HSBC HQ architect dies aged 68

Geoffrey Clark, one of the architects who worked on Foster & Partners’ HSBC HQ in Hong Kong, has died aged 68 after a short illness. He had cancer.

Clark was one of the partners at Nordic – Office of Architecture where he was responsible for developing the logistics of a number of major airport projects.

He was born in Sunderland and graduated from the School of Architecture at Newcastle University in 1977.

He worked for Foster & Partners – including three years on the HSBC building – before moving to Norway, the birthplace of his wife, who he first met on a school trip to the country.

He joined and revitalised the Oslo practice Calvert & Clark, helping design the new Oslo Airport.

In 2000 he became a partner at Nordic where he had a central position in the design of most of the practice’s important projects, notably Oslo and Bergen airports in Norway, Hyderabad airport in India, Muscat airport in Oman and the new Istanbul airport.

Gudmund Stokke, chairman of Nordic, described as a “great friend and colleague”.

“He was a kind and generous person with a strong sense of humour combined with a sharp and creative brain,” he added. “He was trained in the British tradition and had a remarkable talent for combining space and technique into fine architecture.”

The practice issued a statement which said: “Geoffrey exhibited an exceptional talent for creating good architecture through the integration of form, space and engineering. He became a much sought-after international expert within the planning of logistics, security and baggage systems at airports, which in turn has enhanced the professional expertise at Nordic.

“Geoffrey was as Norwegian as anyone, but he also remained an English gentleman. It was not by chance that he was often called Sir Geoffrey. He had a friendly nature and a generously inclusive attitude, coupled with a strong academic excellence that resulted in many new clients and friends all over the world.

“He always created a good atmosphere through his sense of humour and his resounding laughter, which now sadly has subsided forever. He will be deeply missed by his friends and colleagues.”

Tomas Stokke, a director at Anglo-Norwegian practice Haptic Architecture, which has collaborated with Nordic on several projects, described Clark’s impact on architecture as significant.

“Geoffrey was one of those rare individuals who could take things of great complexity, find simple, natural and appropriate solutions and communicate this in a clear and succinct way,” he added.

“Geoffrey had a great sense of humour, a laughter that could lighten up any situation and a very generous nature. At Haptic, we have learnt a lot from Geoffrey on the projects that we collaborated on and we will miss him sorely.”

Clark is survived by his wife, Solveig, their two children and one grandchild.