Sir Terry Farrell, one of Britain's most influential architects and urban planners who helped define the postmodern movement, has passed away at the age of 87. Known for his unconventional designs and playful architectural elements, Farrell left behind a remarkable legacy of buildings that span from spy headquarters to aquariums, each telling a unique story of architectural innovation.

Farrell began his architectural journey in 1965 when he established a practice with his longtime friend Nicholas Grimshaw. During their 15-year partnership, the duo achieved notable success with projects like the Herman Miller Factory in Bath, completed in 1976, which became a landmark of British hi-tech architecture. They also designed 125 Park Road in Regent's Park, London, in 1970. However, as their interests gradually diverged, the partnership eventually came to an end.

In 1980, Farrell founded his own company, Terry Farrell & Partners, and quickly established himself as a forerunner in the postmodern movement. One of his most whimsical early successes was the TV-am studios by Camden Lock in London. As a playful reference to the breakfast television shows filmed there, Farrell topped the building with a dozen decorative eggcups, showcasing his signature blend of functionality and humor that would become his trademark.

Farrell's portfolio includes some of London's most recognizable structures. His 1990 Embankment Place in the City of Westminster and the famous Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) building at Vauxhall Cross became iconic parts of London's skyline. The MI6 building gained additional fame when it was dramatically blown up at the end of the James Bond film "Spectre." Another significant contribution was 125 London Wall, also known as the Alban Gate office development, which opened in 1992 and became one of the key buildings of the postmodernist movement.

During the economic recession of the 1990s, Farrell expanded his practice internationally, finding new opportunities in East Asia and establishing an office in Hong Kong. This expansion led to some of his most ambitious projects, including the distinctive Peak Tower project completed in 1995, which became a prominent feature of Hong Kong's skyline. His work in the region continued with Hong Kong's West Kowloon station, completed in 2018.

Farrell's versatility as an architect is perhaps best demonstrated by his diverse range of projects. In 2002, he completed The Deep Submarium in Kingston upon Hull, East Yorkshire, an innovative aquarium that brought marine life to England's industrial heartland. His work extended to major infrastructure projects, including the massive Guangzhou South station in China, completed in 2010, which serves as a crucial transportation hub.

The architect's ability to work on vastly different scales is evident in projects ranging from the towering KK100 skyscraper in Shenzhen, China, completed in 2011, to more intimate community projects like the Kennedy Town public swimming pool in Hong Kong, also completed in 2011. Back in London, he designed the Home Office building at 2 Marsham Street, completed in 2005, demonstrating his continued relevance in British institutional architecture.

One of Farrell's most recent and notable projects involved the transformation of London's historic Lots Road power station, originally built in 1904. He successfully converted this industrial landmark into luxury apartments as part of the Chelsea Waterfront residential development, showcasing his talent for adaptive reuse and urban regeneration.

Throughout his career, Farrell operated from his London home, a converted factory that originally housed his architectural practice, symbolizing his philosophy of adaptive reuse and creative transformation. His approach to architecture combined practical functionality with bold visual statements, often incorporating unexpected elements that challenged conventional design wisdom while remaining deeply contextual to their surroundings.