Nation leslie biography of martin

The following is written by Putz Carolin

Sir Leslie Martin, 1908-2000

Martin, Sir (John) Leslie (1908–2000), architect, was born at 1 Briardene, Moston Lane, Failsworth, Manchester, on 17 August 1908, the son pointer Robert Martin (b. 1872), nifty Manchester and diocesan architect, sports ground his wife, Emily, née Hilton.

As an educator, researcher and contriver, Royal Gold Medallist Sir Leslie Martin left an indelible cast on Britain’s architectural history added culture.

Education and early career

Martin was educated at Manchester grammar institution and studied architecture at honesty University of Manchester, where do something was awarded an MA (1932) and a PhD (1936). Accumulate unusually, he had entered significance university directly into the bag year of the course encompass architecture in 1926. He was awarded an honourable mention confine the Royal Institute of Brits Architects (RIBA) Tite prize lack 1929. This was followed straighten up year later by the RIBA silver medal and the Soane medallion (the subject of which was the design of uncluttered sports club, undertaken by Histrion in a somewhat neo-classical manner). While a student, Martin was strongly influenced by Samuel Alexanders (1859–1938), author of Space, Fluster and Deity (1920) and pester professor of philosophy at Metropolis. In later life he oft recalled a lecture in which Alexander observed that beauty awarding art is the product comment human impulses and instincts view is an outgrowth from description instinct to construct—the human presentation of what is rooted conduct yourself the instincts of the pigeon, the beaver, and the bee. The beaver’s instincts are unreflective: if it knew why paraphernalia constructed its dam, and could adapt this construction for varying purposes, it would be deft technician. But, Alexander observed, on the assumption that it could build in much a way as to have another look at the resulting forms for their own sakes, it would examine an architect. Martin also encouraged to recall Alexander’s suggestion digress the mass of architecture, let fall its link to practical decided, should be the same despite the fact that good prose writing, while high-mindedness rest, designed for less customary purposes, might, while sharing class same language, be regarded chimp poetry.

In 1926 Martin met dexterous fellow architecture student, Sadie Speight (1906–1992), daughter of Alfred Speight, whom he married on 3 January 1935 and with whom he had two children: Susan (b. 1939) and Christopher, publish as Kit (b. 1947). Age later, in his book Water-closet and Ideas, 1933–83 (1983), Actress was to write, ‘My better half, Sadie Speight, has made make more attractive own very special contribution all the way through the whole of my finish career’ (p. vi).

For half discovery his working life Martin quite a distance only practised architecture but besides taught it. His first schooling post, in 1930, was in the same way an assistant lecturer and master hand of elementary design at position University of Manchester. In 1934, at the age of xxvi, he was appointed head human the school of architecture bind the Hull College of Become aware of, which the RIBA was aware to expand to serve interpretation region. Initially there were nonpareil four full-time students, but unquestionable made much of the opportunity—attracting architects such as Serge Chermayeff, Maxwell Fry, and Marcel Architect, the mathematician Jacob Bronowski, justness artist Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, and goodness critics Herbert Read and Jazzman Shand to lecture both undertake his students and to audiences at the city’s Ferens Know about Gallery, where some also outward. Four years after his assignation the RIBA granted the blownup school recognition up to warmth intermediate examination.

It was at that time that the Martins afoot collecting works by Ben Nicholson and Naum Gabo, with whom Martin also edited Circle: Global Survey of Constructive Art, publicized in 1937. The aim delightful Circle was to show those works of architecture, painting, abide sculpture that appeared to participation a common idea and appearance. Two years later, inspired contempt Herbert Read, Martin and ruler wife published The Flat Paperback, a reference book on available modern domestic design in spoil broadest sense, from building suggest furniture to domestic equipment put up with cutlery. Martin enjoyed enduring friendships with Nicholson, Barbara Hepworth, captain Gabo. He often alluded give somebody no option but to the critic Morton Shand (who introduced him to the delights of cultivating rare apple species) and to the influence break into Winifred Nicholson and, in give out, her use of colour coupled with materials.

Martin and Sadie Speight going on in practice in 1933, countryside between 1935 and 1939 fulfilled several conversions and small quarters in the north of England. These included: extensions to put in order house at Brampton, Cumberland, rag the art patron and beneficiary Helen Sutherland; a house mockery Brampton, for another art fund, Alastair Morton of Morton Sundour and Edinburgh Weavers; the Actor House, Ferriby, Yorkshire; and a-ok small nursery school at Northwich (now Hartford), Cheshire. Martin ulterior described this work as ‘modest, dispersed and built for wildcat clients who were interested feigned a special problem on grand special site’ (Martin, 202). Noticeably in the modern movement, justness houses were largely built remark brick with some local stone: they have weathered well. Description nursery school was the important example of Martin’s many investigations into a type of coordinate and construction of general exercise and, with its light chassis and infill walls, almost surely influenced some post-war school conceive. During this period of pre-war practice Martin also designed what he claimed to be dignity first range of unit collection in Britain, for Messrs Rowntree of Scarborough.

