Marshall Cook was one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s influential and leading architects, an architectural treasure and a man of wisdom, vision, humility and kindness. He passed away 28 September 2023, aged 83.
Marsh’s career spanned decades and he leaves an indelible impact on the profession. He grew up in Napier and attended architecture school in Auckland from 1959. Before finishing his studies, he took a break and went to work with Bill Wilson and Ivan Juriss, John Scott and Lillian Chrystal. After he finished architecture school in 1969, he started a studio with Terry Hitchcock and they were later joined by Peter Sargisson, becoming Cook Hitchcock and Sargisson. Eventually the practice became Cook Sargisson & Pirie.
Over his illustrious career, Marsh worked here and overseas, teaching in Britain in the 1970s and designing a number of ski resort and master planning projects in the USA, Japan and Thailand. Meanwhile, he became known here in Aotearoa for designing modern buildings that ran the gamut from townhouses to multi-unit dwellings to offices. He was an adjunct professor of design at Unitec.
His own home in Auckland’s Franklin Road is an exemplar of contemporary architecture on a street filled with villas and bungalows. Speaking of another of his projects, Vineyard House, Marsh said, “The aim of the exercise is to create a sense of place, a pride of belonging and to celebrate the contribution that a beautiful house can make to everlasting memories”. It nicely sums up all of his architectural contributions to New Zealand’s built environment.
Marsh was a fellow of the NZIA, a recipient of the President’s Award, a regular recipient of awards, and a regional and national judge in our local and national architecture awards. He received the Institute’s Gold Medal in 2010 and the appraisal then stands now: Marsh’s work can be “characterised by a complete and exhaustive knowledge of materials, technology, colour and space placed at the service of a liberal, generous and humane design philosophy.”
Friend and colleague Michael Thomson told The New Zealand Herald, “There’s not enough time to say all that needs to be said about Marsh. He was an amazingly special character.”
“Marshall loved people, he loved life, he loved beauty” says Lindley Naismith. “He celebrated these loves through his architecture, which he deeply believed had the power to transform. He loved the company of those who also shared a love of the things he loved – not only architecture but his family, anyone’s babies, animals, students, good builders, trees, sailing, old cities, new cities, discourse, rugby, food, wine, books, whiskey. He took every opportunity to enjoy his loves, preferably in elaborate combination. For Marshall ‘less’ was definitely never ‘more’, and our world is certainly a lesser place without him.”
“This is an enormous loss of a great architect, a generous contributor to the profession and the next generation of architects,” says Institute president Judith Taylor. “His insightful comments and keen eye for criticism has ensured he’s played a leading and influential role in the profession.”
All who knew Marsh will be deeply saddened by the passing of this wonderful man. He had an infectious enthusiasm for other people and a generosity of spirit and great love for his friends and family. Our thoughts are with his friends and family at this very sad time.
