Mark Potiriadis, one of the founding partners of pioneering leisure architectural practice, Sargent & Potiriadis, (now S&P), has died suddenly aged 61, in his native Greece.

Potiriadis, along with business partner Peter Sargent, was among a small group of creative thinkers who transformed leisure architecture from the late 1970s onwards with the creation of leisure pools and flumes.

Their designs transformed swimming pools from what had been purely competitive facilities into places to play and experiment with water. In doing so, they created a whole new genre of leisure experience and fun for generations of families and children.

S&P went on to be involved with a wide range of commercial and public sector leisure and sports facilities and are currently part of the team working on the London 2012 Olympic aquatic centre.

Potiriadis returned to Greece to work as part of the team delivering the Athens Olympics and was also involved in a number of commercial real estate and golf developments, such as Kilada Hills in Greece.

Those who knew him will remember a warm, lively man who challenged and inspired those he met.

Image: Golfer Jack Nicklaus presents Mark Potiriadis with a set of golf clubs embroidered with the Kilada Hills name – which Potiriadis owned – on 11 December 2006