Unlike many architects who develop their first ideas through sketches, Ritchie develops his through language: poetry and aphorisms influenced by subjects ranging from physics and neuroscience to social concerns, history, and landscape. He then translates these into a visual medium, often in the form of etchings. There is a remarkable concordance between the elegant brushstrokes with which he depicts his architectural, sculptural and industrial design projects and their built reality, whether they are as richly simple as the Spire of Dublin, or as sensual and technically complex as the Royal Academy of Music’s new Susie Sainsbury Theatre and Angela Burgess Recital Hall.
Ritchie studied architecture in Liverpool and London, and after working with Norman Foster (1972-76) spent two years in France designing and self-constructing Fluy House. While working at Arup’s Lightweight Structures Group (1978-81) he founded Chrysalis Architects (1979-81) with Alan Stanton and Mike Davies. In 1981 he founded Ian Ritchie Architects (iRAL) in London and co-founded the design engineering firm Rice Francis Ritchie (RFR) in Paris. Before he left RFR in 1990, the practice had been responsible for seminal work at La Villette Cité des Sciences, and the Louvre Pyramids and Sculpture Courts.
IRAL is one of the world’s leading innovative and R & D focussed practices, with more than 30 ‘world firsts’ in architectural geometry, engineering and material techniques to its credit. By the late 1990s the practice had became world-renowned for their glass structures, material-technical innovation and intelligent environmental and sustainable design. Their work is underpinned by strong analysis of context and profound understanding of materials and construction, allied to an appreciation of the subtle connections between architecture’s social impact, the arts of construction and the role of beauty in architecture.
Landmark projects include Madrid’s Reina Sofia Museum of Modern Art’s Glass Towers, the Leipzig Glass Hall, the Spire of Dublin, RSC Courtyard Theatre, and Bermondsey and Wood Lane tube stations for London Underground. His most recent projects in London are the Sainsbury Wellcome Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour, Mercer Walk in Covent Garden, and the Royal Academy of Music’s Susie Sainsbury Theatre and Angela Burgess Recital Hall. IRAL have won more than 80 national and international awards and been shortlisted for the RIBA Stirling Prize four times.
In 2000 Ritchie was awarded a CBE, and received the French Academie d’Architecture Grand Silver Medal for Innovation. In 2013 he was elected member of Berlin’s Akademie der Künste. He regularly chairs international juries, including the RIBA Stirling Prize, Czech Grand Prix, Les Jeunes Albums France and was a member of the 2017 World Architecture Festival’s Super Jury in Berlin. He helped found CABE in 1999 after serving as a Royal Fine Art Commissioner, was a member of Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 (2001-2011), sat on the European Construction Technology Platform (2005-2008), advised the President of Columbia University on its Manhattanville Project and the Director of CUSP at New York University. He was a governor of the Royal Shakespeare Company (2000-2017), and advisor to the Ove Arup Foundation (2000-2018), and Dean School of Architecture Design & Construction University of Greenwich (2011-18). He is a trustee of Backstage Trust (2012-).
Ritchie has taught at universities in the EU and UK, the Moscow School of Architecture, and the Architectural Association. He was Professor of Architecture at the RA Schools (2004-12) and is currently Honorary Visiting Professor of Architecture at Liverpool University (2009- ). He frequently lectures on architecture, urbanism, regeneration and values, light, neuroarchitecture, glass technology and innovation at universities and major venues worldwide.
Born: 1947 in Hove, Sussex, England, United Kingdom
Nationality: British
Elected RA: 10 December 1998
Elected Senior RA: 1 October 2022
Professor of Architecture: 2004 - 2013
Gender: Male
Preferred media: Architecture
Ian Ritchie RA
Alba di Milano Monument, Milan: study of design concept, April 2000
Sugar lift aquatint
Ian Ritchie RA
Cultural Greenhouse, Les Jardins de l'Imaginaire, Terrasson-Lavilledieu, Dordogne, France, 2001
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
Concert Platform, Crystal Palace Park, Bromley, London, 2001
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
Happiness, 2014
Handwritten pencil
Ian Ritchie RA
Study for a Chaise Longue after Lecadre, 2012
Handwritten pencil
Ian Ritchie RA
King's Stables (Edinburgh), 2010
Handwritten pencil
Ian Ritchie RA
Royal Academy of Music, 2011
Handwritten pencil
Ian Ritchie RA
Anfield 2, 2010
Handwritten pencil
Ian Ritchie RA
SWC Neuroscience @ UCL, 2011
Handwritten pencil
Ian Ritchie RA
Freedom and Unity Memorial, Berlin, 2010
Handwritten pencil
Ian Ritchie RA
Freedom and Unity Memorial, Berlin, 2010
Handwritten pencil
Ian Ritchie RA
RSC Pebble, 2012
Handwritten pencil
Ian Ritchie RA
Venice in the Royals, 2012
Handwritten pencil
Ian Ritchie RA
Raasay Thoughts, 2011
Handwritten pencil
Ian Ritchie RA
Turville Fountain, 2012
Handwritten pencil
Ian Ritchie RA
Newtonwood Barns - I, 2014
Handwritten pencil
Ian Ritchie RA
Water Boatman, 2010
Handwritten pencil
Ian Ritchie RA
Worcester College - Perak, 2013
Handwritten pencil
Ian Ritchie RA
Generateur Poïetic: France - Japan Monument: To Commemorate, 1987
Handwritten pencil
Ian Ritchie RA
France - Japan Monument (Generateur Poitic), 2005
