Page 16 - Abingdon News

Philip Johnson – Olympic Architect
A once-in-a-lifetime project is how architect Philip Johnson, OA 1990, described his job as
project architect for the Olympic Stadium, the centrepiece of this summer’s London Olympic
Games. The challenge was to deliver a stadium combining architectural vision with the
extremely demanding technical requirements of both the athletics and the ceremonies. The
design also had to be capable of being scaled down to suit a range of different capacities
and uses, as a lasting legacy, once the Games are over. From the admiring comments of
those who visited the Games the stadium worked extremely efficiently – as well as looking
good, so it’s not surprising that it is one of six buildings shortlisted for the RIBA Stirling Prize.
Philip, who described being at the Opening Ceremony as one of those evenings you will
never forget, is a graduate of UCL’s Bartlett School of Architecture and a Principal at the
global firm Populous. His past projects include the redevelopment of Ascot Racecourse and
he is currently working on a masterplan for the future of Lord’s cricket ground. n
Olympic Torch Bearers
There were at least three OAs among
the 8,000 people who carried the
Olympic flame on its seventy-day,
8,000-mile journey through the UK.
Matthew Hill, OA 1998, carried it
through Trewoon in Cornwall on 19
May. Matthew, co-founder of the
not-for-profit Mentors DEN CIC, which
helps disabled and disadvantaged
people set up in business, was
disabled himself following a spinal
injury in 2009. Rowing coach Rory
Copus, OA 2009, helped carry it
through Luton, Bedfordshire early
in the morning of 8 July and Peter
Fry, OA 1959, who has spent many
years raising funds for Action Medical
Research and SPARKS, carried it in
Chickerell, Dorset on 12 July. n
David Tanner –
GB Olympic Rowing
Team Leader
Naturally a cautious man, David Tanner,
OA 1966, British Rowing’s International
Manager and Performance Director
since 1996, predicted that Team GB
could win six rowing medals. His
expectation was exceeded when the
team won 4 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze.
Sixteen years ago the team would have
been pleased to reach an Olympic
final; in 2012 the team reached every
final and were the top Olympic rowing
nation. n
old abingdonians
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James Dibble – Designer
James Dibble, OA 1980, Design Director for the Qatar National Olympic
Committee House, was given ten days to transform the Institution of
Engineering and Technology at Savoy Place into the House of Qatar for
the duration of the Games. Each of the seventeen rooms was given
a lavish Arabic makeover to capture Qatari culture, heritage, sporting
achievements and its vision for the future.
Earlier in the month, Abingdon County Hall
Museum reopened following a £3 million refit.
James designed the attractive new display
case system, which perfectly meets the
challenges set by the space.
James read Interior Architecture at university
and set up his design consultancy Equal
Studio in 2008. Past design projects have
taken him all over the world, he’s pleased
now to be working closer to home. n
Abingdon News is the newsletter of the Abingdon Foundation, Park Road, Abingdon, Oxford OX14 1DE Tel: 01235 521563 www.abingdon.org.uk
Edited by Sarah Wearne Tel: 01235 849108 email: [email protected] Design by Deepfusion www.deepfusion.co.uk Tel: 01865 407610
Abingdon School: A company limited by guarantee Registered in England and Wales Company No. 3625063
Registered Office: Stratton House, Bath Street, Abingdon OX14 3LA Registered Charity No. 1071298
From Abingdon to Zanzibar – a history of Abingdon School over 450 years
Abingdon County Hall Museum 31 January – 21 April 2013
Afterword To complete our Olympic theme, Abingdon’s rowers featured –
albeit very briefly – about five minutes into the Olympic Opening Ceremony. Watch them at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/olympics/2012/live-video/p00wm0br