Te Kāhui Whaihanga New Zealand Institute of Architects is saddened to hear of the passing of Sir Michael Fowler. Sir Michael died peacefully in Wellington. He was 92.
Sir Michael completed a Master of Architecture at the University of Auckland and started his career in 1954 at the London office of Ove Arup and Partner. In 1957 he returned to New Zealand where he worked in his own practice: Calder, Fowler, Styles and Turner in Wellington. He was a Fellow of the Institute.
Wellington architect and Te Kāhui Whaihanga Gold Medallist Roger Walker ONZM, worked a summer with Sir Michael as an architecture student in 1966.
When he graduated from the University of Auckland there were no jobs in the city, so he called Sir Michael to see if there was any work at his practice, Calder, Fowler, Styles and Turner.
“He said ‘get your bum down here as soon as you can, we’re overloaded with work’.”
Roger was given independence over some of Wellington’s newest projects at the time, including the Wellington Club and a Customs and amenities facility where Te Papa now stands.
“He was a super mentor. I had no architecture experience other than the work for him over the summer. He just gave me whole jobs. I was in seventh heaven.”
One day Sir Michael took Roger to the top of their Lambton Quay offices where they met the buildings caretaker, who lived in a little house on top of the building. The caretaker regaled his city life and fast lift access down to the CBD.
“Michael turned to me and said, ‘more people should live like this’.”
“I would attribute the whole inner city living of Wellington City to him. Before it was a very grey civil servant sort of time. People would leave at 5pm and drive back to Johnsonville.”
Roger said people at the time were critical of the apartments and new buildings, and many claimed city-living would not last.
“He was a battler, and he had high energy,” Roger said.
Sir Michael was first elected to Wellington City Council in 1968, and was Mayor from 13 November 1974 – 26 October 1983. He is remembered for overseeing the rebuilding of the commercial heart of the city.
One of the notable buildings in the Capital is the Michael Fowler Centre, designed by Warren and Mahoney which opened in 1983. It was awarded an Enduring Architecture Award at the Wellington Architecture Awards in 2010 and the National Architecture Awards in 2011. The citation for this award acknowledged the building being, “An exemplar of New Zealand architecture of its time, the building is an excellently maintained facility of enduring quality.”
He was knighted in 1981 and retired from local politics in1983.
Te Kāhui Whaihanga will provide further details of Sir Michael’s funeral when they become available.