Mastermind of Olympic park dies aged 59

John Hopkins, the visionary landscape architect and mastermind of London’s Olympic parklands, has died aged 59.

John Hopkins, the visionary landscape architect and mastermind of London’s Olympic parklands, has died aged 59.

In directing the team who created the vibrant backdrop to last year’s Olympics and Paralympics in Stratford, east London, Mr Hopkins has also sowed the seeds for the UK’s largest new urban park for more than a century.

Mr Hopkins, a top international landscape architect, urban designer, environmental planner and author, was responsible for more than 250 acres of green space in his work at the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA) from 2007 to 2011. The Liverpool-born architect died suddenly last week.

He is survived by his daughter, Rosie, and son, Jack, and his fiancee, Laura Adams. – (PA)