On Landscape Leaders: Peter Youngman

We asked leading figures of landscape to recall the people who have had a significant influence on their life, work or practice.

Nigel Thorne on Peter Youngman

One of the very first senior members of the Landscape Institute I was lucky enough to meet in my early years was Peter Youngman. The impression that he made on me was almost instantaneous and ever-lasting. To this day I can never quite say why that was but there were a variety of things about this extraordinary man that has helped underpin how I view the profession of landscape architecture and its importance in everyone’s lives.

We met when he was in his early eighties and yet he exuded the passion, dedication and enthusiasm for the profession of someone in his twenties. This continued up to his death at the age of 93. As his obituary in the Guardian stated, “his critical approach was masterly and practical… Youngman’s concern was with the details.” It concluded that he “was an extremely rational and kindly man”. Peter was the consummate professional, a past president of what was then called the Institute of Landscape Architects, he was way ahead of his time in his thinking and judgement. As the Guardian suggested, without his input in the master-planning of the new town of Milton Keynes (together with Richard Llewelyn- Davies) “it would be a much harsher place”.

It was Peter’s insistence that architecture and landscape should be contextualised and complementary that has influenced and confirmed my way of thinking throughout my career. In meetings, where so many would be all-consumed with the need to define the world of landscape architecture, he was always much more concerned with what we, as professionals achieved; how we went about it and the benefits to society at large.

When so many were focused on pigeonholing new members into divisions, in themselves limited to only three main categories, it was Peter who was the first to point out how “divisive” this approach was (and still is) and how it failed to achieve the LI’s stated goals of inclusiveness and a “broad church” of professionals. He was never afraid to challenge the rather staid and “gentleman’s learned-society” approach that certain LI members were apt to yearn for; he was a breath of fresh air in his openness and invention.

It also says a great deal about the man (and the true professional that he was) that in my search for his photograph online I discovered not one! No matter, he will always be the most significant individual who helped – and continues to help – me dedicate my professional life to landscape architecture and the Landscape Institute.

His name, thankfully, lives on not only in his legacy of professional work across the nation and globe but also via the LI’s prestigious ‘Peter Youngman Award’ that is given to an individual or project that’s made an outstanding contribution to the environment.

Nigel Thorne is a chartered landscape architect, Fellow – and Past President – of the Landscape Institute, and the Chair of Parks for London. Nigel also sits on the board of the Architect’s Benevolent Society and the London Advisory Committee of Historic England.