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
Liverpool Gateway, 2005
Handwritten pencil
Ian Ritchie RA
Liverpool Gateway, 2005
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
RSC Courtyard Theatre, 2005
Handwritten pencil
Ian Ritchie RA
RSC Courtyard Theatre, 2005
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
Purfleet Future Housing: Setting Standards for a Brave New Environment, 2005
Handwritten pencil
Ian Ritchie RA
Purfleet Future Housing, 2006
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
A Study of the British Museum - A Spatial Masterplan, 2004
Handwritten pencil
Ian Ritchie RA
A Study of the British Museum, 2006
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
The Giant's Causeway, 2005
Handwritten pencil
Ian Ritchie RA
The Giant's Causeway, 2006
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
A Pharmacy in Boves, France, 1988
Handwritten pencil
Ian Ritchie RA
Pharmacie, Boves, France, 2007
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
Shakespeare Bridge, 2006
Handwritten pencil
Ian Ritchie RA
Shakespeare Bridge, 2007
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
Leamouth Bridge, 2003
Handwritten pencil
Ian Ritchie RA
Leamouth Bridge, 2007
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
Turville Sun, 2007
Handwritten pencil
Ian Ritchie RA
Turville Sun, 2007
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
'Zebede' Task Lamp, 2007
Handwritten pencil
Ian Ritchie RA
'Zebede' Task Lamp, 2007
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
0_1200, 2006
Handwritten pencil
Ian Ritchie RA
0_1200 Table, 2007
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
'S' Seat, 2007
Handwritten pencil
Ian Ritchie RA
'S' Seat, 2007
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
Pearl of Dubai, 2008 (from personal notes 1987)
Handwritten pencil
Ian Ritchie RA
Pearl of Dubai, 2008
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
Pearl of Dubai, Fine Series, 2008
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
Wood Lane H&C Line Station, 2005
Handwritten pencil
Ian Ritchie RA
Wood Lane H&C Line Station, 2008
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
Oranmore Lands, 2008
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
Anfield, a New Stadium for Liverpool FC, 5 January 2008
Handwritten pencil
Ian Ritchie RA
A New Anfield Stadium, 2008
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
Imriehel Masterplan, 2015
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
Madonna & Child, 2015
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
Light from the Earth, 2015
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
Mercers Yard, 2015
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
RSC New Top, 2015
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
Madonna & Child II, 2015
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
Pirelli Cable Tower, 2016
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, 2016
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
Triangle de la Folie 1988, 2016
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
Swan Bridge & RSC Pebble, 2014
Ian Ritchie RA
Into the Sidings (Buried Stables), 2000
Ian Ritchie RA
Happiness, 2014
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
Newtonwood Barns - 1, 2014
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
RSC Pebble, 2013
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
Swan Bridge & RSC Pebble, 2014
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
Study for a Chaise Longue after Lecadre, 2012
Soft-ground etching
Ian Ritchie RA
Turville S Fountain Close Up, 2012
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
Turville S Fountain, 2012
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
Raasay Thoughts, 2012
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
Venice in the Royals, 2013
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
Water Boatman, 2011
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
Anfield 2, 2011
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
Royal Academy of Music, 2011
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
King's Stables, Edinburgh, 2011
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
Sainsbury Wellcome Centre, 2011
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
Freedom Unity Memorial, Berlin, 2011
Two etchings
Ian Ritchie RA
Worcester College - Perak, 2013
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
BMW - Theatre of Robots, 2010
Ian Ritchie RA
BMW . Theatre of Robots, 2010
Aquatint
Ian Ritchie RA
British Embassy (sovereignty), 2010
Ian Ritchie RA
British Embassy Berlin, 2010
Aquatint
Ian Ritchie RA
Landmark Wales, 2010
Ian Ritchie RA
Landmark Wales, 2010
Aquatint
Ian Ritchie RA
National Maritime of the Boat, 2010
Ian Ritchie RA
NMM Museum of the Boat, 2010
Aquatint
Ian Ritchie RA
GENEVA COMEDIE, 2010
Ian Ritchie RA
110 THREE COLT STREET, 2010
Ian Ritchie RA
INTO THE SIDINGS, 2010
Ian Ritchie RA
DREAMING OF A PROJECT, 2010
Ian Ritchie RA
Chichester Cultural Olympiad, 2010
Ian Ritchie RA
Scotland's Home of Tomorrow, 2010
Ian Ritchie RA
Scotland's Home of Tomorrow, 2008
Sugar lift aquatint
Ian Ritchie RA
Geneva Comedie, 2009
Sugar lift aquatint
Ian Ritchie RA
Dreaming of a project, 2009
Sugar lift aquatint
Ian Ritchie RA
Chichester Cultural Olympiad, 2009
Sugar lift aquatint
Ian Ritchie RA
Into the Sidings, 2009
Sugar lift aquatint
Ian Ritchie RA
101 Three Colt Street, 2008
Sugar lift aquatint
Ian Ritchie RA
External elevators, Reina Sophia Museum, Madrid, Spain, 2002?
