Ronald Lewcock is an architect, conservator and scholar.
Early history: Born in Australia and educated there and in South Africa, he was Visiting Fellow at Columbia University, 1963-4. He was an Official Fellow of Clare Hall, Cambridge until 1985 (and is now a Life-Member), a member of the faculty of the University of Cambridge from 1971 to 1984, and Research Officer in Islamic Arts and Architecture in the University's Middle East Center from 1974 to 1984. From 1977 to 1984 he directed a design studio on architecture in the developing world at the Architectural Association, London.
Lewcock was Aga Khan Professor of Architecture at MIT, 1984-91, and Chairman of the Aga Khan Program at Harvard and MIT 1985-7; Fellow of Clare Hall, Cambridge University, 1970-85; in 1991 he moved from MIT to become Professor of the Doctoral Program in Architecture at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. In 1999 he was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Architecture degree by the University of Natal. In 2007 he was created an Honorary Professor of the University of Queensland. In 2014, he was presented with the Geoffrey Bawa Trust Lifetime Achievement Award.
Dr Lewcock was a consultant in conservation to UNESCO from 1978 onwards, and Technical Coordinator of two UNESCO International Campaigns from 1982 to 1990 (those of Sana'a' and Shibam in Yemen), as well as of the UN Campaign for Cultural Tourism and the Revival of Heritage in Uzbekistan, 1991-97, a UN/UNESCO joint project for the consolidation of conservation and urban rehabilitation in Uzbekistan.
He is the author and joint author of eight books over a hundred articles, and contributor to the major architecture, art and cultural encyclopedias published since 1970.
Dr Lewcock specializes in a number of fields. He is a historian and theorist in European architecture and urbanism. His doctoral and post-doctoral studies were in European colonial architecture and urbanism from the sixteenth to the twentieth centuries, in the West Indies, Africa and Asia, with particular emphasis on cultural interactions. The latter led him to the study of Asian and African indigenous architecture, especially to that dominating the main areas of European colonial trade - Islamic - but also including Hindu and Buddhist architectures.
He has researched and published in the area of architectural science, especially in climatic control in tropical and subtropical countries, and in acoustics, the acoustics of music and acoustical designing in architecture.
Dr. Lewcock has also been extensively involved in restoration and conservation work primarily in Africa and the Middle East. Among his commissions were the joint UNESCO/Egyptian government project to restore the monuments in the historic northern part of central Cairo, and a World Bank project for the urban rehabilitation of the same area.In 1997 Professor Lewcock was an organizer of an International Conference to consider the proposals of the project, held in Bukhara. In addition he has been advisor to the World Bank on other projects, including earthquake rehabilitation in Yemen.
Dr Lewcock was joint-editor and major contributor to two publications of comprehensive studies: the first on the capital city of North Yemen - Sana'a' and the second on traditional architecture in Sri Lanka. He is also part-author of Architecture of the Islamic World edited by G. Michell. He is currently the editor and part-author of Architecture in the Non-Western World - Asia and Africa.
He has published a number of books alone and sub-edited and made contributions to a number of international encyclopaedias and works of reference. In the former category are The Early Nineteenth Century Architecture of South Africa, a Study of the Interaction of Two Cultures, Traditional Architecture in Kuwait and the Northern Gulf, Wadi Hadramawt and the Walled City of Shibam, and The Old Walled City of San'a. Lecture courses developed at the Architectural Association and M.I.T. resulted in a commission from the publishers Norton for the editing of a book on traditional architectures in Asia and Africa, due to be published in 2015.
