Bob grew up in Leicester, England where he studied Architecture at the Leicester College of Art and Technology. He became a registered architect in 1961 and completed his first major architectural commission two years later. He then pursued graduate studies in Civic Design at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, followed by two years as Visiting Lecturer in Architecture at the University of Kansas, USA under the auspices of the Fulbright Scholarship Program.
Returning to London, UK, he worked as an Architect/Pla¬nner on the planning of a New Town and major urban regeneration projects in London and Cardiff.
Bob moved to Canada in 1968 to take up the position of Director of Campus Planning at the University of Manitoba and subsequently became involved (with Alex Rattray) in establishing the graduate Landscape Architecture Program there. His was the first design studio in that new program.
In 1979, he joined Roger duToit Architects/du Toit Associates in Toronto and began teaching in the Department of Landscape Architecture, University of Toronto. The partnership, du Toit Allsopp Hillier, was formed in 1985 and it continues as DTAH, a much-expanded, multi-dimensional design practice.
Bob is principally known for his breadth of understanding of urban design issues and his doggedness in search of deceptively simple design solutions strongly rooted in their place. His best-known work is in campus planning, urban neighbourhoods and a wide range of projects in Canada’s National Capital recognized nationally and internationally. He is the receipient of the 2008 OALA Pinnacle Award and 2016 CSLA Lifetime Achievement Award.
Arcadia Studios completed a series of interviews with Canadian landscape architect pioneers. View Robert Allsopp's episode here.
