Basic Biographical Details Name: | Sam Bunton | Designation: | | Born: | 5 January 1908 | Died: | 20 December 1974 | Bio Notes: | Sam Bunton was born on 5 January 1908, the son of Samuel Bunton, a conciliation officer with the Ministry of Labour, and his wife Margaret Mann. He was articled to James Jackson Wilson of Glasgow on 16 January 1922. He commenced practice as a principal on 1 August 1930 at 219 St Vincent Street. In 1934 he married Robina Brown Ker. In the 1930s Bunton was an able Art Deco designer. By 1941 Bunton had moved to 235 Bath Street; in that year he was admitted LRIBA on 18 November, his proposers being John Wilson, George Brown Deas and Jack Antonio Coia.
His work consisted largely of housing schemes, for which he designed the sewers, services and road layouts as well as the buildings; his clients for these included the Scottish Special Housing Association and Kilsyth and Dumbarton Town Councils. He was also involved in the design and alteration of hospitals, industrial buildings, sports buildings, hotels, licensed premises and some small private houses, as well as numerous air-raid shelters (many of which were for Glasgow Corporation), and was in charge of war damage repair for the burghs of Clydebank (from March 1941) and Dumbarton (appointed Reconstruction Architect in a Clydeside Area). He was also Town Planning Consultant for Clydebank from October 1941. Before and during the Second World War, he conducted research into alternative methods of construction, including plastics, and he carried out experimental work in co-operation with Metropolitan Vickers of Manchester.
By about 1950 Bunton was operating as Sam Bunton & Associates.
Sam Bunton died from a cerebral thrombosis at 21 Albyn Place, Aberdeen, on 19 December 1974. He was survived by his wife, Robina Brown Ker.
Bunton, Sam. "War Damage Repair: The Discharge of Departmental Responsibility." The Builder (4 July 1941): p4-? Bunton, Sam. "Design for Safer Housing in A "Target" Area." The Builder (4 July 1941): p11-? Bunton, Sam. "Building Plastics: A Scottish Development." The Builder (24 October 1941): p368-69 Bunton, Sam (1952) "Crosswall Construction. A method of achieving more and cheaper housing without reducing existing public health standards of rooms" in The Builder, March 28, 481-487 | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 92, High Street, Stonehaven, Kincardineshire, Scotland | Private | | 1975 | | | 219, St Vincent Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1930 | Before 1941 | Appears ot be at this address and 235 Bath Street at the same time | | 26B, Renfield street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1934 | 1935 | Appears to be at this address and 219 St Vincent Street at the same time | | 36, Aviemore Road, Mosspark, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1935 | 1936 | | | 26A, Renfield Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1939 * | | | | 235, Bath Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1939 | After 1943 | | | Aviemore, Stanley Drive, Brookfield, Renfrewshire, Scotland | Private | 1941 * | | | | Clydebank Town Planning Department, Janetta Street, Clydebank, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1943 * | | | | 87, West Regent Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1947 * | | | | 35, Darnley Gardens, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1959 | 1960 | | | 161, Terregles Avenue, Pollokshields, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1964 | 1965 | | | 15, Lynedoch Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Private(?) | c. 1970 | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersThe following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | James Jackson Wilson | 16 January 1922 | Before 1930 | Apprentice | | | Sam Bunton & Associates | Before 1947 | | Partner | |
Employees or Pupils
RIBARIBA ProposersThe following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | Jack Antonio Coia | 18 November 1941 | for Licentiateship | | George Brown Deas | 18 November 1941 | for Licentiateship | | John Wilson | 18 November 1941 | for Licentiateship |
Buildings and DesignsThis 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 | | After 1930 | 1,500 houses (approx) for Scottish Special Housing Association | Coatbridge | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Layout | | After 1930 | 1,960 houses for Scottish Special Housing Association | Kilmarnock | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Layout and planning | | After 1930 | 100 houses (approx) at High Craigends | Kilsyth | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | | | After 1930 | 120 houses at Bow Farm for the Scottish Special Housing Association | Greenock | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | After 1930 | 200 houses at Crosslet | Dumbarton | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | After 1930 | 200 houses for the Scottish Special Housing Association | Johnstone | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | After 1930 | 500 houses at Maukinhill for the Scottish Special Housing Association | Greenock | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | After 1930 | Community Centre | Kilsyth | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | | | After 1930 | Divisional Control Station for the Glasgow Corporation Lighting Department | Springburn | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | After 1930 | Dumbarton Combination Poorhouse | Dumbarton | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Structural alterations - conversion of wards into operating theatres and provision of decontamination facilities | | After 1930 | Flats, Charles Street | Kilsyth | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | | | After 1930 | Greyhound Totalisator Tower | Carntyne | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | After 1930 | Greyhound Totalisator Tower | Wishaw | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | After 1930 | Overtoun House | Dumbarton | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Plans for conversion into hospital - seemingly