| DEGREES
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1999
1970
1961
1951
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Hon. D.Arch. University of Natal
M.A. Cantab
Ph.D. University of Cape Town
B.Arch. University of Cape Town
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TEACHING AND
ADMINISTRATION |
2007- |
Honorary Professor in Architecture at the University of Queensland |
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1991-07 |
Professor: Georgia Institute of Technology, College of Architecture, Depts. Ph.D and Architecture
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1993-5 |
MIT Dept.Arch. Annual visiting lecturer |
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1996 |
Queensland University of Technology, Visiting Professor
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1991-93 |
M.I.T.; Dept. Arch.; Aga Khan Visiting Professor in the Advanced Studies Program
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1990 |
University of Arizona; Dept. Arch.; Visiting Professor of Architecture
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1985-7 |
Chairman of the Joint Aga Khan Program at Harvard and MIT
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1984-91 |
M.I.T. Aga Khan Professor of Architecture |
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1984-91 |
M.I.T. Director of Design in Islamic Societies unit of the S.M.Arch.S. program.1984-91
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1984 |
Visiting Professor at the Depts. of Architecture of the Universities of Louvaine and Harvard |
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1979-84 |
Georgia Institute of Technology: Visiting Professor of Architecture Winter Quarter |
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1973-78 |
Royal University of Malta: Visiting Professor and Examiner |
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1972-85 |
Cambridge University, Clare Hall: Official and Foundation Fellow
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1972-84 |
Cambridge University, Dept. of Architecture.: Part-time Lecturer and Studio Master
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1972-84 |
Cambridge University, Faculty of Oriental Studies: Lecturer in Islamic Architecture |
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1972-83 |
Cambridge University, Faculty of Music: Lecturer in Acoustics |
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1971-82 |
Architectural Association, London; Lecturer and (from 1977) Design Unit Leader
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1970-84 |
Cambridge University, Clare Hall: Whitehead Research Fellow |
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1957-70 |
University of Natal, Dept. of Architecture; Senior Lecturer and Studio Master |
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1963-64 |
Columbia University, New York: Visiting Fellow |
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1952-56 |
University of Natal; Dept. of Architecture.; Lecturer and Studio Master |
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Examiner for Ph,D. candidates in many universities |
| MEMBERSHIPS |
Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects, 1952-
Member of Advisory Council of Aga Khan Trust for Culture, controlling the Award for Architecture, the Old Cities Program and the Aga Khan Program in Architecture at Harvard and Massachusetts Institute of Technology 1989 - 1999
Foundation Fellow of Clare Hall, University of Cambridge 1970-85
Life Associate of Clare Hall, University of Cambridge, 1985-
Member of Council of the British School of Archaeology in Jerusalem in the British Academy 1976-93
Member of the Institute of History and Archaology in East Africa 1981-93
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ACADEMIC AND
PROFESSIONAL
HONOURS |
2008 onwards | Professor Emeritus, Georgia Institute of Technology |
| 2007 onwards | Honorary Professor in Architecture. University of Queensland |
| 1999 | Honorary Doctorate of Architecture. University of Natal |
| 1998 | Presidential Award, Republic of Yemen |
| 1995 | Distinguished Professor Award, College of Architecture, Georgia Institute of Technology |
| 1986 onwards | Life Member, Clare Hall, Cambridge |
| 1973-1976 | Research Fellow in the Faculty of Oriental Studies, Cambridge University |
| 1972-1986 | Official and Foundation Fellow of Clare Hall, Cambridge University |
| 1970-1972 | Whitehead Fellowship at Clare Hall, Cambridge University |
| 1963-1964 | Eliza Howard Fellowship at Columbia University, New York |
| 1951 | University of Cape Town Festival Emblem Prize |
| 1951 | Cape Institute of Architects Graduation Award |
| PROFESSIONAL |
2005-2008 | Member of the Committee of International Experts advising the Director General of UNESCO on the conservation of the old city of Jerusalem |
| 1997-onwards | Advisor to the Government of Yemen on the conservation of its architectural and urban heritage |
| 2001 | Design of Exhibition and Gallery for 101 EXPERIENCE Galle Face, Colombo Sri Lanka |
| 1998 | Juror of the $25,000 Kenneth Brown Award for Asia/Pacific Architectural Design |
| 1997 | Assessor of the South African Institute of Architecture Biennial Awards |
| 1994-9 | Design of Extensions to House 14 Anderson Road, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| 1993-97 | Coordinator of the UN/UNESCO Campaign for the Conservation and Rehabilitation of the Cultural Heritage of Uzbekistan |
| 1990-1993 | Member of Steering Committee of the Aga Khan Awards for Architecture |
| 1982-90 | UNESCO Technical Coordinator of the 2 International Campaigns for the Conservation of historic city centres and buildings in South Arabia |
| 1987 | Member of Al-Ain University Competition MasterJury |
| 1985-92 | Consultant on the conservation of the Baltit Fort, Pakistan |
| 1982-87 | UNESCO Consultant on the conservation of the architectural heritage of Bahrain |
| 1978-86 | UNESCO Consultant on the conservation of the historic city of Cairo |
| 1986 | Member of Master Jury for Aga Khan Awards |
| 1985 | Design of Office Building, 34 Greenpath (not executed), and of Extensions to a House 14 Anderson Road, Colombo, Sri Lanka |
| 1983 | Assessor for Aga Khan Awards Master Jury |
| 1983 | World Bank Consultant on earthquake reconstruction in Yemen |
| 1982 | Head of the Aga Khan Award Mission on Conservation in China |
| 1982 | World Bank Consultant on the conservation of the Gamaliyya district of Cairo |
| 1976-84 | Advisor to the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman on the conservation of their architectural heritage |
| 1978-82 | Conservator of the Haddah Fort, Dubai for the Emir of Dubai |
| 1973-82 | Conservator of Bayt a-Razzaz, Cairo for the American Centre for Research in Cairo |
| 1970-84 | In private practice in Cambridge, England, with various partners. Designed houses, alterations, projects for college expansions/new buildings and for the Univ. Museum. Designed houses in New Hampton and Vermont. in the US |
| 1952-70 | In private practice with partners in Durban, East London and Grahamstown, South Africa. Built work ranged from domestic to theatres, churches, a Hindu temple, a mosque, museums, university lecture rooms and the University medical school |
Submitted by William MARTINSON
In 1966 he was a signatory to the broadsheet, CREDO
R.B. Lewcock wrote the forward in Architecture in Natal from 1824 1893 by Brian Kearmey.
