Ritchie, Ian

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Ritchie, Ian (1947– ). British architect. He gained international recognition with his National Museum of Science and Industry, La Villette, Paris (1982–5—with Rice), followed by the B8 building at the industrial park, Stockley, Hillingdon, London (1989–90), and the Cultural Centre, Albert, France (1989–91). He transformed the east gallery of the National History Museum, South Kensington, London (1990) in a manner that (to some) jarred with Water-house's calmly rational geometries and lighting. With von Gerkan, Marg, & Partner, he designed the huge Zentrale Glashalle for the Leipziger Messe, Germany (1994–8—which he himself has dubbed ‘the biggest glass palace in the world’), and the ‘Spike’ monument for O'Connell Street, Dublin (1999–2001), which seems a less substantial centrepiece than Wil-kins's Nelson Column (1808–9—blown up 1966). His Production Centre for the Theatre Royal, Plymouth, Devon, with its bronze-clad rehearsal-pods (2000–4), has been much admired.

Bibliography

Ritchie (1997);
Rocca (1998)