John McAslan
John McAslan CBE, talks about his time at University and where his career has taken him since.
| Name | John McAslan |
| Degree Course | MA in Architecture & Diploma |
| Year of Graduation | 1977 & 1978 |
Your time at the University
Edinburgh University was my first choice to read Architecture and I hugely enjoyed my experiences there. Of course it was a shock going from a privileged secondary school environment (Dollar Academy) but I revelled in the change and challenge.
I loved exploring the city and developing new relationships and was fortunate to continue my school pursuits - representing the University First XV and athletics team and building relationship for my future career.
Tell us about your Experiences since leaving the University
My work is informed by a fundamental belief that architecture can drastically improve people’s lives and that intelligent, considered design can help the positive development of communities.
I left Edinburgh on a damp day in June 1979 bound for Boston where I developed my architecture before returning to London in 1981 and established my practice in 1985. I have retained strong links with Scotland since then, establishing our Edinburgh office in recent years.
My work is informed by a fundamental belief that architecture can drastically improve people’s lives and that intelligent, considered design can help the positive development of communities.
With this in mind my involvement with the wonderful country of Haiti via the JMP Initiatives Unit, has been a particular high point of my career. This work included leading a multi-disciplinary team, which included scores of local artisans, to resurrect the iconic Iron Market in Port-au-Prince. It has now returned to daily use and forms the cornerstone of a new city-centre cultural quarter redevelopment strategy. It is therefore with great pride that I was appointed Honorary Consul to the Republic of Haiti in London by Prime Minister of Haiti, Laurent Lamothe in 2012.
I was also appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2012 New Year Honours for services to architecture.
Alumni wisdom
I have made so many mistakes I’m not sure I can pass any informed wisdom except try to focus more at university and accept that life is a work-in-progress.