Basic Biographical Details

Name: David Carr
Designation: Architect
Born: 1 February 1905
Died: 25 June 1986
Bio Notes: David Carr was born on 1 February 1905 and studied at the School of Architecture, Edinburgh College of Art from 1923 to 1929, with the exception of a period spent with Collcutt & Hamp in London working on hospital and hotel commissions (July 1927 to July 1928). In 1930 he returned to London to join the office of Sir Herbert Baker and Alexander Thomson Scott, working on the rebuilding of the Bank of England, and was admitted ARIBA, his proposers being John Begg, Charles Denny Carus-Wilson and Frank Charles Mears. Meanwhile he continued his studies at the RA Schools, where he was awarded a Bronze Medal in 1931. He moved to the office of Michael Rosenauer in 1935, where he was engaged on the design of flats for a year before returning to Edinburgh School of Architecture for a research Fellowship in prefabrication. His travels took him regularly on tours of Britain and also to Italy in 1927 and 1936, to Sweden and Denmark in 1931, to Austria in 1935 and to France in 1937.

From 1934 he collaborated with William Frederick Howard (born 1906), who had been a fellow assistant to Collcutt & Hamp, on competition designs. Their proposals for Tunbridge Wells Civic Centre, Hertford County Offices, the Parliament House of Southern Rhodesia and Birmingham Technical College received prizes and commendations but their first successful entry was that of 1937 for Kirkcaldy Municipal Buildings followed by St George's Hospital, Hyde Park Corner in 1938 (the latter bombed during World War II). This appears to have spurred them to commence independent practice together the following year, Howard moving to Edinburgh to enter into partnership with Carr at 30 Rutland Square.

Carr & Howard were forced to abandon a number of projects on the outbreak of war, and it was probably at this time that the partnership was dissolved. Howard was admitted FRIBA on 16 February 1943, his proposers being Henry Vaughan Lanchester, Thomas Arthur Lodge and Lionel G Pearson. His nomination papers give a business address c/o Whytock & Wallace, 21 Alva Street, Edinburgh and a home address c/o 14 Ridge Crest, Ridgeway, Enfield, Middlesex. By 1949 Carr was back in London, working as chief assistant to Robert Atkinson, and he was admitted FRIBA on 29 November that year, his proposers being Atkinson, Alexander Frederick Berenbruck Anderson and Howard.

Carr moved back to Edinburgh the following year, entering into partnership with Stuart Russell Matthew (born 1912) on the semi-retirement of the latter's father John Fraser Matthew, the office being within Matthew's house at 14 Lynedoch Place. After his father's death on 31 January 1955, with his own practice ebbing away because of poor health, Stuart Russell Matthew took in work farmed out by his elder brother, Robert Hogg Matthew (born 1906), who had founded his own practice in 1953. The partnership of Carr & Matthew was closed in 1959 when David Carr set up his own practice at 43 Manor Place as David Carr Architects.

In about 1980 Tony Dixon, Stewart Tod & P Heap Taylor were practising as Davd Carr.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this architect:
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 746, Prince of Wales Road, Battersea, London, EnglandPrivate1930Before 1936 
Item 2 of 730, Rutland Square, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness1937Before 1949 
Item 3 of 7191, South Croxted Road, London, EnglandPrivate1949 *  
Item 4 of 7110, Old Brompton Road, London, EnglandBusiness1949 * As chief assistant to Robert Atkinson
Item 5 of 714, Lynedoch Place, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness19501959 
Item 6 of 743, Manor Place, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness1959After 1980 
Item 7 of 73, Westgarth Avenue, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate1986 *  

* earliest date known from documented sources.

