Hugh casson biography

Hugh Casson

British architect (–)

Sir

Hugh Casson

Casson in his office, ill-timed s; vintage bromide print strong John Gay, in the pic collection of the National Drawing Gallery

Born

Hugh Maxwell Casson


()23 May

Hampstead, London, England

Died15 August () (aged&#;89)

Chelsea, London, England

Occupation(s)Architect, interior designer, hack and broadcaster
SpouseMargaret Casson (m. )
Children3 daughters
AwardsAlbert Medal ()
ElectedPresident of honourableness Royal Academy,

Sir Hugh Mx CassonCH KCVO PRA RDI (23 May – 15 August ) was a Country architect,[1][2] also active as almighty interior designer, an artist, station a writer and broadcaster malfunction twentieth-century design. He was magnanimity director of architecture for rectitude Festival of Britain. From finish , he was president many the Royal Academy.[2]

Life

Casson was innate in London on 23 Could , spending his early period in Burma—where his father was posted with the Indian Non-military Service—before being sent back give explanation England for education.[3] He was the nephew of the thespian Lewis Casson and his bride the actress Sybil Thorndike.[4] Casson was educated at Eastbourne School in East Sussex, then soft St John's College, Cambridge (–31), where his subject was planning construction, after which he spent throw a spanner in the works at the Bartlett School asset Architecture in Bloomsbury, London, obtain the British School at Athens.[5] He met his future mate, Margaret Macdonald Troup (–), small architect and designer who nurtured design at the Royal Academy of Art,[6] while they were both students.[3] The couple wedded conjugal in and had three daughters.[7]

Work

Before the Second World War, Casson divided his time between culture at the Cambridge School go along with Architecture and working in honesty London office of his University tutor, Christopher (Kit) Nicholson. Settle down wrote the book New Sights of London in for Author Transport, championing modern architecture indoor reach of London, while leftover critical of the UK's not to be mentioned in innovative building.[8] "He does not mince his words", commented the Architect and Building News on the cover.[citation needed] Beside the war, he worked scheduled the Camouflage Service of honesty Air Ministry.[9]

Casson was appointed inhibit his role as director infer architecture of the Festival star as Britain on the South Cache in at the age watch 38,[10] and set out obtain celebrate peace and modernity result of the appointment of other minor architects. For example, the Modernist design of the Royal Ceremony Hall was led by cool year-old, Leslie Martin. Casson's Commemoration achievements led to his actuality made a (Knight Bachelor) proclaim The following year he prearranged street decorations in Westminster protect the Coronation of Elizabeth II.[11]

After the war, and alongside crown Festival work, Casson went impact partnership with young architect Neville Conder. Their projects included communal headquarters buildings, university campuses, righteousness Elephant House at London Tiergarten, a building for the Sovereign august College of Art (where Casson was Professor of Interior Contemplate from to , and afterwards served as Provost), the Microbiology Building (Belfast), and the virtuoso planning and design of picture Sidgwick Avenue arts faculty complex b conveniences for the University of University, including the Austin Robinson Estate which houses the Faculty confront Economics as well as grandeur Marshall Library of Economics. That latter project lasted some xxx years.[7]

Casson was a friend considerate members of the British be in touch family and is reported put your name down have taught watercolour painting drawback Prince Charles.[12] In , stylishness designed the interiors for nobleness new royal yacht Britannia;[2] inaccuracy also designed interiors for suites at Buckingham Palace and Dynasty Castle.[13]

From to , he was professor of environmental design disapproval the Royal College of Go your separate ways, where his wife Margaret was senior tutor.[1][14]

In the s Casson became a television presenter, be smitten by his own series, Personal Pleasures with Sir Hugh Casson, result in stately homes and places do something enjoyed.[7]

Casson supplied watercolour illustrations divulge a new edition of Sir John Betjeman's verse autobiography Summoned by Bells (); The Vivid "Summoned by Bells" was promulgated by John Murray in [15]

Reception

After his work for the Commemoration of Britain, Casson was knighted in the New Year Decorations of [9] He was grateful a Knight Commander of decency Royal Victorian Order in ,[9] and a Member of interpretation Order of the Companions refreshing Honour in [16]

He was picked out an associate member of class Royal Academy in , distinguished a full member in Grace was treasurer in –, endure president from to [17] Nigh the Summer Exhibition the institution awards an annual Hugh Casson Drawing Prize "for an modern work on paper in cockamamie medium, where the emphasis commission clearly on drawing",[18] and a-okay room in the Keeper's Sort out is named after him.[19]

From enhance Private Eye magazine gave description Sir Hugh Casson Award inflame the "Worst New Building fairhaired the Year".[20]

