and rather than clearing properties and moving people elsewhere, the community was able to remain together.” Ralph Erskine founded his own company in Sweden in 1939. In 2000 he invited his long-time collaborator Johannes Tovatt into a partnership, naming the company Erskine Tovatt Arkitekter AB. It was Erskine's will that on his death his name be removed from the company. Therefore, his legacy lives on in the company called Tovatt Architects and Planners in Drottningholm outside Stockholm. Erskine also received an Honorary Doctorate from Heriot-Watt University in 1982 In 1984, with his wife he established the Ruth and Ralph Erskine Nordic Foundation, endowed by proceeds from the Wolf Prize in Arts, which he was awarded that year. Beginning in 1988, the foundation has awarded a bi-annual prize of US$10,000 and a medal designed by Ralph Erskine, for any person, group or organisation that "has contributed to the construction of buildings or community structures of innovative social, ecological and aesthetic character. The contribution must respect functional and economical aspects, and be to the advantage of the less privileged". Erskine wrote the preface to the English translation of Jan Gehl's influential book Life Between Buildings, published in 1986. In 1987 he was awarded the RIBA Royal Gold Medal. National Life Stories conducted an oral history interview (C467/8) with Ralph Erskine in 1997 for its Architects Lives' collection held by the British Library. Personal life He met his wife Ruth at the Quaker school in Saffron Walden in the early 1930s. They were married in Stockholm in 1939 and had four children. Ruth died in 1988. He is survived by his children: Jane Kristina, Karin Elizabeth, Patrick Jon and Suzanne. References External links Ralph Erskine page at Great Buildings Online Oral history interview with Ralph Erskine (in 14 parts – follow links from part 1). This material is only available in the UK. 1914 births 2005 deaths Architects from London Swedish architects Postmodern architects Housing in Sweden British expatriates in Sweden Associates of the Royal Institute of British Architects British urban planners Alumni of the University of Westminster Recipients of the Royal Gold Medal Wolf Prize in Arts laureates People educated at Friends School Saffron Walden People from Mill Hill Recipients of the Prince Eugen Medal British Quakers Honorary Members of the Royal Academy