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this architect (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 7Collcutt & HampJuly 1927July 1928Apprentice(?) 
Item 2 of 7(Sir) Herbert Baker19301931Assistant 
Item 3 of 7(Sir) Herbert Baker & A T Scott19311934Assistant 
Item 4 of 7Michael Rosenauer19351936Chief Assistant 
Item 5 of 7Carr & Howard19381939(?)Partner 
Item 6 of 7Robert AtkinsonBefore 1949 Chief Assistant 
Item 7 of 7Carr & Matthew19501959Partner 

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this architect (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 1Stewart Tod1955   

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this architect for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 6Alexander Frederick Berenbruck Anderson29 November 1949for Fellowship
Item 2 of 6Robert Atkinson29 November 1949for Fellowship
Item 3 of 6John BeggLate 1930for Associateship
Item 4 of 6Charles Denny Carus-WilsonLate 1930for Associateship
Item 5 of 6William Frederick Howard29 November 1949for Fellowship
Item 6 of 6(Sir) Frank Charles MearsLate 1930for Associateship

RIBA Proposals

This architect proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 1Douglas Haig BamberOctober 1962For Fellowship

Buildings and Designs

This architect was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):
 Date startedBuilding nameTown, district or villageIslandCity or countyCountryNotes
Item 1 of 621926Merchiston Castle SchoolColinton EdinburghScotlandMay have had a hand in the job
Item 2 of 621930sMunicipal BuildingsScunthorpe LincolnshireEnglandCompetition designs
Item 3 of 621930Bank of England  LondonEnglandReconstruction and heightening - as assistant to Sir Herbert Baker & A T Scott
Item 4 of 62c. 1930Bedford Town and Shire HallsBedford BedfordshireEnglandCompetition design
Item 5 of 62c. 1930Municipal OfficesConsett County DurhamEnglandCompetition design
Item 6 of 62c. 1930Police Headquarters and Training CentrePreston LancashireEnglandCompetition design
Item 7 of 621933Entertainment HallBexhill SussexEnglandCompetition design
Item 8 of 621934Civic Centre, Tunbridge WellsTunbridge Wells KentEnglandSecond premiated competition design, in collaboration with William Frederick Howard
Item 9 of 621934Municipal Concert HallWolverhampton StaffordshireEnglandCompetition design
Item 10 of 621935Arlington HouseSt James's LondonEnglandAs chief assistant to Michael Rosenauer
Item 11 of 621935Hertford County OfficesHertford HertfordshireEnglandCommended competition design - probably responsible, in collaboration with William Frederick Howard
Item 12 of 621935Municipal Buildings, WembleyWembley LondonEnglandCompetition design
Item 13 of 621935Planning of Civic CentreCroydon SurreyEnglandCompetition design
Item 14 of 621936Civic CentreNewport MonmouthshireWalesCompetition design
Item 15 of 621936Parliament House  Harare?Zimbabwe (Southern Rhodesia toFourth premiated competition design, in collaboration with William Frederick Howard
Item 16 of 621937Birmingham Technical College  BirminghamEnglandSecond premiated competition design, in collaboration with William Frederick Howard
Item 17 of 621937Block of flats, Queensferry Road  EdinburghScotlandDesign only?
Item 18 of 621937Kirkcaldy Town HallKirkcaldy FifeScotlandWon competition to secure job, in collaboration with William Frederick Howard; not completed until 1957
Item 19 of 621938Berwick BarracksBerwick-upon-Tweed NorthumberlandEngland 
Item 20 of 621938Civic Centre, Newcastle-upon-Tyne  Newcastle upon TyneEnglandUnsuccessful competition design
Item 21 of 621938Concrete housing for Scottish Special Housing Association LtdSighthill EdinburghScotlandWon competition to secure job; unexecuted due to war
Item 22 of 621938Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art  DundeeScotlandCompetition entry (unsuccessful)
Item 23 of 621938Glencorse BarracksPenicuik MidlothianScotlandNew sanitary block
Item 24 of 621938St George's Hospital  LondonEnglandSecond premiated competition design
Item 25 of 621938Technical College  DundeeScotlandCommended competition design
Item 26 of 621938Timber houses for Scottish Special Housing Association LtdKirknewton MidlothianScotland 
Item 27 of 621938Timber housing for Scottish Special Housing Association LtdPolbeth/West Calder West LothianScotland 
Item 28 of 62c. 1938House at Glenlocklhart Road  EdinburghScotland 
Item 29 of 62c. 1938(?)Hutton, Police HeadquartersPreston LancashireEngland 
