RENOWNED architect Geoffrey Darke has died aged 82.

Mr Darke and his wife Jean moved from Aldeburgh to Oxford six years ago to a home in Murray Court to be closer to his family, including his brother Headington Hill and Northway councillor Roy Darke.

He died of a heart condition on November 8 and his funeral was held at St Giles Church on Friday. Mr Darke trained at Birmingham School of Architecture under Douglas Jones, having won a RIBA scholarship.

His early career was with Pemberton and Bateman, Evesham and Broadway, who specialised in Cotswold architecture.

He later became a founding partner in (John) Darbourne and Darke Architects, whose first scheme together was the Lillington Street housing in Vauxhall Bridge Road for Westminster City Council.

The scheme won a prize in 1960 and took a new approach to high-density social housing by giving all families access to open space and landscape planting.

Mr Darke designed 1960s mid-rise housing by ingenious planning and high-quality materials. His practice carried out many urban schemes in England, Germany and Italy.

They designed the main stand at Chelsea Football Club and smaller schemes for Oxford University, with a book depot at Nuneham Courtenay.

The office grew to about 100 staff in its heyday and was based in Richmond, Surrey.

At Montpelier Row in Twickenham, Mr Darke designed a house for his family after a long struggle with the Greater London Council to persuade planners that a modern design could fit in a Georgian environment.

Mr Darke was awarded the Fritz Schumacher award for architecture in 1972. A square in Zurich is named after the practice in recognition of its international reputation.

He was also an accomplished musician, and enjoyed singing.

He leaves Jean, his three children Chris, Liz and Sarah and five grandsons.