© All rights reserved. RIAS Quarterly no43 Summer 1933 

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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 Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this architect:
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 6Edinburgh College of Art, Lauriston Place, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessBefore 19351936 
Item 2 of 679, Gilmore Place, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate1936 *  
Item 3 of 6c/o W G Moffat & Hirst/Natal Bank Chambers, Durban, South AfricaBusiness1936 *  
Item 4 of 6Durban, South AfricaBusiness1937  
Item 5 of 6PO Box 3746, Capetown, South AfricaPrivateBefore 1948After 1957 
Item 6 of 6Town Planning School, University of Natal, King George V Avenue, Natal, South AfricaBusiness1965After 1972 

* 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 4Hunter Crawford & Williamson19261930Apprentice 
Item 2 of 4Hunter Crawford & Williamson19301932Principal Assistant 
Item 3 of 4T P Marwick & Son19351936Senior Assistant 
Item 4 of 4W G Moffat & Hirst1936 * Assistant 

* earliest date known from documented sources.

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this architect for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3John Begg30 November 1936for Associateship
Item 2 of 3James Macgregor30 November 1936for Associateship
Item 3 of 3(Sir) Frank Charles Mears30 November 1936for Associateship

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 81934Villa for Philip Edward Joseph McManus    For himself - design exhibited, but probably not built
Item 2 of 81935St Cuthbert's Co-operative Society Furniture Showroom  EdinburghScotlandAs senior assistant to T P Marwick & Son
Item 3 of 81935Temporary National Bank of Scotland Headquarters  EdinburghScotlandAs senior assistant to T P Marwick & Son
Item 4 of 81936Premises for Jays the Furnishers  EdinburghScotlandAs senior assistant to T P Marwick & Son
Item 5 of 81936 or 1937Glasgow Empire Exhibition, Atlantic RestaurantBellahouston GlasgowScotlandAs senior assistant to T P Marwick & Son
Item 6 of 81936 or 1937Glasgow Empire Exhibition, Cascade and Rotunda Shopping CentreBellahouston GlasgowScotlandAs senior assistant to T P Marwick & Son
Item 7 of 81936 or 1937Glasgow Empire Exhibition, Garden Club and Lucullus RestaurantBellahouston GlasgowScotlandAs senior assistant to T P Marwick & Son
Item 8 of 81936 or 1937Glasgow Empire Exhibition, Physical Fitness PavilionBellahouston GlasgowScotlandAs senior assistant to T P Marwick & Son

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this architect:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3McKean, Charles1987The Scottish Thirties: An Architectural Introduction Edinburgh: Scottish Academic Press 
Item 2 of 3Miles Glendinning, Diane Watters, David Whitham Docomomo Scotland Leaflet  p227 Image of St Cuthbert's Co-operative Society on Bread Street
Item 3 of 3RIBA1972RIBA Directory 1972   

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this architect:
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor 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
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A no6180 (combined box 124)

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© All rights reserved. RIAS Quarterly no43 Summer 1933 

© All rights reserved. RIAS Quarterly no43 Summer 1933