Celebration of a city’s architectural evolution

Titled From the Tile to the City, the book illustrates Leeds’ transformation through a selection of photographs of major landmarks, settings and buildings including the Henry Moore Sculpture Gallery, alongside other important influences on the city-scape including geological and natural features.

It not only describes the city’s rich architectural history, including Holbeck and architectural gems such as Leeds Town Hall, but it also celebrates the regeneration of the city from the 1970s to date, including the creation of the Millennium Square and all its surrounding buildings to present day with the construction of the Leeds Arena.

Mr Thorp, who has an MBE, has been involved in shaping the landscape of the city since he became an officer with the council in 1970.

He continues in a part-time capacity as Leeds civic architect, a position he held full-time for 15 years until July 2010. Mr Thorp, 70, who was born in Woodlesford and went to school in Wakefield, says his work has always been a combination of hands-on designing buildings and public spaces, and encouraging good design through his work with other architects in private practice.

Projects he was directly involved in include the Henry Moore Sculpture Gallery which he worked with Henry Moore to design, the Leonardo Building, the Millennium Square and the restoration of the 1903 City Square.

“Leeds has both a richness in its architectural character and a great diversity within its broad, landscape setting – qualities which distinguish it from many other cities,” said Mr Thorp. “The book describes approaches to design which spring from responses to those contrasts between the fine detail of the city’s fabric – exemplified by The Tile – and the interwoven spaces and landscapes which form The City.”

Mr Thorp became Leeds civic architect when the role was created in 1996 to connect design and development practice between the City Council and its partners in the public, private and voluntary sectors of civic activity.

Commissioned in association with Leeds City Council, by the Marjorie and Arnold Ziff Charitable Foundation, which provides for the under-privileged and support for community projects including education, those in the public realm and the arts, the book includes examples of architecture, urban design and regeneration from across the city.

A copy will be given to every high school, sixth form college, further and higher education institute and the universities in Leeds.

The book is now available from the Leeds Art Gallery and Leeds City Museum shops priced at £20. All proceeds will go to The Lord Mayor’s Charity Appeal, which is supporting Voluntary Action Leeds.