Derek Wilson


Derek John Wilson was a New Zealand architect. He was active in Wellington. He was also known as an environmentalist, and published several works.

Early life

Wilson grew up on a coastal sheep station owned by the Riddiford family at Tora, Wairarapa, where his father Clement Henry Wilson was the manager. His mother was Ida Agnes Wilson. Wilson was the oldest of three children: his sister Joan and his brother Godfrey, who became an Anglican bishop.
He attended Wanganui Collegiate schools.
During World War Two, Wilson trained as a pilot in Florida for the Fleet Air Arm.

Architectural practice

Wilson trained as an architect at Auckland University College.
After graduating, Wilson left New Zealand and worked in London for Ramsey, Murray, White and Ward, as well as for Sir Hugh Casson and the London County Council.
Returning to New Zealand, he settled in Masterton and then moved to Wellington to join forces with William Toomath to set up Toomath and Wilson. Toomath and Wilson were later joined by Don Irvine and Grahame Anderson in 1972, forming the firm Toomath Wilson Irvine Anderson Ltd.
Wilson's design for the Calvert House, in Stokes Valley, was awarded an NZIA Bronze medal. Other work of note includes the Maunsell beach-house at Riversdale Beach, the Wilson house in Khandallah, St Matthew's Church in Brooklyn, Wellington, and his Marine Research Facilities at Wellington's Greta Point . All are well known as important works in Wellington's architectural history.
He was a member of the Wellington Architectural Centre, including as President and Committee Member.
A recent book, "Four Architects", celebrates Wellington architecture and includes several of Wilson's designs.

Environmental and peace advocacy

Wilson was also an active advocate for environmental and anti-nuclear issues, and published on both topics.
In 1984, Wilson became the founding co-ordinator of Architects Against Nuclear Arms and was also a member of the Pacific Institute of Resource Management and the National Consultative Committee on Disarmament and Abolition.
Perhaps his most significant published work in this area is a 2001 book titled "Five Holocausts".

Personal life

Wilson married Diana June Townsend. They had three sons and six grandchildren. Wilson died in Wellington on 10 June 2016.