Jeremy Williams: One of a Kind

Jeremy Daniel Williams (1943–2015) led a life packed with incident, effort and fun. What usually became obvious to his friends was the depth of his learning, whether of architecture, European history, genealogy, music or literature. All of this was the product of a prodigious appetite for people, buildings and art. Light and airy sketches and drawings flew from his pen. Architectural ideas might appear on backs of envelopes or on large sketch pads. The sheer extent of his imagination, learning, travel and contacts is to be found in the fifty-six boxes of his notebooks now deposited in the Irish Architectural Archive, including notes on buildings in Ireland, Poland, the Czech Republic, Belgium, France, India and Egypt. He works out designs for the redevelopment of Summerhill, for the Taoiseach’s proposed residence in Phoenix Park, for the Millennium competition to replace Nelson’s Pillar and for the hotel at Powerscourt, County Wicklow. His other great gift was for friendship. His clients became his friends, and patrons. It is through their generosity and kindness that Jeremy managed to survive and to share with us the remarkable range of his talents. These fifteen commemorative pieces by friends, family and colleagues pay tribute to this one-of-a-kind artist, historian and architect. Illustrated by his sketches and photographs, together they capture the protean spirit and personality of this remarkable individual.