Larger versions of these images are located at the foot of the page. Basic Biographical Details Name: | Philip Edward Joseph McManus (later Phillip or Philipp Edouard McManis) | Designation: | Architect | Born: | 17 August 1907 | Died: | | Bio Notes: | Philip Edward Joseph McManus (who later appears as Philipp or Phillip Edouard McManis) was born on 17 August 1907 and was articled to Hunter Crawford & Williamson in 1926, remaining as principal assistant until 1932. During this period he studied for five years part-time at Edinburgh College of Art, where he obtained his diploma after a further two years' full-time study in 1934. He then completed a post-diploma course in Town Planning at the School, entitling him to an exemption from the RIBA final exam. In June 1935 he received the Rutland Prize, a £250 travelling scholarship, and later that year he joined T P Marwick & Son as senior assistant. Despite this he gave his address as Edinburgh College of Art, perhaps indicating that he taught there part-time. Together with David Harvey he was credited with the highly progressive architecture of the Marwick firm in the mid-1930s at the National Bank, George Street, Edinburgh; Jay's store, Princes Street; the St Cuthbert's Co-operative furniture department in Bread Street; and the early stages of the Glasgow Empire Exhibition of 1938.
McManus was admitted ARIBA on 30 November 1936, his proposers being James Macgregor, John Begg and Frank Charles Mears. His nomination papers state that prior to that time he had spent a total of twelve months travelling in Europe. By the time he signed his declaration accepting his admittance on 3 April 1937 he had emigrated to South Africa. He settled in Durban and practised thereafter as an architect and town planner. Initially he worked for W G Moffat & Hurst. He had moved to Cape Town by 1948, remaining there until the mid-1960s when he had a post in the Town Planning School, University of Natal. He closed his practice and retired from both business and the RIBA in September 1976, his practice having been dormant for some time, presumably because most of his time was taken up by the University post.
| Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this architect: | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |  | Edinburgh College of Art, Lauriston Place, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | Before 1935 | 1936 | |  | 79, Gilmore Place, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1936 * | | |  | c/o W G Moffat & Hirst/Natal Bank Chambers, Durban, South Africa | Business | 1936 * | | |  | Durban, South Africa | Business | 1937 | | |  | PO Box 3746, Capetown, South Africa | Private | Before 1948 | After 1957 | |  | Town Planning School, University of Natal, King George V Avenue, Natal, South Africa | Business | 1965 | After 1972 | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployers* earliest date known from documented sources.
RIBARIBA ProposersThe following individuals proposed this architect for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes |  | John Begg | 30 November 1936 | for Associateship |  | James Macgregor | 30 November 1936 | for Associateship |  | (Sir) Frank Charles Mears | 30 November 1936 | for Associateship |
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this architect: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes |  | McKean, Charles | 1987 | The Scottish Thirties: An Architectural Introduction | | Edinburgh: Scottish Academic Press | |  | Miles Glendinning, Diane Watters, David Whitham | | Docomomo Scotland Leaflet | | | p227 Image of St Cuthbert's Co-operative Society on Bread Street |  | RIBA | 1972 | RIBA Directory 1972 | | | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this architect: | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes |  | Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material | | Information from Robert Scott Morton and Frank Connell, both of whom were friends of McManus; and from Charles McKean |  | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | A no6180 (combined box 124) |
Images © All rights reserved. RIAS Quarterly no43 Summer 1933 |