Pencil on mould-made somerset paper
Ian Ritchie RA
External elevators, Reina Sophia Museum, Madrid, Spain: study of design concept, 2002
Sugar lift aquatint
Ian Ritchie RA
Spire of Dublin monument, O'Connell Street, Dublin, Republic of Ireland: description of design concept, 1999
Pencil on mould-made somerset paper
Ian Ritchie RA
Monument of Light, O'Connell Street, Dublin: study of design concept, May 1999
Sugar lift aquatint
Ian Ritchie RA
Alba di Milano (Dawn of Milan) light monument, Piazza Duca d'Aosta, Milan, Italy, 2000?
Pencil on mould-made somerset paper
Ian Ritchie RA
The Gasometer, Oberhausen, Germany ('Blue Gold: water in the twenty-first century' exhibition design): description of design concept, 2001?
Pencil on mould-made somerset paper
Ian Ritchie RA
Ice Cone, Oberhausen Gasometer, 2001
Sugar lift aquatint
Ian Ritchie RA
Glass Hall, Exhibition Centre, Leipzig, Germany, 2000?
Pencil on mould-made somerset paper
Ian Ritchie RA
Glass Hall, Exhibition Centre, Leipzig, Germany, 2000
Sugar lift aquatint
Ian Ritchie RA
Cultural Greenhouse, Les Jardins de l'Imaginaire, Terrasson-Lavilledieu, Dordogne, France, c.2001
Pencil on mould-made somerset paper
Ian Ritchie RA
'Fougere' electricity pylon for Electricite de France (EDF), c2000
Pencil on mould-made somerset paper
Ian Ritchie RA
'Fougere' electricity pylon for Electricite de France (EDF), 2000
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
Hawking Spacetime Centre, c.2004
Pencil on mould-made somerset paper
Ian Ritchie RA
Hawking Spacetime Centre, April 2004
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
House, Fluy, Somme, France, April 2004?
Pencil on mould-made somerset paper
Ian Ritchie RA
TR2, Theatre Royal Production and Creative Learning Centre, 12 Neptune Park, Cattedown, Plymouth, Devon, c.2003
Pencil on mould-made somerset paper
Ian Ritchie RA
TR2, Theatre Royal Production and Creative Learning Centre, 12 Neptune Park, Cattedown, Plymouth, Devon, 2003
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
B8, 3 Furzeground Way, Stockley Park, Uxbridge, Middlesex, 2002
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
B8, 3 Furzeground Way, Stockley Park, Uxbridge, Middlesex, c.2002
Pencil on mould-made somerset paper
Ian Ritchie RA
B8, 3 Furzeground Way, Stockley Park, Uxbridge, Middlesex, 2002
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
London Regatta Centre, Royal Albert Docks, Newham, London, c.2002
Pencil on mould-made somerset paper
Ian Ritchie RA
London Regatta Centre, Royal Albert Docks, Newham, London, 2002
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
Flats, Potters Fields, Southwark, London, c.2003
Pencil on mould-made somerset paper
Ian Ritchie RA
Flats, Potters Fields, Southwark, London, 2003
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
Isle of Dogs Crossrail Railway Station, Tower Hamlets, London, c.2004
Pencil on mould-made somerset paper
Ian Ritchie RA
Isle of Dogs Crossrail Railway Station, Tower Hamlets, London, April 2004
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
Concert Platform, Crystal Palace Park, Bromley, London, c.2001
Pencil on mould-made paper
Ian Ritchie RA
Bermondsey Underground Station, Jubilee Line, Jamaica Road, Southwark, London, c.1999
Pencil on mould-made somerset paper
Ian Ritchie RA
Bermondsey Underground Station, Jubilee Line, Jamaica Road, Southwark, London, 1999
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
House, Eagle Rock, Crowborough, East Sussex, c.2004
Pencil on mould-made somerset paper
Ian Ritchie RA
House, Eagle Rock, Crowborough, East Sussex, April 2004
Etching
Ian Ritchie RA
House, Fluy, Somme, France, April 2004
Aquatint
Ian Ritchie RA
Spire of Dublin monument, O'Connell Street, Dublin, Republic of Ireland: description of final project, 1999?
Laser print with coloured inks