JUROR 2011

Neil Porter was born in Surrey in 1958. He was awarded a first class degree at Newcastle University School of Architecture and then awarded a diploma with honors from the Architectural Association in London in 1983. Neil worked with Bernard Tschumi on the Parc de la Villette in Paris where he first met Kathryn Gustafson. He has also been a designer for leading London practices such as Terry Farrell Architects, Ian Ritchie Architects, Alsop, Lyall and Stormer and John Lyall Architects. In 1997 Neil established Gustafson Porter with Kathryn Gustafson and is responsible for design and management of the London office.

Completed Gustafson Porter projects include the restoration of the Dinosaur Park at Crystal Palace Park, the National Botanic Garden of Wales internal landscape and the Treasury Courtyards with Foster + Partners, the Westergasfabriek Culture Park in Amsterdam, the Swiss Cottage Open Space and the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain in Hyde Park. Other projects include the Garden of Forgiveness and the Shoreline Walk in Beirut, the Bay East Gardens in Singapore and the restoration of a Desert Park.

Over the last ten years, Neil has extended his interest in design and architecture to the field of landscape architecture and masterplanning. His design for the recently completed Old Market Square in Nottingham has been awarded the Lord Mayor’s Award for Urban Design. Neil was leader of the design team in the development of the structural landscape for the Barking Riverside residential development within the Thames flood plain. He is currently working on the design of a landscape masterplan for the restoration of a Desert Park which includes a visitor centre.

Neil has taught at the Architectural Association where he was a Unit Master from 1984–1987. He was a Member of the CABE Design Review Panel.