Dr Michael Forsyth was a distinguished architect, scholar, educator, and conservationist whose work left a profound and enduring mark on architectural history and the conservation of historic buildings in the United Kingdom and internationally.
Born on 26 November 1951 in Tyneside, England, Michael Forsyth was educated in architecture at the University of Liverpool, where he obtained his BA and BArch with honours, before completing his doctorate at the University of Bristol in 1984. His early professional career combined academic depth with international architectural practice, including work in the United States Virgin Islands, Sweden, and Canada, notably with Arthur Erickson Architects and Parkin Partnership in Toronto. These experiences informed a lifelong interest in the relationship between architectural design, cultural context, and human experience.
Michael joined the University of Bath in 1998, where he became a central figure in architectural education and heritage scholarship. He served as Director of Studies for the MSc in Conservation of Historic Buildings, a programme under his stewardship, supported by Marion Harney, that achieved international recognition for its intellectual rigour, interdisciplinary approach, and close engagement with practice. Generations of students benefitted from his exceptional ability to bridge theory and application, combining historical scholarship with a deep understanding of materials, construction, and conservation philosophy.
He was a prolific and influential author. His book Buildings for Music: The Architect, the Musician, and the Listener from the Seventeenth Century to the Present Day is widely regarded as a seminal contribution to architectural and acoustic scholarship and was awarded the ASCAP Deems Taylor Award by the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers. Commissioned by Yale University Press the authoritative volume Pevsner Architectural Guide to Bath (2003) researched and written with Marion Harney, remains an essential reference on the city’s architectural heritage. Equally significant is his multi-volume editorial work on Historic Building Conservation, including Understanding Conservation, Materials and Skills, Structures and book in the series, Gardens and Landscapes in Historic Building Conservation edited by Marion Harney, which together form a foundational body of knowledge for conservation education and professional practice.
Beyond his publications, Michael Forsyth contributed extensively to scholarly journals, edited collections, and professional discourse, with research ranging from architectural history and urban form to the conservation of ironwork and historic fabric. His work was characterised by intellectual precision, clarity of argument, and a commitment to evidence-based conservation. Michael Forsyth was also deeply engaged in professional and public life. He served on national and international committees, including roles with the Architects Registration Board and selection panels such as the Rome Prize in Architecture. Locally and nationally, he was an active contributor to heritage and cultural organisations, including the Bath Preservation Trust and the Friends of the Victoria Art Gallery. He was a gifted communicator and frequently shared his expertise through public lectures, broadcasts, and media appearances, helping to broaden public understanding of architecture and historic environments. He passed away peacefully following a long illness on 14 of January 2026.
Professor Andrew Heath, Head of the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, said:
Michael’s enthusiasm for Bath and in particular its heritage and buildings, was boundless. He played a pivotal role in shaping the MSc in Conservation of Historic Buildings at the University, and his passion for architectural history and conservation was truly infectious. One of my enduring memories of him is from a workshop at the Holburne Museum, where he fondly described the University as ‘a beautiful example of brutalist architecture’, delivered with his characteristic smile. The field of historic building conservation has lost a great leader, and we will miss him.
Funeral and memorial arrangements: Valley Chapel, Haycombe Crematorium, Friday 6th February 2026 at 4pm.
Michael Forsyth will be remembered as a scholar of exceptional depth, a teacher of rare generosity, and a tireless advocate for the careful understanding and stewardship of the historic built environment. His legacy endures through his writings, his students, and the many buildings and places enriched by his insight.