. John was an inspirational man with a clear vision and love of landscaping. His loss will not only be felt by his friends and family but also by the landscape industry.
God Bless.
- Posted by John Pegg January 31, 2013
This is a tragic loss of a cornerstone of the professions future. Many of us have benefited directly and indirectly from John’s passion, knowledge, commitment and advocacy over decades. He will be missed.
- Posted by Rosemary Coyne February 01, 2013
I have just come back to the office from the launch of Birmingham Energy Savers to hear John’s obituary on Last Word on R4. The launch, about delivering the Green Deal in Birmingham and as part of that stimulating the green economy and helping those in fuel poverty, made strong mention of the environment. Speakers also mentioned the importance of champions, innovators and inspirational leaders. I didn’t know John, except by reputation and seeing him from afar, but am so sad for his family and friends and for the loss to landscape architecture at a time when champions, innovators and inspirational leaders are so needed. My best memory of the summer was spending a hot afternoon at the Paralympics, lying in the wildflower meadow, mesmerised by the colours and wondering where all the bees had come from.
- Posted by Amirtaher Shirani February 23, 2013
Very sad news
I saw him for first time on YouTube and contacted him. He replied me the day after and he was so nice answered my entire question.
I’m sorry for Landscape architects loss. He will be missed.
- Posted by jj March 26, 2013
- Posted by Penny Carter (née Boyes) April 16, 2013
Shockingly sad news.
As John’s right hand man (woman) on Green Infrastructure projects at LDA Design he was inspirational, calm, ambitious, single-minded and a big thinker. He liked the word ‘legacy’ and he can be sure that he has left a good one.
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Landscape Institute’s social network
Heard the sad news earlier today. I worked closely with John at LDA Design and then (at HED) on the Olympic Stadium, when John was at the ODA.
He was passionate about the social, environmental and economic benefits that good landscape architecture could bring - and he had that word “passionate” added to the sleeve of LDA Design’s tee-shirts when they “rebranded”. His passion could make him controversial, but landscape architecture was his calling not merely his career. I’ll miss his enthusiasm and energy for raising the debate.