For a list of publications by Ronald Lewcock see WorldCat.
Ronald Lewcock died on 13 August at his home in Sri Lanka after a long illness. List of projects With photographs
 With notes
Books by LEWCOCK Lewcock, Ronald. 1963. Early Nineteenth Century Architecture in South Africa : a study of the interaction of two cultures, 1795-1837. Cape Town: AA Balkema
| Reynolds, Rex and Reynolds, Barbara & Lewcock, Ronald [Foreword]. 1974. Grahamstown from cottage to villa. Claremont: David Philip
| Lewcock, Ronald, Prof Serjeant, RB & ed. Kirkman, James. 1976. City of San'a' : Nomad and city exhibition : Museum of Mankind, Department of Ethnography of the British Museum, World of Islam Festival 1976. London: World of Islam Festival Pub. Co.
| Lewcock, Ronald. 1978. Traditional architecture in Kuwait and the northern Gulf. London: Art and Archaeology Research Papers
| Serjeant, RB & Lewcock, Ronald. 1983. San'a' : an Arabian Islamic city. London: World of Islam Festival Trust - Scorpion Press
| Lewcock, Ronald. 1986. The old walled city of San'a'. Paris: Unesco
| Lewcock, Ronald. 1986. Wadi Hadramawt and the Walled City of Shibam. Paris: Unesco
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Books citing LEWCOCK Bakker, Karel A, Clarke, Nicholas J. 2014. Eclectic ZA Wilhelmiens : A shared Dutch built heritage in South Africa. Pretoria: Visual Books. pp 2
| Morgan, Ann Lee & Naylor, Colin. 1987 [1980]. Contemporary Architects. Chicago and London: St. James Press. pp 1036
| Oliver, Paul (Editor). 1971. Shelter in Africa. London: Barrie & Jenkins. pp 240
| Parker, Howard. 2015. John Parker, 1866-1921 : architect and mayor of Cape Town. Wellington, New Zealand: Howard Parker. pp vi
| Placzek, Adolf K (Editor in Chief). 1982. Macmillan encyclopedia of architects (Volume 1 of 4). New York: The Free Press. pp lvii
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Entries in books by LEWCOCK Lewcock, Ronald . British influence on South African architecture. In The Preservation and restoration of historic buildings in South Africa. 1968. AA Balkema
| Lewcock, Ronald. Signal Towers. In Standard Encyclopaedia of South Africa [SESA] Volume 9 Pop-Sla. 1973. Nasou
| Lewcock, Ronald. Sidbury Park. In Standard Encyclopaedia of South Africa [SESA] Volume 9 Pop-Sla. 1973. Nasou
| Lewcock, Ronald. Barville Park. In Standard Encyclopaedia of South Africa [SESA] Volume 2 Bad-Cal. 1970. Nasou
| Lewcock, Ronald. Chinese craftsmen. In Standard Encyclopaedia of South Africa [SESA] Volume 3 Cal-Dev. 1971. Nasou
| Lewcock, Ronald. Cuyler Manor. In Standard Encyclopaedia of South Africa [SESA] Volume 3 Cal-Dev. 1971. Nasou
| Lewcock, Ronald. Customs House. In Standard Encyclopaedia of South Africa [SESA] Volume 3 Cal-Dev. 1971. Nasou
| Lewcock, Ronald. Fan-lights. In Standard Encyclopaedia of South Africa [SESA] Volume 4 Dev-For. 1971. Nasou
| Lewcock, Ronald. Fort England. In Standard Encyclopaedia of South Africa [SESA] Volume 4 Dev-For. 1971. Nasou
| Lewcock, Ronald. Fort Frederick. In Standard Encyclopaedia of South Africa [SESA] Volume 4 Dev-For. 1971. Nasou
| Lewcock, EBF [sic, RB?]. MELVILL, John. In Standard Encyclopaedia of South Africa [SESA] Volume 7 Lit-Mus. 1972. Nasou
| Lewcock, Ronald. GRAHAMSTOWN (4) Jail. In Standard Encyclopaedia of South Africa [SESA] Volume 5 For-Hun. 1972. Nasou
| Lewcock, Ronald. FOX, Revel Albert Ellis. In Contemporary Architects. 1987 [1980]. St. James Press
| Lewcock, Ronald B. Foreword. In Architecture in Natal from 1824-1893. 1973. Balkema
| Lewcock, Ronald B [assumed]. THARFIELD. In Standard Encyclopaedia of South Africa [SESA] Volume 10 Sle-Tun. 1974. Nasou
| Lewcock, Ronald. Zanj, the east African coast. In Shelter in Africa. 1971. Barrie & Jenkins
| Lewcock, Ronald. South African architecture in this century. In Architecture 2000 : a review of South African architecture. 2000. Picasso Headline
| Lewcock, Ronald . FOX, Revel (Albert Ellis). In Contemporary architects. 1980. Macmillan
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