Obituaries Australia

Emeritus Professor Roger Johnson, a regular writer in The Canberra Times on planning issues, died last Friday at the age of 68.

Professor Johnson was a modern renaissance man of great personal charm, whose vision ot the built and natural environment influenced all aspects of his work. He was an architect and planner of distinction, a painter, a potter, sculptor, writer and educator. The school he founded in Canberra, which embodied his holistic view of design education, has been a model for developments in many institutions.

He came to Canberra as First Assistant Commissioner (Architecture) of the National Capital Development Commission in 1968 and was responsible for the 1971 National Area Plan. During his time, several large buildings were begun — the Australian National Gallery, the Cameron, Campbell Park, Edmund Barton and west Belconnen offices, and the School of Music. He planned Griffith University and contributed to the planning and architecture of the University of Western Australia, Charles Sturt University and the University of Canberra.

He was the Foundation Head of the School of Environmental Design at the then Canberra College of Advanced Education from 1973 to 1987. He was made an Emeritus Professor of the University of Canberra in 1990 and at the time of his death was Site Master Planning Consultant to the university. He was the author of three books and had six one-man exhibitions of paintings. He was a Fellow of the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and Design. He is survived by his wife, Patricia, and two sons.