Peter Johnson (architect)
Peter Richard Norman Johnson (1923–2003) served with the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II and was a distinguished architect in his native Australia. Early life. Johnson was born in Armadale, Victoria to Frank and Marian Johnson and later attended Bellevue Hill Public School and Sydney Boys High School. He spent one year studying engineering at Sydney Technical College before joining the Royal Australian Air Force. At the outbreak of war, he was sent to Canada for training. After completing his training, Flight Lieutenant Johnson arrived in England and spent his leave at Stonewall, Kent. It  was here he met Jane Meade-Waldo who he married on 24 March 1944. Eighteen days later, Jane received news that Johnson's Lancaster Bomber had been shot down during a night bombing mission over France. Johnson and his navigator escaped their stricken aircraft and were rescued near Amiens. Johnson was disguised as a mute peasant and hidden by the French Resistance for six months. Towards the end of the war, Johnson made his way back to England and with Jane, returned to Australia. Career. After the war, Johnson studied architecture at the University of Sydney. Following his graduation he  entered the architectural firm of Kenneth McConnel. In 1954, they were joined by Stanley Smith and founded McConnel Smith and Johnson. In 1960, Johnson emerged as a leading creative talent and became the founding president of the Architectural Society. Johnson's family house in Chatswood won the 1964 RAIA Wilkinson Award, influencing the development of the Sydney School. In 1967, Johnson was appointed Professor of Architecture at the University of Sydney and was head of the school of undergraduate studies between 1968–1986. In 1988, he became chancellor of the University of Technology, Sydney. Awards and recognition. In 1964, Johnson was  awarded the Royal Australian Institute of Architects Wilkinson Award for his Chatswood Residence. In 1979, Johnson received the Officer of the Order of Australia and was promoted to Companion of the Order of Australia in 2002. In 1987, the architectural archive of the National Library, Canberra was named the Peter Johnson Architectural Archive. In the late 1990s, UTS named their new home of Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building the Peter Johnson Building.