Patty Hopkins facts for kids

Patricia Ann Hopkins, also known as Lady Hopkins, is a famous English architect. She was born in 1942. In 1994, she won the Royal Gold Medal for Architecture. She shared this important award with her husband, Sir Michael Hopkins.

Early Life and Education

Patty Hopkins was born in Stoke on Trent, England. Her parents, Shelagh and Denys Wainwright, were both doctors. Her grandfather was an architect, and her grandmother was also a doctor.

Patty went to a boarding school called Wycombe Abbey. At first, she thought about studying science. But then, she decided to become an architect. In 1959, she joined the Architectural Association in London. She was one of only five women in a class of 60 students.

When she was 20, she married Michael Hopkins. He was also an architecture student. They lived in Suffolk until 1970, then moved to North London.

Her Work as an Architect

Hopkins House, Hampstead (1976)

After finishing her studies, Patty Hopkins started her own architecture business.

In 1976, she and her husband Michael started a company called Hopkins Architects. One of their most famous early projects was their own home. They built it in Hampstead, London, in 1976. This house was special because it had clear glass walls. It also had an exposed steel frame and very few inside walls. It was designed to be a flexible space. They used it as their office for eight years and also as a home for their three children.

Patty and Michael Hopkins were known for using new and creative materials. For example, they used lightweight fabric for the Mound Stand at Lord's Cricket Ground in 1987.

In 1994, Patty and Michael Hopkins received the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Royal Gold Medal for Architecture together. The award said their work was liked by both everyday people and other architects. In the same year, Patty Hopkins played a big part in designing the new Glyndebourne Opera House.

She became an honorary member of the Royal Institute of Architects in Scotland in 1996. Then, in 1997, she became an honorary member of the American Institute of Architects. In 2014, she gave an important speech at a "Women in Architecture" event.

Patty Hopkins was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2024. This award was for her great work in architecture.

Recognitions and Awards

In 2014, there was a discussion about a photo used by the BBC. The photo was for a TV series about famous architects. Patty Hopkins was a full partner in her architecture firm with her husband. The discussion was about how women architects are sometimes overlooked. However, Patty Hopkins herself met with the BBC to discuss her involvement in the series. All six architects, including Patty, were part of a related exhibition.

See also

In Spanish: Patricia Ann Wainwright para niños