Current RIBA President, Muyiwa Oki pays tribute to former RIBA President, Dr Roderick (Rod) Hackney who passed away on Thursday 14 August 2025.
“I would like to express my sincere condolences to Rod’s family and many friends at this very sad time.
Rod was RIBA President from 1987 to 1989 and President of the Union of International Architects between 1987 and 1990, where he remained a formidable presence for many decades.
Born in Liverpool in 1942, he studied at Manchester University’s School of Architecture and pioneered the concept of community architecture. His work with his neighbours in Black Road, Macclesfield to resist the mass demolition of their Victorian terraces in favour of renovation, became the model for many other schemes.
As RIBA President, Rod was instrumental in bringing the organisation closer to Europe and helped pave the way for the free flow of architects working in the European Economic Community (EEC), as it was then known, by 1992.
He also played a significant role in ensuring that RIBA turned its attention to so-called ‘green issues’ and play its part in helping to improve the environment through championing more sustainable building design.
Before his presidency, as Chair of our Community Architecture Working Group (CAWG), Rod outlined the need for architects to work hand in hand with community groups, and for architecture to be 'on the human scale, sympathetic to the user and the viewer'.
His profession took him around the world. Notably to Canada, where he worked on the designs of six monorail stations for the Montreal ’67 Expo, and Libya, where he helped build urgently needed permanent homes for displaced communities.
While his time in Denmark, working in Arne Jacobsen's Copenhagen practice, gave him an appreciation of second-generation modernists and their respect for Classicism and tradition.
In 1972, he formed his own practice Rod Hackney Architects in Macclesfield, and in 2009 he co-founded Kansara Hackney Ltd with his business partner Dr Tia Kansara.
Unfailingly cheerful and immensely popular, we were delighted to welcome Rod last year when he paid a visit to 66 Portland Place and his old office.
Rod's death is a huge loss and he will be greatly missed. We will never forget the huge contribution he has made to RIBA and community architecture."
Jack Pringle, past RIBA President and current Chair of the Board, remembers Rod Hackney as a kind and considerate colleague and friend, a sentiment undoubtedly shared by many at the Institute.
RIBA Chair of the Board, Jack Pringle said: "Rod was extremely helpful to me when I was president and sat on the UIA Council. His understanding of international affairs was legendary, and he could always find a way to resolve differences between national bodies and to find a way forward for the common good."
