Gordon Stephenson (6 June 1908 – 30 March 1997) was a British-born town planner and architect. He is best known for his role in shaping the modern growth and development of Perth, Western Australia.
In 1953, he was commissioned by the state government of Western Australia to produce a plan for the metropolitan area of Perth and Fremantle.[1] The resulting 1955 Plan for the Metropolitan Region was co-authored with Alistair Hepburn, and is commonly known as the "Stephenson-Hepburn Report". It included an atlas of maps which laid down a broad pattern of future land uses including highways and open space, and catered for significant additional population growth.[3]
The report formed the basis for the 1963 Metropolitan Region Scheme for Perth and Fremantle, a legal instrument for regulating land-use and development in the urban area[4] It remained the overarching strategic plan for the development of Perth until it was succeeded by the Corridor Plan for Perth in 1970.[3]
Later career
In 1953 he returned to the UK to take up the Chair of Civic Design at the University of Liverpool and, following his work in Perth, he was employed variously as a consultant planner and academic in New Zealand, Canada, and America. In Halifax, Canada, he is known for his 1957 plan to redevelop the entire downtown core as well as the forceful eviction of Africville, a historically black neighborhood. He subsequently returned to Perth and continued to play an important role in its development, amongst other things crafting plans for Joondalup and Midland regional centres, and for the campus of Murdoch University.[5]
In later life, he authored several books. He died on 30 March 1997.[6]
Personal life and collaboration with Flora Crockett
In 1938, Stephenson married New Jersey-born Flora Bartlett Crockett (1914-1979). She had been one of the first two women to graduate in City Planning from MIT, in 1937. The two collaborated on published work and research thereafter. Gerald Dix writes of Crockett: "She was an immense support and a sound professional collaborator upon whose judgement her relied in much of his work for 40 years. It was a great blow to him when she died in 1979."[7] The Stephensons had three daughters: Gail, Sarah and Ann.[8]
Legacy
Following his death in 1997, the Western Australian Minister for Planning acknowledged Stephenson's contributions to the development of the state, and his vision as providing the blueprint for the growth of the metropolitan region since 1963.[9]
On 28 August 2011, the WA State Government announced that the recently completed building informally known as one40william would be renamed Gordon Stephenson House.[10]
The Planning Department at the University of Liverpool is located in the Gordon Stephenson Building.
Works
Reports
Plan for the metropolitan region: Perth and Fremantle (1955)
The design of central Perth; some problems and possible solutions : a study made for the Perth Central Area Design Co-ordinating Committee (1975).
Joondalup regional centre : a plan prepared for the government of Western Australia, the Wanneroo Shire Council and the MRPA (1977).[11]
Midland Regional Centre: A plan prepared for the government of Western Australia, the Swan Shire Council and the MRPA (1977).
Plan for the shire of Swan: prepared for the Swan Shire Council (1978).
Books
On a Human Scale - A Life in City Design. Fremantle Arts centre Press. 1992.
References
^ abMurdoch University: Honorary Degree Citation, Emeritus Professor Gordon Stephenson, CBE
^Ford, B: "The Cambridge cultural history of Britain", page 153. Cambridge University Press, 1992.
^ ab(PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 1 September 2011.
^www.wapc.wa.gov.au(PDF) . Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 July 2008. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
^Gerald Dix, 'The compassionate planner: An appreciation of the life and work of Gordon Stephenson' The Town Planning Review Vol. 68, No. 3 (July 1997), pp. iii-xiv
^"Legislative Assembly for Tuesday, 8 April 1997 (Hansard)" (PDF). Parliament of Western Australia. 8 April 1997. (PDF) from the original on 12 June 2020.
^"New State Government major office complex named after eminent WA architect". 28 August 2011. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
^"Gordon Stephenson CBE. 1908-1997". from the original on 21 March 2018.
