Gordon Stephenson
Encyclopedia
Gordon Stephenson was a British
-born town planner and architect
. He is best known for his role in shaping the modern growth and development of Perth, Western Australia.
, graduating in 1930. His early career included working with Patrick Abercrombie
on the Greater London Plan
. Along with Peter Shepheard, he created an influential design for Stevenage
, the first post-war British new town
, which incorporated a pedestrianised town centre.
to produce a plan for the metropolitan area of Perth and Fremantle
. The resulting 1955 Plan for the Metropolitan Region was co-authored with Alistair Hepburn
and is commonly known as the 'Stephenson-Hepburn Report'. It included an atlas of maps which laid down a broad pattern of future land uses including highways and open space, and catered for significant additional population growth.
The report formed the basis for the 1963 Metropolitan Region Scheme
for Perth
and Fremantle, a legal instrument for regulating land-use and development in the urban area It remained the overarching strategic plan for the development of Perth until it was succeeded by the Corridor Plan for Perth in 1970.
On August 28, 2011 the WA State Government announced that the recently completed building, informally known as one40william would be renamed Gordon Stephenson House.
regional centres, and for the campus of Murdoch University
.
In later life, he authored several books.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
-born town planner and architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
. He is best known for his role in shaping the modern growth and development of Perth, Western Australia.
Early career
Stephenson studied architecture at the University of LiverpoolUniversity of Liverpool
The University of Liverpool is a teaching and research university in the city of Liverpool, England. It is a member of the Russell Group of large research-intensive universities and the N8 Group for research collaboration. Founded in 1881 , it is also one of the six original "red brick" civic...
, graduating in 1930. His early career included working with Patrick Abercrombie
Patrick Abercrombie
Sir Leslie Patrick Abercrombie ) was an English town planner. Educated at Uppingham School, Rutland; brother of Lascelles Abercrombie, poet and literary critic.-Career:...
on the Greater London Plan
Greater London Plan
The Greater London Plan of 1944, often referred to as the Abercrombie Plan, was a plan for the development and improvement of London commissioned by the Ministry of Works in 1942 and drawn up by Patrick Abercrombie....
. Along with Peter Shepheard, he created an influential design for Stevenage
Stevenage
Stevenage is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England. It is situated to the east of junctions 7 and 8 of the A1, and is between Letchworth Garden City to the north, and Welwyn Garden City to the south....
, the first post-war British new town
New towns in the United Kingdom
Below is a list of some of the new towns in the United Kingdom created under the various New Town Acts of the 20th century. Some earlier towns were developed as Garden Cities or overspill estates early in the twentieth century. The New Towns proper were planned to disperse population following the...
, which incorporated a pedestrianised town centre.
Perth
In 1953, Stephenson was commissioned by the state government of Western AustraliaGovernment of Western Australia
The formation of the Government of Western Australia is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1890, although it has been amended many times since then...
to produce a plan for the metropolitan area of Perth and Fremantle
Fremantle, Western Australia
Fremantle is a city in Western Australia, located at the mouth of the Swan River. Fremantle Harbour serves as the port of Perth, the state capital. Fremantle was the first area settled by the Swan River colonists in 1829...
. The resulting 1955 Plan for the Metropolitan Region was co-authored with Alistair Hepburn
Alistair Hepburn
John Alistair Hepburn was a town planner, noted for his contributions to the design and development of the urban regions within greater Perth, Western Australia and Melbourne, Victoria....
and is commonly known as the 'Stephenson-Hepburn Report'. It included an atlas of maps which laid down a broad pattern of future land uses including highways and open space, and catered for significant additional population growth.
The report formed the basis for the 1963 Metropolitan Region Scheme
Metropolitan Region Scheme
The Metropolitan Region Scheme is the legal land plan covering urban planning throughout the Perth Metropolitan Region. It classifies land into broad zones and reservations and is administered by the Western Australian Planning Commission....
for Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
and Fremantle, a legal instrument for regulating land-use and development in the urban area It remained the overarching strategic plan for the development of Perth until it was succeeded by the Corridor Plan for Perth in 1970.
On August 28, 2011 the WA State Government announced that the recently completed building, informally known as one40william would be renamed Gordon Stephenson House.
Subsequent work
Following his work in Perth, he was employed variously as a consultant planner and academic in New Zealand, Canada, and America. He subsequently returned to Perth and continued to play an important role in its development, amongst other things crafting plans for Joondalup and MidlandMidland, Western Australia
Midland is a suburb in the Perth, Western Australia metropolitan area, as well as the regional centre for the City of Swan local government area that covers the Swan Valley and parts of the Darling Scarp to the east. It is situated at the intersection of Great Eastern Highway and Great Northern...
regional centres, and for the campus of Murdoch University
Murdoch University
Murdoch University is a public university based in Perth, Australia. It began operations as the state's second university in 1973, and accepted its first students in 1975...
.
In later life, he authored several books.