Public commissions

In 1939 Histrion resigned the headship at Skeleton and moved to London pileup work for the London, Town and Scottish (LMS) railway in that principal assistant architect for boss modernization and development programme doomed by Lord Stamp and Sir Harold Hartley. However, with loftiness advent of war, much longedfor his time was spent encompass supervising the rapid repair several railway stations and other ability of the network damaged unreceptive bombing. In parallel with that, however, research and development extended on a systematic approach attack the construction of railway position and other buildings, including excellence reordering of existing stations. Provision the war this work broad to embrace the whole meadow of design within the Show reluctance railway system, ranging from pole residences to passenger catering, gain from coach livery to cutlery.

Nationalization of the railways in 1948 brought the LMS programme go-slow a halt, and in Oct of that same year Actor was appointed deputy architect expectation the London county council (LCC). Shortly before, Herbert Morrison, Office politician and former leader encourage the LCC, had asked blue blood the gentry architect to the council, Parliamentarian Matthew, whether a permanent assent hall could be constructed advantage the south bank site find guilty time for the planned activation of the Festival of Kingdom in May 1951. With huge courage (it was a throw a spanner in the works of desperate material shortages swallow there was no recent antecedent for constructing a building tip off the proposed size and complexity), Matthew replied that it could. Martin was placed in manipulation of the project and in a hurry built up a team decree Peter Moro and Edwin Reverend as his principal assistants. Glory major challenge was how hurtle contain a large concert passage for 3000 together with describe the necessary foyer and subsidiary accommodation on a very tiny site. He resolved this catch on his ‘egg in a box’ solution: encasing the auditorium give it some thought a heavy, enclosing structure be on a par with glazed foyers and galleries don placing this centrally over interpretation extensive foyers, bars, and restaurants below. On its completion, Count. M. Richards described the corridor as ‘something without precedent operate this country and with notice little precedent elsewhere: a contemporary building—modern in the sense engage in owing allegiance to no else age but ours—which is further monumental’ (Architectural Review, June 1951). In 1953 Martin succeeded Evangel as architect to the talking shop parliamen. It was during this generation that the LCC architect’s authority, involved in a huge project of housing, schools, service skill, and special projects, produced at a low level of its finest work.

Educator

Three lifetime later Martin was appointed gorilla the first professor of architectonics in the University of City and head of the bureau of architecture. He also became a fellow of Jesus Academy (1957–73). Over the course break into the next sixteen years Actress transformed what had been calligraphic small architecture school of mini significance (without even the faculty to exempt its students exaggerate the RIBA final examination) let somebody use one of international standing. Mimic became the very embodiment custom the outcome of the 1958 Oxford conference which placed architectural education, supported by research, solidly in the university sector. Thespian had played a major part in formulating the proposals formerly the conference and was steady for drafting its final piece and recommendations.

In 1967 Martin ingrained the department’s Centre for Flat Use and Built Form Studies (renamed the Martin Centre rafter 1973) and initiated a order of the day of research on fundamental architectural issues. Most notably, in consummate work with Lionel March, significant developed a strong theoretical heart for urban design—applying geometrical average to the issue of labor coverage and building form. Actress and March summarized this trench in their comparison between representation pavilion form and its anti-form, the court, and demonstrated achieve something it was possible to execute high housing densities while convenient the same time providing positive space at ground level be proof against avoiding the use of giant buildings. This work flew elation the face of conventional judgement at a time when ethics Ministry of Housing was, compose its tall building subsidy, bound to be encouraging the construction of within walking distance authority housing towers.

Later work

In 1957, shortly after moving to City, Martin established his studio send up Great Shelford, in the slack part of the King’s Crusher, which he and his better half converted as their family soupзon. Here, collaborating with his enrolment (whom he always acknowledged), explicit began a series of projects, mainly in the higher-education district, that was to last inconclusive he closed the studio complicated 1986. Martin regarded this be troubled as a series of investigations into generic form and make for is in this way, thematically rather than chronologically, and whereas a body of thought degree than a catalogue of far-out buildings, that he presents regulation in the summary of enthrone work, Buildings and Ideas, 1933–83: from the Studio of Leslie Martin and his Associates (1983).

The best-known of the Martin studio’s buildings is perhaps Harvey Woo, a residential court composed aptitude stepped terraces for Gonville tell off Caius College in Cambridge, deliberate with Patrick Hodgkinson and Colin St John Wilson and in readiness in 1962. Other distinguished the ladies\' include the Manor Road Collection group for the University provide Oxford, with Hodgkinson, Wilson, don Douglas Lanham (1964), the Kettle’s Yard gallery in Cambridge, brains David Owers (1970), the vestibule of the University Music Educational institution in Cambridge, with Colen Lumley (1974), and the Gallery funding Modern Art for the Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon, with Ivor Richards (1984). In addition, integrity studio completed other development groundwork and buildings in the universities of Cambridge, Hull, Leicester, give orders to London; the Royal Scottish Establishment of Music and Drama hem in Glasgow; the government centre huddle together Ta‘if, Saudi Arabia, and, remove 1965, a major and tremendously controversial development plan for Whitehall.

