Talk:James Stirling (architect)

Date of birth
Not unlike one of his American heroes, Frank Lloyd Wright (who was actually born 1867, but always claimed 1869), Big Jim knocked a few years off his age. In fact, generally 2 years; he was aware that Le Corbusier (one of his biggest heroes) did the same.

Someone should check his school records at Quarry Bank High, Liverpool, also his military records. He parachuted into France as part of D Day in 1944 & it's a good bet his military record shows him older than 17. More likely 19 or 20. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 129.44.165.2 (talk • contribs) 7 May 2004

(added note) I was a good friend of his for about 20 years. I know he always lied about his true age but numerous cross-checks suggest 1926. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Tom in London (talk • contribs) 6 January 2007


 * Colin St John Wilson, a longstanding close friend, says Stirling was born in 1924 - "Jame Stirling" special edition of Architecture Review, December 1992, page 18. Sionk (talk) 16:09, 5 September 2012 (UTC)

Opening paragraph
"If Le Corbusier was the most important architect of the first half of the twentieth century, Sir James Frazer Stirling (22 April 1926 in Glasgow – 25 June 1992 in London) was surely the most important and influential architect of the second half, admired by all the other architects of the time and now, in the XXI century, by a new generation."

Much as I like Stirling's work, this is hyperbole in the extreme. Surely the most important? (I'd reckon advocates of IM Pei, Renzo Piano, Robert Venturi, Frank Ghery, Richard Rogers and Norman Foster, to name a few, might dispute that one). Admired by all other architects? It's also unreferenced and nNPOV.FrFintonStack 21:53, 31 January 2007 (UTC)


 * Agreed. This is highly without merit. If one thinks of influence, what about Louis Kahn, Norman Foster or even Also Rossi? Admired by all??... A very bold statement. Perhaps "by most", but he is surely one of many. (By the way, someone has already bumped Corb and replaced him with FLW... just shows how POV these statements are). Mariokempes 16:58, 11 April 2007 (UTC)
 * Modified. Mariokempes 21:06, 21 May 2007 (UTC)

I have not heard of this architect in my extensive undergraduate studies, therefor I challenge the validity and integrity of this statement,"..he is generally acknowledged to be one of the most important and influential architects of the second half of the 20th century".74.33.19.132 (talk) 02:40, 17 September 2013 (UTC)


 * From what I know of him, he was extremely important to postmodernism in architecture (while Le C was absolutely central to Modernism). Because he died prematurely it is understandable some of the recent crop of architecture students won't worship him. I graduated 10 years ago and we went on trips to see his buildings in Europe. However, I completely agree such an extreme statement in the lede paragraph needs to be very well-cited. Sionk (talk) 15:36, 17 September 2013 (UTC)

Users' views
Should there not be at least some reference to the controversies over Stirling's buildings? It is reported that the people who actually have to use them hate them, and the owners who are saddled with astronomical maintenance costs would like to demolish them, if they were not 'listed'. E.g. see here: http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/culture/why-do-architects-love-stirlings-buildings-while-the-public-and-users-hate-them/8604662.article# 109.158.134.215 (talk) 10:42, 4 August 2013 (UTC)

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