The John Turner legacy

John F C Turner died this year at the age of 96 and it was clear from reaction to the news that he meant a great deal to a great many people in many parts of the world. Here are a few photos from my own interaction with this influential practitioner and thinker.

United Nations Habitat conference, 1976

Demonstration at the Habitat United Nations conference in Vancouver, Canada, 1976, to protest against the eviction of shanty town dwellers in the Philipines by the marcos regime. John Turner, second from the right, is holding up a banner saying ‘PROGRAMMED HOUSING – NO! SELF HELP HOUSING – YES!’ (ref 10483)

International Design Participation conference, 1985

John Turner speaking at the International Design Participation Conference, Eindhoven, April 22-24 1985 (refs. 21026, 21028)

 

Kensington Palace, 1985

John (left) arriving at Kensington Palace, London for a black tie dinner for architectural educators hosted by Prince Charles, 15 July 1985.

John (left) arriving at Kensington Palace for a black tie dinner for architectural educators hosted by Prince Charles, 15 July 1985.

Habitat Forum Berlin, 1 June 1987 tbc

Poundbury planning weekend, 1989

Team photo for the Poundbury planning weekend, Dorset, 15-19 June 1989. John is in the second row, third from left in navy shirt (ref S0420).
Outdoors workshop at the Poundbury planning weekend. John is far left in brown trousers (ref S0473).
John Turner at the Poundbury Planning Weekend, 1989 (ref S0475)

 

Hastings regeneration, 1990

Group photo of Hastings Trust staff and volunteers outside the Conservation Shop in the High Street, Hastings Old Town, 1990. John and his wife Beth are one third in from the left (ref S1079).

 

 

Some links to further info

Guardian obituary by Geoff Payne
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/sep/26/john-turner-obituary

From the JFCTurner archive
http://www.communityplanning.net/JohnFCTurnerArchive/index.php

Housing Agency, by Cassim Shepard, Places Journal, November 2023
https://placesjournal.org/article/housing-legacies-of-john-turner/
……..

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *