Larger versions of these images are located at the foot of the page. Basic Biographical Details Name: | Alan Reiach | Designation: | Architect | Born: | 2 March 1910 | Died: | 23 July 1992 | Bio Notes: | Alan Reiach was born in London on 2 March 1910, the son of Herbert L Reiach, a wealthy printer, amateur naval architect, and founding editor of Yachting Monthly, and Marie Barbara Federson who was Polish. He was brought up in Acton until the age of six and thereafter by his grandmother and aunt in Mill Hill until he was old enough to be sent to a prep school in Eastbourne. In 1921 his aunt moved to Edinburgh where he attended Edinburgh Academy from 1922 until 1928 when he was articled to Lorimer & Matthew: there he became a close friend of Robert Matthew who was four years older. In 1929 he made a study tour to East Anglia and to Wiltshire and Somerset the following year.
Whilst with Lorimer & Matthew he studied part-time at Edinburgh College of Art under John Begg, and he continued to study there for two years full-time after completing his apprenticeship in 1932. He obtained his diploma in June 1934, passed the Professional Practice exam the following month, and was admitted ARIBA on 3 December 1934, his proposers being Begg, John Fraser Matthew and Frank Charles Mears. During his final two years of study he won the Soane Medallion, the Tite Prize, the RIBA Silver Medal and an Andrew Grant travelling scholarship. The last of these was deferred a year while he took the postgraduate planning course, but in 1935-6 he visited France, Scandinavia, the USA (where he joined Frank Lloyd Wright for a short period at Taliesin) and the USSR. Like Robert Scott Morton and the slightly older Esmé Gordon he was a superb draughtsman and the sketches from his study tours are treasured by those fortunate enough to have them. On his return he spent about a year in London with Robert Atkinson and George Grey Wornum prior to becoming a research and teaching fellow at Edinburgh College of Art in 1938.
Reiach commenced practice in 1933 from his house in Randolph Place before completing his course at the College, his first commission being a house in Suffolk. In the years 1935 to 1937 it necessarily went into abeyance, but from 1938 he entered competitions with Robert Matthew, winning that for the baths and fire station at Ilkeston in 1938. He was also active in the Saltire Society, publishing a slim but influential volume entitled 'Building Scotland' with Robert Hurd in 1938.
In 1940 Robert Matthew brought Reiach into the Scottish Office as assistant secretary of the Scottish Housing Advisory Committee at the Department of Health. In the same year Reiach married Julie Dittmar, but the marriage did not survive wartime conditions in Scotland. His role at the Scottish Office ended in 1946 when he recommenced practice. With the help of a senior lecturing post at Edinburgh College of Art he managed to re-establish his practice in 1948, forming a single-project partnership with a colleague at the College, Ralph Cowan, to design the new College of Agriculture at the University of Edinburgh's King's Buildings site. In parallel he married a second time to Patricia Ann Duncan in 1949 and attracted an exceptionally able staff, George McNab in 1955 and Stuart Renton in 1956. By 1957 Reiach was so busy he had to resign from the College of Art and in the same year he took Renton into partnership, followed by McNab in 1958; and in the latter year John R Oberlander and Leslie D Mitchell joined the staff. Reiach was elevated to FRIBA in early 1959, his proposers being William Hardie Kininmonth, J Holt and Robert Hogg Matthew.
Reiach was a vice-president of the Edinburgh Architectural Association in 1959.
In 1965 Alan Reiach & Partners merged with Eric Hall & Partners to form the still more successful Alan Reiach, Eric Hall & Partners, the partners including Oberlander and Mitchell from 1967 onwards.
Reiach retired in 1975 but remained with the practice as part-time consultant until 1980. Because of the war years, his teaching commitments and the early involvement of partners in his university hospital and school projects, the period in which Reiach's own ability as an architect can be clearly recognised was short: but he was appointed OBE in 1964, served on the Royal Fine Art Commission from 1966 until 1980 and was elected ARSA in 1969. He was elected full academician in 1986, but by that date his elevation owed more to his exceptional skill as draughtsman and watercolourist than to architecture.
In person Reiach was small in stature but very good-looking, always stylishly dressed with a bow tie and often a black beret which gave him a mildly Frenchified appearance. His personality was hugely engaging, witty, excitable and enthusiastic in a carefully controlled way, and intellectually challenging: he was always great fun to be with. He died on 23 July 1992 after a short illness. He was survived by his wife Patricia, one son and one daughter.