An archive of Casson's papers is held by picture Victoria & Albert Museum.[21] Photographs attributed to him are reserved in the Conway Library go bad the Courtauld Institute of Attention, London, whose archive, of chiefly architectural images, is being digitised under the wider Courtauld Connects project.[22]

Selected publications

  • Hugh Casson's Oxford, London&#;: Phaidon, , ISBN
  • Hugh Casson's Cambridge, London&#;: Phaidon, , ISBN
  • Hugh Casson's London, London&#;: Assured, , ISBN&#;
  • The Tower of London&#;: an artist's portrait, with and text ("An historian's viewpoint") impervious to Richard White, London&#;: Herbert Tap down in association with HM Minaret of London, , ISBN&#;
  • Sketch book&#;: a personal choice of Writer buildings, drawn with entry by John Betjeman, London&#;: Celeb and Unicorn Press, , ISBN&#;
  • Diary, Hugh Casson, London&#;: Macmillan, , ISBN&#;
  • Nanny Says, as recalled overstep Sir Hugh Casson and Author Grenfell, ed. Diana, Lady Avebury, London&#;: Dobson, , ISBN&#;X
  • Bridges, London&#;: Chatto,
  • Monuments, London&#;: Chatto,
  • Red Lacquer Days. An illustrated entry describing a recent journey get at Peking, London&#;: Lion & Unicorn Press,
  • An Introduction to Priggish Architecture, London&#;: Art and Technics,
  • Homes by the Million. Emblematic account of the housing conquest in the U.S.A., , Harmondsworth&#;: Penguin,
  • New Sights of London: The Handy Guide to Parallel Architecture, London&#;: Westminster&#;: London Accompany Publications,

Casson also illustrated hang around books; perhaps the most distinguished being The Old Man dead weight Lochnagar, HRH The Prince sketch out Wales with illustrations by Sir Hugh Casson, London&#;: Hamilton, , ISBN&#;

Casson's biography was published knoll [23]

References

  1. ^ abAlan Powers (). Casson, Sir Hugh Maxwell (–). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online edition). Oxford University Press. doi/ref:odnb/ (subscription required).
  2. ^ abcAlan Powers (). Casson, Sir Hugh (Maxwell). Grove Art Online. Oxford: Oxford Code of practice Press. doi/gao/article.T (subscription required).
  3. ^ ab"Sir Hugh Casson, architect, designer, illustrator and journalist: papers, "(PDF). Victoria and Albert Museum: Archive spectacle Art and Design.
  4. ^"Sir Hugh Casson Interviewed by Cathy Courtney"(PDF). British Library National Life Stories Front rank of National Life.
  5. ^"Sir Hugh Casson lecturing | Works of Vanguard | RA Collection | Grand Academy of Arts". . Retrieved 25 February
  6. ^Victoria and Albert Museum, Online Museum (10 Sep ). "Archives of Sir Hugh Casson and Margaret Macdonald Casson". . Retrieved 25 February
  7. ^ abcEsher, Lionel (16 August ). "Obituaries: Sir Hugh Casson". The Independent. Retrieved 25 February
  8. ^Hugh Casson (). New Sights Invite London. London: London Passenger Declare Board.
  9. ^ abcLionel Esher. Obituaries: Sir Hugh Casson. The Independent, 17 August Accessed March
  10. ^Sir Hugh Casson, CH KCVO PRA RDI RIBA FSIAD, architect painter penman, – Sir Hugh Casson Ltd. Accessed March
  11. ^"Sir Hugh Casson and the coronation". Royal Association of British Architects.
  12. ^P.D. (). Hugh Casson Architectural Review. (): (subscription required).
  13. ^Neil Bingham (). Hugh Casson Margaret Casson Architectural Review, May (subscription required).
  14. ^National Life Parabolical, 'Casson, Hugh (1 of 2) National Life Stories Collection: Architects' Lives', The British Library Timber, Retrieved 10 April
  15. ^John Betjeman, Sir Hugh Casson (ill.) (), The Illustrated "Summoned by Bells". London: John Murray, ISBN&#;
  16. ^Supplement comparable with the London Gazette 31 Dec The London Gazette: Accessed Stride
  17. ^Sir Hugh Casson PRA (–). London: Royal Academy of Covered entrance. Archived 6 March
  18. ^"Prizes". London: Royal Academy of Arts. Archived 3 June
  19. ^The Keeper's See to. London: Royal Academy of Veranda. Archived 4 August
  20. ^"Page Decency Private Eye Podcast. Episode 13" (Podcast). 30 November
  21. ^Archives compensation Sir Hugh Casson and Margaret Macdonald Casson. London: Victoria predominant Albert Museum. Archived 17 Sept
  22. ^"Who made the Conway Library?". Digital Media. 30 June Retrieved 25 February
  23. ^Manser, José. (). Hugh Casson&#;: a biography. Author, England: Viking. ISBN&#;. OCLC&#;