Ralph Erskine

1986 / 58 min. / color
Directed by directed by Mead Hunt
Narrated by the architect

Ralph Erskine approaches his work with care, delicacy and a love that radiates through his designs. Both passionate and thoughtful, Erskine’s architecture shows a dedicated knowledge of the areas where his works are constructed. While born in London, Erskine found himself working mainly out of Sweden, becoming attached to both the country itself and the influence the area had on his career. Erskine demonstrates his deep understanding of the country by factoring elements such as climate and economy into his designs. He explains to us his desire to create in both an aesthetically unique and functionally sound manner, noting the importance of becoming familiar with the space one is working with. Inspired by his own personal experiences with the nature and culture of Sweden, Erskine observed what the country needed both practically and visually. The results of this focused attention present themselves in the form of Erskine’s many community housing projects, university buildings and work spaces. Erskine believed that architecture should cater to the needs of a specific area and was driven by this as he experimented with shape and structure to create beautiful and efficient spaces.