Publications: The Lesser Architecture of Scotland, 4volumes, Edinburgh (ECA library 72 (411) B73
| Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this architect: | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |  | 14, Randolph Place, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private/business | Before 1933 | After 1939 | |  | 20, Nelson Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1934 * | | |  | 7, Albert Terrace, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private/business | Before 1946 | 1950(?) | |  | 30, Melville Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1948 | 1955 | |  | 22, Ainslie Place, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1955 | After 1960 | |  | 3, Winton Loan, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1962 | | |  | 16, Moray Place, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | Before 1965 | 1971 | |  | 6, Darnaway Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1971 | 1980 | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersEmployees or Pupils
RIBARIBA ProposersRIBA Proposals
Buildings and DesignsThis architect was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes |  | April 1933 | Prestwick Burgh Chambers and Public Baths | Prestwick | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Competition entry. Robert Matthew responsible with the help of Alan Reiach. |  | 1934 | Housing, Piershill Barracks site | Piershill | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1934 | Unidentified house | | | Suffolk | England | |  | 1935 | A New University for Edinburgh | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | c. 1937 | Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art | | | Dundee | Scotland | Competition entry with Robert Hogg Matthew, though not in formal partnership |  | c. 1937 | Watford Fire Station | Watford | | Hertfordshire | England | With Robert Hogg Matthew |  | 1938 | Duncan of Jordanstone College, Matthew Building | | | Dundee | Scotland | Date of original competition design which included scheme for Matthew Building - not successful. In conjunction with Robert Hogg Matthew |  | 1938 | Ilkeston Baths competition | | | Derbyshire | England | Won competition in association with Robert Matthew |  | 1938 | Kirkcaldy Town Hall | Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | Competition drawings - (while still a student?) - not successful |  | 1938 | Tanfield Primary School | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Competition design (with Robert Hogg Matthew) - third prize |  | 1939 | Exhibition Halls, Waverley Market | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Competition design |  | 1947 | Scottish Building Centre, Exhibition stands | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Unclear which stands he was responsible for.
Exhibition stands for the Metal Door Frame Makers, the Council of Industrial Design, Arthur Johnson (Paper) Limited, P and N Johnson (Paintmakers) Limited, Ascot Water Heaters, and the Patent Glazing Conference. Details. |  | 1948 | University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings, Department of Agriculture | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | In association with Ralph Cowan |  | 1949 | National Monument | Calton Hill | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Scheme of development proposed for Festival of Britain celebrations |  | 1949 | Shops and houses, Whitemoss | East Kilbride | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | In conjunction with Tom Spaven |  | 1950 | House for Dr Ross | Bo'ness / Borrowstouness | | West Lothian | Scotland | |  | 1951 | 1951 Festival of Britain building | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1951 | House for Norman Graham | Longniddry | | East Lothian | Scotland | |  | 1952 | Local Centre, Whitemoss | East Kilbride | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | |  | 1954 | Easthouses Church | Dalkeith | | Midlothian | Scotland | |  | 1954 | Parish Church | Easthouses | | Midlothian | Scotland | |  | 1955 | Coillesdene Avenue housing | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1955 | Cottage near Pencaitland | Pencaitland | | East Lothian | Scotland | |  | 1955 | Gallery of Modern Art | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1956 | Block of flats, Myreside | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1956 | Festival Centre, Castle Terrace site | | | Edinburgh, Midlothian | Scotland | Plans for Festival Centre |  | 1956 | High Flats | Roseburn | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1956 | House for Dr Dudley | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1956 | Low cost private housing | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1956 | St John's Parish Church | Oxgangs | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1956 | University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Veterinary Field Station | Roslin | | Edinburgh | | |  | 1956 | Villa, 5 Morningside Place with stables | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alteration to villa and stables for studio |  | 1957 | Belhaven Hospital | Dunbar | | East Lothian | Scotland | Additions |  | 1957 | Buildings in George Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Proposed alterations |  | 1957 | House for Norman Graham | Longniddry | | East Lothian | Scotland | Addition |  | 1958 | Fouldes House | Pencaitland | | East Lothian | Scotland | |  | After 1958 | Secondary School | Ayr | | Ayrshire | Scotland | |  | 1959 | Housing scheme fo Messrs Crudens, Newhailes | Musselburgh | | Midlothian | Scotland | |  | 1959 | Maitland Park Housing scheme | Musselburgh | | Midlothian | Scotland | |  | 1950s or 1960s | Edinburgh Academy, Western Classrooms | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Link between Western classrooms and old Mathematics block at NW of forecourt |  | 1960s | Forres Academy | Forres | | Morayshire | Scotland | Also swimming pool, uncertain date perhaps 1970s |  | 1960s | Haddington 'face-lift' improvement scheme | Haddington | | East Lothian | Scotland | |  | 1960s | Knox Academy, Primary School | Haddington | | East Lothian | Scotland | |  | 1960s | Secondary School | Kilmarnock | | Ayrshire | Scotland | |  | 1960s | Senior Secondary School | Kilwinning | | Ayrshire | Scotland | |  | 1960 | George Wolfe House | Torphichen | | West Lothian | Scotland | |  | 1961 | House, Newhailes | Musselburgh | | Midlothian | Scotland | |  | 1962 | 1, 3 Winton Loan | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1962 | Ash House | Gartocharn | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | |  | 1962 | Festival Centre, Castle Terrace site | | | Edinburgh, Midlothian | Scotland | Further schemes for Festival Centre |  | 1962 | Golspie High School | Golspie | | Sutherland | Scotland | |  | 1962 | Kildrum Parish Church | Cumbernauld | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | From 1962 |  | 1963 | City Hospital, flats for resident staff | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1963 | Rock Cottages | Torphichen | | West Lothian | Scotland | |  | 1963 | University of Edinburgh Appleton Tower (First Year Science Building) | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1964 | Fire Station | Haddington | | East Lothian | Scotland | |  | 1964 | Housing development | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Redevelopment of temporary housing |  | 1964 | Office block | Musselburgh | | Midlothian | Scotland | |  | 1964 | Portobello Old and Windsor Place Parish Church hall | Portobello | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1964 | Silverknowes Golf Club and Sports Pavilion | Silverknowes | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1964 | St Mungo's Church and hall | Cumbernauld | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | |  | 1965 | University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings, Experimental Petrology | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | After 1965 | Bow Yett housing development | Torphichen | | West Lothian | Scotland | Partner in charge |  | After 1965 | North Gate housing development | Torphichen | | West Lothian | Scotland | Partner in charge |  | After 1965 | University of Liverpool, Veterinary Field Station | Leahurst | | Liverpool | England | As senior partner |  | After 1965 | Western General Hospital, Medical Research Council Building | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As senior partner |  | 1966 | Challenger Lodge | Trinity | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Additions |  | 1966 | Craigleith House | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Redevelopment |  | 1966 | New Club | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Redevelopment |  | 1966 | Waverley Station, Booking Hall | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As senior partner |  | 15 April 1966 | Cultural Centre for Glasgow, Buchanan St | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Independent architect brought in to discuss possible modifications and alterations to city architect A. G. Jury's design following public and professional concern over the appearance of the building |  | 20 May 1966 | Dumbarton Central Area Development | Dumbarton | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | |  | 20 May 1966 | Dumbarton Civic Theatre and Community Centre | Dumbarton | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Unclear if he was in sole charge of this project. Others may or may not have been involved. |  | 1967 | Denny Civic Theatre | Denny | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | |  | 1967 | German Church | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Executant architects |  | 1967 | Greendykes Children's Centre | Craigmillar | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1968 | Heriot-Watt University, Maths, Physics and Chemistry departments | Riccarton | | Midlothian | Scotland | |  | 1968 | Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton Campus | Riccarton | | Midlothian | | |  | 1969 | Bush House, Tropical Veterinary Medicine Centre | Roslin | | Midlothian | Scotland | |  | 1969 | Office block, 2, 2A and 3 Queen Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1969 | University of Edinburgh, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Additions |  | Late 1960s | Coleraine Technical College | Coleraine | | Londonerry | Northern Ireland | |  | 1970 | Festival Centre, Castle Terrace site | | | Edinburgh, Midlothian | Scotland | Third scheme for Festival Centre |  | 1970 | Housing schemes for SSHA | | | | Scotland | Work planned. |  | 1970 | Office block, 10 and 12 Young Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1970 | Police Headquarters | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As senior partner |  | 1970 | University of Stirling, sports buildings with swimming pool | Stirling | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Work planned. |  | 1970 | Veterinary College | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Work planned. |  | 1970 | Western General Hospital, Human Genetics block | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1971 | Burrell Collection | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alan Reiach probably responsible as he signed a number of the competition drawings. |  | 1971 | Gannochy House | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | |  | 1971 | Orchard Brae House | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1971 | Stock Exchange premises | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Investigation - as senior partner - and demolition the year after |  | 1972 | Heriot-Watt University, Department of Civil Engineering | Riccarton | | Midlothian | Scotland | |  | 1972 | Offices at North St David Street, west side | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1972 | SSHA housing, Branshill | New Sauchie | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | |  | 1973 | 47 Iona Street | | | Edinvburgh | Scotland | Alterations - as senior partner |  | 1973 | Heriot-Watt University, Mechanical Engineering Department | Riccarton | | Midlothian | Scotland | |  | 1973 | Office development for Alex Lawrie | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1974 | Inverleith House | Inverleith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Extension |  | 1974 | Offices for Friends Provident, Charlotte Lane | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | Before 1975 | Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton Campus, students' hostels | Riccarton | | Midliothian | Scotland | |  | 1977 | George Wolfe House | Torphichen | | West Lothian | Scotland | Addition |  | 1977 | Small House on Site Belonging to Hay Bryson Esq | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1978 | Challenger Lodge | Trinity | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Addition of SW wing for St Columba's Hospice |  | 1983 | St George's School, Arts Block | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | c. 1937 | Wood Green Borough Council headquarters | Wood Green | | Middlesex | England | Competition entry. In association with Robert Matthew. |  | c. 1946 | Clyde Valley Regional Plan | | | | Scotland | Drew up case study proposals for Leven Valley. Cottage and flat groupings |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this architect: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes |  | Bailey, Rebecca M | 1996 | Scottish architects' papers: a source book | | Edinburgh: The Rutland Press | |  | Edinburgh Academy | 1982 | Edinburgh Academy Register | | | |  | Frew, John | 1999 | The Reiach Surveys 1932-42 | | | |  | Frew, John | 2001 | Alan Reiach's Scottish Vernacular Survey 1937-43 | 25, no2 | Lowe, A D Morrison (ed) | |  | Glendinning, Miles | 1997 | Rebuilding Scotland: The Postwar Vision, 1945-75 | | Tuckwell Press Ltd | p11 p13 Photograph of Alan Reiach 1968; Whitemoss shops and houses East Kilbride p14 drawing of case study proposals for Leven Valley. Cottage and flat groupings pp32, 34 Winton Loan p162-3 New Club p165-7 Appleton Tower, University of Edinburgh |  | McEwan, P J M | 1994 | Dictionary of Scottish Art and Architecture | | | |  | Post Office Directories | | | | | |  | RCAHMS | 2004 | Creating a Future for the Past: the Scottish Architects' Papers Preservation Project | | Edinburgh: Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland | pp 106-9 |  | Scott Morton, Robert | | Alan Reiach OBE RSA RSW RIBA FRIAS: A Memoir | | | |  | Who Was Who | | Who was Who | | | For the years 1991-95 |  | Willis, Peter | 1977 | New architecture in Scotland | | | p32-3 Kildrum Parish Church p84-7 The New Club |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this architect: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes |  | Builder | 1 May 1959 | | | 'Edinburgh Architectural Association' p832 |  | Building Design | 21 August 1992 | | | |  | RIAS Newsletter | 11 October 1992 | No 3 | | |  | RIBA Journal | November 1992 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | |  | Scotsman | 26 January 1990 | | | |  | Scotsman | 26 February 1990 | | | |  | Scotsman | 25 July 1992 | | | |  | Scotsman | 4 April 1994 | | | |  | The Times | 13 August 1992 | | | |  | Trans… of the Edinburgh Architectural Association | 1992 | No 31 | Edinburgh: Edinburgh Architectural Association | |
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 | | Research notes for 'Scottish Thirties'; personal recollections of David M Walker |  | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | A no5567 (stored under F5385, combined box 75); F no5385 (combined box 75) |  | University of St Andrews Library | Alan Reiach photograph collection | | |
Images © All rights reserved. Courtesy of David Ross. Picture taken at opening ceremony of the "New Life For The New Town" Exhibition at the Planning Department Gallery in Market Street, Edinburgh in the late 60's. Reiach in centre facing left. |