Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, the renowned British architect and one of the most influential figures in contemporary architecture, has died at the age of 85.
Over more than half a century of practice he created many landmark works worldwide, but in Türkiye he is best known for Istanbul Airport. According to Airporthaber, Istanbul Airport was designed under the leadership of Grimshaw Architects in collaboration with Nordic Office of Architecture and Haptic Architects, and is regarded as one of Grimshaw’s most comprehensive international projects. The airport’s vast terminal, covering nearly one million square metres under a single roof, opened in its first phase with an annual capacity of 90 million passengers, expected to reach 150 million a year once all phases are complete.
Inspiration from Istanbul’s cultural heritage is clearly visible in the design — from the domed forms and extensive use of light to transparent spaces that make wayfinding easier for passengers. These features reflect Grimshaw’s approach of uniting functionality with aesthetics.
A look at his career
- Grimshaw was born in 1939 and studied at Edinburgh College of Art and the Architectural Association in London.
- In 1980 he founded his practice, Nicholas Grimshaw & Partners, later renamed Grimshaw Architects, which became a global architecture firm.
- His portfolio includes many projects in prefabricated structures, cultural buildings and transport schemes.
- Although he retired in 2019, he continued as an adviser and supported programmes helping young people — especially from disadvantaged backgrounds — enter architecture and the creative industries.
Although Grimshaw also left his mark in Türkiye with projects such as the Arter cultural centre and the Sadberk Hanım Museum, Istanbul Airport is undoubtedly his most important legacy in the country — a symbol of modern architecture recognised not only as an international transport hub but also as one of the world’s most notable works of contemporary architecture.
