GSD Professor Appointed to Serve as Mayor of London’s Town Architect

Harvard Graduate School of Design professor Farshid Moussavi will serve as one of 10 London town architects, London Mayor Sadiq Khan announced in a press release earlier this month.

The appointment comes as part of a two-year pilot program to improve the quality of main streets and public spaces in London. Starting Nov. 5, Moussavi will work with the borough of Lewisham to redevelop their town centers.

Moussavi currently serves as a design advocate for the Good Growth by Design program, which Khan started to make the city’s design more inclusive, according to Moussavi. She sees the new role as an “extension” of her previous work.

“The task of the town architect is to work with the officers who work in that borough or are in charge of that borough in a very collaborative way — to support them, to deliver design excellence where there is opportunity for developments,” Moussavi said.

“My part is also to bring in an element of design research when it’s necessary,” she added.

Moussavi said that though she has worked internationally, she is based in London and knows it “very well.” She aims to “connect the borough to good practice that may exist elsewhere.”

As a town architect, she hopes to direct strategy to improve design for the future, such as by implementing design review panels or design-related training.

“I think it’s really a support role,” Moussavi said.

For the redevelopment of the town centers in Lewisham, Moussavi said she will navigate often “complex” partnerships between the government and private companies.

Moussavi said that architects are usually invited to a project when the purpose is already established. This time, her role is different.

“I’m excited about being able to influence how the city takes shape from an earlier phase,” she said.

Moussavi said she is looking forward to working on a team to address London’s uniquely diverse set of challenges.

“The idea that you would not have a single town architect — but you would split the role into different boroughs — I think it will only reinforce London’s richness and diversity,” Moussavi said. “I think that that is really an exciting project to be part of.”

—Staff writer Catherine H. Feng can be reached at catherine.feng@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @catherinehfeng.