Architect Richard Layton has been remembered by his peers after cancer battle

An innovative Territory architect has been remembered by peers ahead of his funeral. Read what they said.

A funeral service will be held on Friday afternoon to honour pioneering Territory architect Richard Layton, who died last week after battling cancer.

A long-time contributor to the NT Chapter of the Australian Institute of Architects, he came to Darwin with his partner Carole Miller in the early 1990s.

His entry into architecture came after 25 years working in building supply company CSR’s building materials division.

After meeting Carole in the mid-1980s he began studying architecture at the University of Adelaide and graduated in 1991 after completing his honours thesis on the effect of airflow on thermal comfort in the tropics.

To provide a practical context to his studies Richard moved to Darwin with Carole, who had previously spent years in the Territory working in media and founding Darwin’s first FM radio station Top FM.

A service will be held on October 25, 2024 for Richard Layton

His first Territory job was with Troppo Architects, where he is credited with having computerised the practice before forming Richard Layton and Associates in the early 2000s. From there his focus shifted to the design and project management of health-related projects and residential housing in over 40 remote Territory communities.

“He was determined to build a home, not just a house, that would work in remote communities and he liked to think he succeeded around that, particularly in Galiwinku,” Carole said.

John Horgan was chief executive of three East Arnhem community councils and recalled Richard’s focus on improving the usability of remote housing.

Labor government announced housing program Room to Breathe in the community of Milikapiti on the Tiwi Islands.

“I first met him 26-years ago when I was chief executive at Ramingining and Troppo got a contract to build multi-bedroom houses there,” John said.

“At the time Troppo homes were relatively fit for purpose but not 100 per cent so. They were built with airflow, which was fine because they weren’t built with air-conditioners, but Richard believed the better homes had big all-round verandas to keep the living space cool.”

This became a core-principal of his designs while complying with regulations around cyclones to combat Arnhem Land’s wicked winds.

Prominent Territory architect Steve Huntingford said Richard was “the architect’s architect”.

“He was 100 per cent committed to his work.”

Richard is survived by his daughters Anne and Julienne, and grandchildren. A service will be held at 3.30pm Friday at Resthaven Chapel, Marrara.

Originally published as Architect Richard Layton has been remembered by his peers after cancer battle