Derek Wilson

Derek John Wilson (4 July 1922 – 10 June 2016) was a New Zealand architect. He was active in Wellington. He was also known as an environmentalist, and published several works.

For the American basketball player, see Derek Wilson (basketball). For the television actor, see Derek Wilson (actor).

Derek Wilson
Born
Derek John Wilson

(1922-07-04)4 July 1922
New Zealand
Died10 June 2016(2016-06-10) (aged 93)
Wellington, New Zealand
OccupationArchitect
Spouse(s)Diana June Townsend
Children3 sons
BuildingsCalvert House
Maunsell Beach House
Wilson House
Marine Research Facilities

Early life

Wilson grew up on a coastal sheep station owned by the Riddiford family at Tora, Wairarapa, where his father Clement Henry Wilson was the manager. His mother was Ida Agnes Wilson (née Clarkson). Wilson was the oldest of three children: his sister Joan and his brother Godfrey, who became an Anglican bishop.

He attended Wanganui Collegiate schools.

During World War Two, Wilson trained as a pilot in Florida for the Fleet Air Arm.

Architectural practice

Wilson trained as an architect at Auckland University College.

After graduating, Wilson left New Zealand and worked in London for Ramsey, Murray, White and Ward (the firm of two New Zealand ex-pats Keith Murray and Basil Ward), as well as for Sir Hugh Casson and the London County Council.

Returning to New Zealand, he settled in Masterton and then moved to Wellington to join forces with William Toomath to set up Toomath and Wilson. Toomath and Wilson were later joined by Don Irvine and Grahame Anderson in 1972, forming the firm Toomath Wilson Irvine Anderson Ltd.

Wilson's design for the Calvert House, in Stokes Valley, was awarded an NZIA Bronze medal. Other work of note includes the Maunsell beach-house[1] at Riversdale Beach, the Wilson house in Khandallah, St Matthew's Church in Brooklyn, Wellington, and his Marine Research Facilities at Wellington's Greta Point (now NIWA) (1980). All are well known as important works in Wellington's architectural history.

He was a member of the Wellington Architectural Centre, including as President (1963) and Committee Member (1961–62, 1964).

A recent book, "Four Architects", celebrates Wellington architecture and includes several of Wilson's designs.[2]

Environmental and peace advocacy

Wilson was also an active advocate for environmental and anti-nuclear issues, and published on both topics.

In 1984, Wilson became the founding co-ordinator of Architects Against Nuclear Arms and was also a member of the Pacific Institute of Resource Management and the National Consultative Committee on Disarmament and Abolition.

Perhaps his most significant published work in this area is a 2001 book titled "Five Holocausts".[3]

Personal life

Wilson married Diana June Townsend. They had three sons and six grandchildren. Wilson died in Wellington on 10 June 2016.[4]

gollark: I'll seize the means of production, for profit.
gollark: I WILL monetize communism.
gollark: Anyway, I would be excited to participate in your word market ~~and do high frequency trading~~ so notify me of progress and/or if you need help please.
gollark: ... rollbacking?
gollark: If you expect unquestioning obedience, stop doing that.

References
  1. Wilson, Derek John; Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "Riversdale beach house". Teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  2. "Book Review and Launch: 4 Architects - Architectural Centre - Wellington, New Zealand, architecture, design". Architecture.org.nz. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  3. "Oilcrash.com: Five Holocausts". Oilcrash.com. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  4. "Derek Wilson death notice". New Zealand Herald. 11 June 2016. Retrieved 10 June 2016.

Other sources
  • "Calvert house, Stokes Valley, Bronze Medal" NZIAJ (November 1969) v. 36, n.11, pp. 334–337.
  • "Calvert house, Stokes Valley, Merit Award" NZIAJ (May 1969), v. 36. n. 5, p. 151.
  • Clark, Justine and Paul Walker Looking for the Local (Wellington: Victoria University Press, 2000) pp. 37, 65, 71, 182-183.
  • Murphy, Lyn "Book recalls old Golden Mile" Evening Post (4 July 1989) p. 3.
  • Overcoming violence in Aotearoa New Zealand: a contribution to the World Council of Churches Decade to Overcome Violence 2001-2010 (Wellington, N.Z.: Philip Garside Pub., c2002)
  • Packer, Ann "The test of time" Dominion Post (25 Jan 2003) § F, p. 16.
  • Wilson, Derek A cry from the heart: people-centred sustainable development versus the unsustainable growth paradigm (Wellington, N.Z.: Pacific Institute of Resource Management, c1994)
  • Wilson, Derek Five holocausts (Wellington, N.Z.: Steele Roberts, c2001)
  • Wilson, Derek Neither confirm nor deny: an examination of the policy of neither confirming nor denying the presence of nuclear weapons on any military station, ship, vehicle or aircraft, or whether any ship is nuclear powered (Wellington, N.Z.: Pacific Institute of Resource Management, 1991)
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