David Marks (architect)

{{Short description|British architect (1952–2017)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox person

| name = David Marks

| honorific_suffix = MBE

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| birth_name = David Joseph Marks

| birth_date = {{birth date|1952|12|15|df=y}}

| birth_place = Stockholm, Sweden

| death_date = {{death date and age|2017|10|6|1952|12|15|df=y}}

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| nationality = British

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| occupation = Architect

| title =

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| known for = London Eye
British Airways i360

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| spouse = Julia Barfield

| children = 3

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}}

David Joseph Marks {{post-nominals|country=GBR|MBE}} (15 December 1952 – 6 October 2017) was a British architect. In partnership with his wife Julia Barfield, he designed the London Eye, the British Airways i360 observation tower in Brighton, and the Treetop Walkway at Kew Gardens, London.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2017/oct/09/david-marks-obituary|title=David Marks obituary|first=Steve|last=Rose|newspaper=The Guardian |date=9 October 2017|publisher=|accessdate=12 October 2017|via=www.theguardian.com}}

David Marks was born on 15 December 1952 in Stockholm, Sweden, the son of Gunilla (née Lovén) and Melville Marks, a journalist and film producer. Marks, who is Jewish, grew up in Geneva, where he attended the International School of Geneva.{{cite web|url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/david-marks-designer-of-the-london-eye-dies-aged-64-1.445689|title=David Marks, designer of the London Eye, dies aged 64|publisher=The Jewish Chronicle}} He moved to London in 1972, at first to study at the Kingston Polytechnic before moving to Architectural Association School of Architecture.

Marks was married to fellow architect Julia Barfield and they formed the architecture firm Marks Barfield.

He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2000 New Year Honours "for services to the British Airways London Eye."{{London Gazette|issue=55710 |date=30 December 1999 |page=27 |supp=y}}

{{wide image|Kew Gardens Treetop Walkway - Sept 2008.jpg|600px|align-cap=center|A panoramic view of the treetop walkway, which stands {{convert|18|m}} above ground}}