Item 30 of 621939Cockburn and Turnbull's premises  EdinburghScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 31 of 621939Exhibition Halls, Waverley Market  EdinburghScotlandSecond premiated competition design
Item 32 of 621939Tanfield Primary School  EdinburghScotlandFirst premiated competition design - unexecuted
Item 33 of 621939Timber Housing for Scottish Special Housing Association   ScotlandCompetition design
Item 34 of 62c. 1939Housing scheme for the Scottish Special Housing Association LtdWest Pilton EdinburghScotlandUnexecuted designs
Item 35 of 621948Pinkie HouseMusselburgh MidlothianScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 36 of 621950Braille Printing Works, Craigmillar Park  EdinburghScotland 
Item 37 of 621950Linburn House Estate, Housing for the BlindWilkieston MidlothianScotlandJob continued by Carr & Matthew
Item 38 of 621950Strathyre CottageCallander PerthshireScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 39 of 621951Broomridge SSHA housingStirling StirlingshireScotland 
Item 40 of 62After 1951Hopetoun cottages, Hopetoun estate  West LothianScotlandRefurbishment?
Item 41 of 62After 1951Hopetoun HouseAbercorn West LothianScotlandAlterations?
Item 42 of 62After 1951Hopetoun Mausoleum  West LothianScotlandRepairs?
Item 43 of 62After 1951Kirkcaldy Town HallKirkcaldy FifeScotlandFurther work?
Item 44 of 62After 1951Linburn House and other buildings on siteWilkieston MidlothianScotlandFurther work
Item 45 of 62After 1951R W Forsyth Ltd Department Store  EdinburghScotlandAlterations?
Item 46 of 62After 1951Thistle Foundation, Robin Chapel  EdinburghScotlandJob continued by Carr & Matthew
Item 47 of 6219525 Western Terrace, Corstorphine Road  EdinburghScotlandPlans for conversion into two and three separate flats
Item 48 of 621952Meadowfield Housing Estate  EdinburghScotland 
Item 49 of 621953Astley Ainslie Hospital  EdinburghScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 50 of 621954Dodridge Farm cottagesHopetoun West LothianScotlandConversion of two pairs of cottages to form two houses for the Hopetoun Estate
Item 51 of 621954Duddingston Primary SchoolDuddingston EdinburghScotland 
Item 52 of 621954University of St Andrews ObservatorySt Andrews FifeScotlandNew Observatory
Item 53 of 62c. 1954Royal Blind Asylum  EdinburghScotlandAdditions
Item 54 of 621959Nairn Street and Boquhanran Road HousingClydebank DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 55 of 62After 1959Merchiston Castle School, The Castle Gates  EdinburghScotland 
Item 56 of 621960Merchiston Castle SchoolColinton EdinburghScotlandDesigned swimming pool
Item 57 of 621960Merchiston Castle School, Swimming Pool  EdinburghScotland 
Item 58 of 621967Cramond Primary School  EdinburghScotland 
Item 59 of 621968Mayfield Free ChurchMayfield EdinburghScotlandHall recast
Item 60 of 621969Mayfield Free ChurchMayfield EdinburghScotlandMain roof destroyed by fire and replaced in plaster - with Stewart Tod
Item 61 of 621973Morningside Free ChurchMorningside EdinburghScotlandInterior recast after fire
Item 62 of 62c. 1975Dunmore PineappleAirth StirlingshireScotlandConversion to holiday accommodation for Landmark Trust.

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this architect:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 5Bailey, Rebecca M1996Scottish architects' papers: a source book Edinburgh: The Rutland Press 
Item 2 of 5Glendinning, Miles1997Rebuilding Scotland: The Postwar Vision, 1945-75  Tuckwell Press Ltdp157 Kirkcaldy Town House
Item 3 of 5RCAHMS1992Dundee on Record RCAHMSDuncan of Jordanstone College of Art - commended competition entry (1938) p63
Item 4 of 5RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 5 of 5RIBA1980Directory of Practices 1980   

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this architect:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Architects Journal19 June 1952  p763

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this architect:
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 3National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSCarr and Matthew Collection, RIAS  
Item 2 of 3National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSDrawings Collection Portofolio of sketches by David Carr inlcuding Town Hall. Acc No 1995/47
Item 3 of 3RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A no4518 (combined box 17, under no4481); F no 4481 (combined box 17)