Remembering Colin Fournier (1944-2024)

The late Professor Colin Fournier served as the Ong Siew May (OSM) Professor from 15 January to 30 April 2018. During his tenure, he led a special Year 4 studio and delivered a public lecture, leaving a lasting impact on our students and faculty.

As a panelist at the Department’s 3rd Design Educator Forum, “Designing Design Education: Seeding Thoughts,” he generously shared his insights, helping us explore the frontiers, challenges, and opportunities in shaping the future of design education. Our Department’s association with Professor Fournier was long-standing, grounded in our shared belief in the importance of design and the pivotal role of design teaching in achieving academic excellence. From 2012 to 2015, he served as an external examiner for both our undergraduate and graduate programs, providing valuable guidance and feedback. His advocacy continued during professional accreditation discussions with the RIBA Visitation Board, where he was a strong supporter of our programs. He also served as an external member on the Department’s Search Committee, helping to appoint distinguished design educators.

Those who had the privilege of working with Colin will remember him as an esteemed colleague and an influential design educator. His feedback, whether complimentary or critical, was always sincere and constructive. Above all, he was a true gentleman, whose smile, enthusiasm, and joy for teaching were infectious.

We are deeply saddened by his passing and extend our heartfelt condolences to his family.

Colin Fournier, born in 1944, was educated at the Architectural Association in London. He is Emeritus Professor of Architecture and Urbanism at the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London (UCL), where he was Director of the Master of Architecture course in Urban Design as well as Director of Diploma Unit 18.

 He was an associate of Archigram Architects in London and Planning Director of the Ralph M. Parsons Company in Pasadena, California, USA, responsible for Urban Design projects in the Middle East, in particular the new town of Yanbu in Saudi Arabia. He was Bernard Tschumi’s partner on the Parc de la Villette project in Paris and co-author, with Peter Cook, of the Graz Kunsthaus, a museum of contemporary art in Austria. His “Open Cinema” project was realised in Guimarães, Portugal (2012), in Lisbon (2013) and in Hong Kong (2016). He was Chief Curator of the 2013-2014 Urbanism and Architecture Bi-city Biennale for Hong Kong and Shenzhen (UABB*HK), responsible for the Hong Kong part of the Biennale. He is chairman of Tetra X, an architectural and urban design practice based in Hong Kong.