Obituary: Ian Dickson | Architecture Now

Ian Dickson — identified to all as Dickie — spent 50 years at Athfield Architects in Wellington, becoming a member of Ian Athfield solely six months after he established the observe. Dickson was one of many first to be promoted to the function of firm director, and each delivered and led quite a few initiatives till his retirement in 2019. He’s remembered with deep respect by those that labored with him, recognising his extraordinary data and ability, his steadfast presence within the workplace and his calmness, even in turbulent occasions. His loyalty to Athfield was absolute. In flip, his work was essential to the success of the observe.

Dickson was born in Edinburgh. He had his first 5 years in Leith earlier than the household of 4 — with dad and mom Robert and Helen, and sister Maureen — moved to New Zealand. Robert labored as a printer on the Ford Motor Firm in Seaview. The household made its dwelling in Wainuiomata, the place the youngsters attended the native main faculty via to Commonplace 6 (the equal of at this time’s Yr 8) after which Wainuiomata Faculty.

Round 1965, Dickson began his profession as a draughting cadet at Structon Group Architects, attending Wellington Polytech on a part-time foundation to finish his New Zealand Certificates in Architectural Draughting (NZCAD). Structon was a giant workplace within the Sixties, doing a lot public and business work, each in Wellington and additional afield. Dickson would later recall that, “It was an incredible workplace at the moment, an enormous quantity occurring and a few actually superb individuals working there.” A type of individuals was Ian Athfield and the 2 Ians quickly fashioned a friendship. Athfield had began constructing his and spouse Clare’s household dwelling in Khandallah, and Dickson contributed on web site at weekends.

Athfield was open about his dismissal from Structon in July 1968, describing the best way during which he recommended the observe introduce a retirement coverage to ease out the previous guard, and the previous guard had been forthright of their objection. So, he was there sooner or later and gone the subsequent, organising his personal workplace at dwelling in Khandallah. His last act at Structon was to seize some mates, sneak again in at midnight and scoop up all of the drawing tools and provides that they might carry. Finally, he took purchasers and employees with him too. One of many employees was draughtsman Ian Dickson; Ath provided him a job and he accepted.

Loads occurred throughout Dickson’s 50 years at Athfield Architects: authentic and artistic homes that each shocked and awed; like-minded purchasers that turned long-standing mates; the revitalisation of previous buildings via adaptive reuse; and profitable a global competitors from a discipline of just about 500 for low-cost housing in Manila. The break into business work got here shortly thereafter.

Slowly however steadily, the workplace grew, sitting at 13 or 14 within the Nineteen Eighties — till the sharemarket crashed and the ensuing recession pressured belt-tightening. However, throughout that recession, Athfield Architects broke into public work, with the Civic Sq. and Wellington Public Library initiatives, and the observe expanded past its Nineteen Eighties’ numbers. It has grown from power to power since then, with extra transformative city initiatives just like the Wellington Waterfront, Chews Lane and the Clyde Quay Wharf residences, a lot work for Victoria College of Wellington, and prestigious commissions, such because the refurbishment of Authorities Home. The opening of workplaces in Christchurch and Auckland in 1994 and 2006, respectively, mirrored each the expansion of the observe and the nationwide scope of the work.

Dickson was a key determine within the workplace throughout all of this. He was promoted to principal/director within the late Seventies, and retained that function via to his retirement. Amongst his favorite initiatives — ones he talked about at dwelling — had been the refurbishment of the Greta Level Tavern (1978–1981; revisited in 1987) and its subsequent relocation in 2002–2003, in addition to the transformative city interventions, together with each Chews Lane and the Clyde Quay Wharf residences.

Colleagues previous and current are unanimous of their reward for the quietly spoken Dickson, recognising that he led by instance, and describing him as form, beneficiant, prolific, artistic, dependable and correct. He was significantly essential as a mentor to youthful employees. Some recall that he taught them all the things they know. And purchasers have famous that his identify was seemingly on each drawing they ever noticed for his or her initiatives.

Dickson met the love of his life, Jacky, when he was 18 and she or he, 16. They married six years later, in 1972, and had two kids, Kirsty and Hamish. When Kirsty was born, they had been dwelling in a flat in Decrease Hutt however had purchased a chunk of land in Belmont, for which Dickson designed a home in 1974 — simply touching base with Ath occasionally to ask him what he thought.

The home has a lot in frequent with a lot of these produced by the workplace on this interval, together with an irregular, white-plastered exterior type, full with a daring cylindrical tower, together with uncovered timber roof constructions and timber sarking internally. Dickson additionally documented the venture and employed a builder to assist him construct it. The household moved in in 1975, though the home was not accomplished till 1977. The one addition thereafter was a storage that was later tailored to be used as a 3rd bed room.

Past structure, Dickson was a eager rugby participant. He performed for Naenae, which was later amalgamated into the Avalon Rugby Soccer Membership, and continued to play as a part of its Golden Oldies workforce. He cherished music and, in his 30s, turned a self-taught guitarist. He would play at Athfield Architects events and loved it most when individuals would sing alongside. He preferred to cook dinner and, significantly, to barbecue. In 1987, the household purchased a vacation home at Waitetoko on Lake Taupō, the place each benefit was taken of the lake for boating and fishing, and of Mount Ruapehu for snowboarding.

When Dickson retired from Athfield Architects in 2019, employees compiled a e book of images, excerpts and recollections as a leaving reward. On the funeral in March, Zac Athfield painted an evocative image of the observe’s longest-serving employees member by studying from it as follows:

Steps climbed: 3,750,000 Initiatives labored on: 1029 Novices mentored: 348 Events attended: 693 Pencils sharpened: 12,392 Brothels labored on: 1 (identified) Church buildings labored on: 2 Dialog pits contemplated: 50 Doobies smoked: undisclosedDefects famous: 2 billion (give or take)Defects ignored: 0 Holes dug: 220 Darts thrown: 5290 Harsh phrases spoken: 0

Dickson is survived by Jacky, their kids Kirsty and Hamish, and companions Matthew and Toni, respectively, and grandchildren Ollie, Sophie and Carter. Along with his deteriorating well being, he and Jacky left the household dwelling in 2021 and moved right into a retirement village, after which, within the final months of his life, he was sorted within the village’s particular care unit.

Dickson was a quiet achiever whose affect on these near him was profound.