AADipl
It is with great sadness that we announce that Paul Coates died in the early hours of Friday the 14th of June 2013.
His major contribution was to the early development of computer systems for architects and his early introduction of computing into Architectural Education first at Liverpool Polytechnic and later at University of East London.
He joined the AA in 1963 in a cohort that included Robin Evans, John Frazer, John Young, Marco Goldschmied, Michael Brown, Peter Colomb, Jane Lamb, Stuart Passey, Richard Bunt, Katherine Macdonald and Henry Hertzberg. Paul Coates immediately made an impact with his original ideas and unconventional approach. In his fourth year he discovered the architectural potential of the scientific discipline of cellular automata that is a technique underlying much generative design and can be seen developed in many recent projects at the AA.
As one of the founders of Autographics (with John and Julia Frazer) he created, wrote and marketed the world’s first micro drafting system several years before AutoCad. A series of highly innovative, friendly yet technically brilliant products were developed over nearly 20 years which won major awards and prizes for innovation and interface design including a British Design Award 1988 presented by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh.
Paul went on to lead the Masters course at UEL in Architecture: Computing and Design and inspired generations of students many of who now have formidable reputations of their own. He further developed generative design techniques during this period and wrote a book explaining his methods.
He enjoys a global reputation for his significant contribution to the development of microcomputer based graphics and the use of computers in design education and his major contribution to the whole field of generative systems.