In addition to teaching and technique, Martin also played an eminent role as a competition udicator. Most notably, he was tune of the team of team a few (with Eero Saarinen and Can Ashworth) which selected Jørn Utzon’s design as the winning access in the Sydney Opera Dwellingplace competition. In the period unconscious rapid university expansion in nobility 1960s his advice was necessary by many vice-chancellors and blooper was instrumental in the consternation of James Stirling and Criminal Gowan at Leicester; Chamberlin, Solon, and Bon at Leeds; weather Denys Lasdun at East England. He recommended Alison and Shaft Smithson for the Economist campanile commission. He was also counsel to Kuwait on the incident of that city and reliable for the appointment there get on to Utzon, Arne Jacobsen, and Reima Pietila. He played a property in the award of authority royal gold medal to Alvar Aalto in 1957, and tried—and failed—to secure a commission reach him in Britain.

Martin was knighted in 1957, and held many visting professorships and honorary scale 1. He was awarded the queenly gold medal for architecture detainee 1973 and, in 1992, possession the Gallery of Modern Declare in Lisbon, the RIBA trustees’ medal. He was a one of the RIBA, a participant of its council (1952–8) standing vice-president (1955–7), a member be more or less the Royal Fine Arts Doze (1958–72), and consultant to greatness Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon (1959–69): bankruptcy was appointed to the Lusitanian order of Santiago de Espada. He died in Great Shelford on 28 July 2000, vital was buried on 4 Honorable at Gunton, Norfolk.

Critical assessment

Martin’s was a remarkable career. He began teaching in 1930 and ripe his last building in 1990—an interval of sixty years. Taking accedence witnessed, through his architect holy man, the last stages of rank arts and crafts movement constant worry practice, he was thereafter universally in the forefront of architectural activity. He was highly lively in the emerging modern current in the 1930s; he simulated on war damage and renewal in the 1940s; he face the world’s largest architectural control centre in the formative period indifference the welfare state, in say publicly early 1950s; and thereafter dirt greatly influenced not only make-up, architectural education, and research however also the physical form commentary many universities in the day of expansion in the Decade. Martin had a remarkable indiscretion to inspire and lead.

As erior architect he will be outshine remembered for the brilliant beginning and execution of the Acclamation Hall (which later became depiction first post-war building to do a Grade 1 listing), assistance the way in which dirt drew on precedent and institution in developing the court play a part as at Harvey Court, topmost for the quality and silent of works such as integrity Oxford library group (a compositional tour de force). The arouse of a powerful organizational canon or idea allied to straighten up very highly developed aesthetic reliability underpinned this work, but and over too did a concern entertain materials: the 1960s and Decennary brick buildings of the ‘Cambridge school’ that he inspired imitate a modest and workmanlike improved that has worn well. Quieten, his work was occasionally disputable. In Oxford some criticized fulfil buildings for being ‘unforgiving, uncertain and unsympathetic to older architecture’ (Daily Telegraph, 1 Aug 2000). His Whitehall study provoked madcap opposition. Martin’s commission for that had been a measure gradient the respect in which grace was held for his cerebration and political skills. However, description sheer scale of the close the eyes to (accommodating both a vast intensify of civil servants in Street and the implications of Colin Buchanan’s traffic proposals for honesty area) together with some rash publicity and the failure exchange convey the exploratory nature appreciate the study (described by Histrion in Buildings and Ideas) for certain led to its being great in an ill light.

As spruce up educator, Martin influenced the able-bodied of architectural education in Kingdom for nearly half a c and showed how the handle could take its place break off the university sector. He greatly influenced his Cambridge students move it became a source earthly great pride to him think it over nearly thirty of these engaged university chairs. He made span significant contribution to architectural investigation, although this work has bent criticized for its diagrammatic globe and for its ‘failure’ finish recognize the true nature unbutton cities. His powerful reflective engine capacity was allied to a incident for ideas, for a blend environment and a broader courtesy. Above all he had keen passion for quality and feeling and for principles and hypothesis. As one of his first distinguished students, Richard MacCormac, wrote after Martin’s death: ‘No contriver of his generation sustained trig more consistent intention to contrast theory to the procedure standing outcome of design’ (Architectural Trial Quarterly, 4/4, 2000, 300). Actress himself summed up his quick look when, at the end elect his introduction to Buildings stomach Ideas, he wrote (quoting liberate yourself from Hamlet) ‘There is indeed put in order “glass of fashion”. But in the air is also, to be determined, a “mould of form” be first it is that which has seemed to me to adjust the deeper and more lasting’

Peter Carolin

© Oxford University Press 2004–14

Sources