Happy Birthday John Thompson!
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Happy Birthday John Thompson!

Published on 7 February 2020

Today is our Founder Chairman, John Thompson’s, 76th birthday. To commemorate his remarkable career, we have created this retrospective, which celebrates John’s devotion to improving the quality of everyday life in neighbourhoods across the UK and in Europe.

“
Wherever he has worked, he has left a lasting legacy, not in the form of trophy architecture, but in sustainable plans for the future, in new systems of local decision making and in new civic pride.
Gordon Somerville, former Head of Planning, Scarborough Borough Council

Trained as an architect at Cambridge University during the 1960s, John rejected the prevailing view of the architect as heroic ‘form-maker’ early in his career, and pursued instead an altruistic agenda, working directly with local people to create places that encourage social interaction and help nurture a strong sense of community.

To achieve his goal, John worked tirelessly, developing new ideas and pioneering innovative approaches to placemaking that have challenged professional beliefs and self-serving development practices.

He has left JTP with a legacy and a set of values that will be fostered throughout our work, projects and lives, in perpetuity.

Happy Birthday John.


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Creating Great Places - (click to view)



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John Thompson, Creating Great Places