It was sad to learn of the death of Henning Larsen (News June 28) — he was an inspirational architect.

I had the pleasure of working with him briefly on the second phase of the ill-fated Stockholm University Competition in 1962 and later from 1976 to 1983 in Milton Keynes on Heelands 3 housing, sheltered housing and West Local Centre.

His commitment to architecture was fundamental, which made the saga of the Royal Danish Opera House in Copenhagen particularly painful for him, bound as he was by a gagging clause in his contract with his client the AP Møller Foundation. Finally in 2009 he was able to state his case in a little book De Skal Sige Tak! (You Must Say Thank You!) in which the stress and frustration of that episode is plain for all to read.

Happily he went on to receive the recognition he deserved on a multitude of other projects worldwide including, in this year alone, the Mies van der Rohe Award for the Reykjavik Concert Hall and Conference Centre and the Europa Nostra Denmark Award.

Even at this remove in space and time we will miss his vital presence.

Peter Denney
St Albans, Hertfordshire

Topics