January 07, 2023
gordon, stephenson, june, 1908, march, 1997, british, born, town, planner, architect, best, known, role, shaping, modern, growth, development, perth, western, australia, born6, june, 1908diedmarch, 1997, 1997, aged, claremont, western, australianationalitybrit. Gordon Stephenson 6 June 1908 30 March 1997 was a British born town planner and architect He is best known for his role in shaping the modern growth and development of Perth Western Australia Gordon StephensonBorn6 June 1908DiedMarch 29 1997 1997 03 29 aged 88 Claremont Western AustraliaNationalityBritishOccupation s Town plannerArchitect Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early career 1 2 Later career 1 3 Personal life and collaboration with Flora Crockett 1 4 Legacy 2 Works 2 1 Reports 2 2 Books 3 ReferencesBiography EditGordon Stephenson was born in 1908 He studied architecture at the University of Liverpool graduating in 1930 Early career Edit His early career included working with Patrick Abercrombie on the Greater London Plan 1 Along with Peter Shepheard he created an influential 2 design for Stevenage the first post war British new town which incorporated a pedestrianised town centre In 1953 he was commissioned by the state government of Western Australia to produce a plan for the metropolitan area of Perth and Fremantle 1 The resulting 1955 Plan for the Metropolitan Region was co authored with Alistair Hepburn and is commonly known as the Stephenson Hepburn Report It included an atlas of maps which laid down a broad pattern of future land uses including highways and open space and catered for significant additional population growth 3 The report formed the basis for the 1963 Metropolitan Region Scheme for Perth and Fremantle a legal instrument for regulating land use and development in the urban area 4 It remained the overarching strategic plan for the development of Perth until it was succeeded by the Corridor Plan for Perth in 1970 3 Later career Edit In 1953 he returned to the UK to take up the Chair of Civic Design at the University of Liverpool and following his work in Perth he was employed variously as a consultant planner and academic in New Zealand Canada and America In Halifax Canada he is known for his 1957 plan to redevelop the entire downtown core as well as the forceful eviction of Africville a historically black neighborhood He subsequently returned to Perth and continued to play an important role in its development amongst other things crafting plans for Joondalup and Midland regional centres and for the campus of Murdoch University 5 In later life he authored several books He died on 30 March 1997 6 Personal life and collaboration with Flora Crockett Edit In 1938 Stephenson married New Jersey born Flora Bartlett Crockett 1914 1979 She had been one of the first two women to graduate in City Planning from MIT in 1937 The two collaborated on published work and research thereafter Gerald Dix writes of Crockett She was an immense support and a sound professional collaborator upon whose judgement her relied in much of his work for 40 years It was a great blow to him when she died in 1979 7 The Stephensons had three daughters Gail Sarah and Ann 8 Legacy Edit Following his death in 1997 the Western Australian Minister for Planning acknowledged Stephenson s contributions to the development of the state and his vision as providing the blueprint for the growth of the metropolitan region since 1963 9 On 28 August 2011 the WA State Government announced that the recently completed building informally known as one40william would be renamed Gordon Stephenson House 10 The Planning Department at the University of Liverpool is located in the Gordon Stephenson Building Works EditReports Edit Plan for the metropolitan region Perth and Fremantle 1955 The design of central Perth some problems and possible solutions a study made for the Perth Central Area Design Co ordinating Committee 1975 Joondalup regional centre a plan prepared for the government of Western Australia the Wanneroo Shire Council and the MRPA 1977 11 Midland Regional Centre A plan prepared for the government of Western Australia the Swan Shire Council and the MRPA 1977 Plan for the shire of Swan prepared for the Swan Shire Council 1978 Books Edit On a Human Scale A Life in City Design Fremantle Arts centre Press 1992 References Edit a b Murdoch University Honorary Degree Citation Emeritus Professor Gordon Stephenson CBE Ford B The Cambridge cultural history of Britain page 153 Cambridge University Press 1992 a b Guiding Perth s Growth A Regional Perspective PDF Archived from the original PDF on 22 March 2012 Retrieved 1 September 2011 www wapc wa gov au PDF https web archive org web 20080725070608 http www wapc wa gov au Coast Perth coastal planning strategy BP4 20Urban 20Development pdf id 1109 Archived from the original PDF on 25 July 2008 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Missing or empty title help Gordon Stephenson https catalogue data wa gov au dataset 2f8c1a74 8b10 4b58 b3bf be339fb0fd09 resource 9d2da0c6 e3f6 4f34 94b7 81fe7ac34acd download indexed obituaries xlsx bare URL spreadsheet file Gerald Dix The compassionate planner An appreciation of the life and work of Gordon Stephenson The Town Planning Review Vol 68 No 3 July 1997 pp iii xiv Christine Garnaut Flora Crockett Stephenson 1914 1979 Forty Years of Collaborations in Planning 15th IPHS Conference http www usp br fau iphs abstractsAndPapersFiles SS RF02 GARNAUT pdf Legislative Assembly for Tuesday 8 April 1997 Hansard PDF Parliament of Western Australia 8 April 1997 Archived PDF from the original on 12 June 2020 New State Government major office complex named after eminent WA architect 28 August 2011 Retrieved 3 December 2018 Gordon Stephenson CBE 1908 1997 Archived from the original on 21 March 2018 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Gordon Stephenson amp oldid 1128578697, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