unexecuted | | After 1930 | Scheme at High Craigends | Kilsyth | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | | | c. 1930 | Experimental concrete houses for the Scottish Special Areas Housing Association | | | | Scotland | | | 1933 | Garage and workshops | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1936 | 248 houses, Balmalloch | Kilsyth | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | | | 1936 | Barrwood Housing Scheme | Kilsyth | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | | | 1937 | Divisional Control Station for the Glasgow Corporation Lighting Department | Langside | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1937 | The General Wolfe Public Bar | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1937 | The Kirk House public bar | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Remodelled and enlarged | | c. 1938 | The Neuk | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1939 | House for a Bee-Keeper | Seamill | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | After 1939 | 400 houses (approx) for the Admiralty | Rosyth | | Fife | Scotland | | | After 1939 | Air raid shelters | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | After 1939 | Plans for 2,000 houses for the Air Ministry | Hillington | | Glasgow | Scotland | Plans prepared (unexecuted) | | After 1939 | War damage repair to 4,000 houses (approx) | Dumbarton | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | c. 1939 | Allan Glen's School | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Plans for alterations, additions and new buildings, costing c.£100,000; delayed by outbreak of war | | c. 1939 | Divisional Control Station for the Glasgow Corporation Lighting Department | Govan | | Glasgow | Scotland | Planned? - not started due to outbreak of war | | c. 1939 | Sports stadium and ice rink | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Planned? - not started due to outbreak of war | | 1940 | One hundred and eighty houses for SSHA, Brucefield | Dunfermline | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1941(?) | 372 houses at Shortlees for the Scottish Special Housing Association | Kilmarnock | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | c. 1941 | 600 houses | Dumbarton | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Initiated earlier but delayed due to outbreak of war | | c. 1941 | War damage repair to 12,000 houses (approx) | Clydebank | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | As Clydebank's Architect and Town Planning Consultant | | 1943 | Housing, Main Street | Moscow | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1943 | Two unit-built houses | Waterside | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1944 | Clydebank Plan | Clydebank | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | As town planning consultant | | 1944 | Whitecrook neighbourhood housing | Clydebank | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1947 | 162 cottages, Everard Drive, Milton Housing Scheme | Milton | | Glasgow | Scotland | Superintended works. | | 1947 | Smiths (Pork Butchers) Ltd, Shettleston Road | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations and additions | | 1948 | Buildings for Messrs Kelly | Drumchapel | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1948 | Moredun Housing | Moredun | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1949 | 132 houses, Ashgill Road/Bernaray Street, Milton Housing Scheme | Milton | | Glasgow | Scotland | Designed houses for Glasgow Corporation | | 1949 | Barmulloch Housing Scheme | Barmulloch | | Glasgow | Scotland | Drew up original plan for entire housing scheme in consultation with the staff of Housing Director A G Jury | | c. 1950 | 188 cottages, Hallhill Road/Kentallen Road, Barlanark Housing Scheme | Barlanark | | Glasgow | Scotland | Designed the 2Z house type used for the 188 cottages | | 1951 | Demonstration Eight Storey Flats, Toryglen | Toryglen | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1951 | Demonstration "Foam-Slag" Houses, Clydebank | Clydebank | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1952 | Clydebank Redevelopment Housing | Clydebank | | West Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Sam Bunton & Associates, consultant architects | | 1952 | Drumchapel Housing Development Unit 2 Housing | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Designed 2000 crosswall dwellings | | 1953 | Melbourne Avenue Housing | Clydebank | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1954 | Castlemilk Housing, Unit 1 | Castlemilk | | Glasgow | Scotland | 2-12 Dougrie Terrace - one of Bunton's crosswall blocks (built of precast 'Wilson blocks') by Bunton's contractor friend John Lawrence. | | 1954 | St Cuthbert's RC School | Hamilton | | Lanarkshire | | | | 1957 | Tormusk Primary School, Hoddam Avenue | Castlemilk | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1960 | Blairdardie South Housing | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1960 | Flats, Great Western Road | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 24 March 1961 | Multi-storey housing, Balornock | Balornock | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | to develop project in consultation with Corporation's Housing and Works Dept per Builder p585 | | 1962 | Red Road Housing | Balornock | | Glasgow | Scotland | Design | | 1965 | Mid-rise housing, George Street and Canal Street Redevelopment Stage 2 Phase 1 | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | c. 1946 | 240 Atholl Steel Houses, Robroyston Housing Scheme | Robroyston | | Glasgow | Scotland | Responsible for design | | c. 1946 | 260 Atholl Steel Houses, Robroyston Housing Scheme | Robroyston | | Glasgow | Scotland | Responsible for design | | c. 1946 | 294 Orlit Flats and Cottages, Robroyston Housing Scheme | Robroyston | | Glasgow | Scotland | Responsible for design |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Glendinning, Miles | 1997 | Rebuilding Scotland: The Postwar Vision, 1945-75 | | Tuckwell Press Ltd | p11-12, 22, 25, 59, 85, 102-10, 145, 159, 150-1, 177, 185 p161-2 Moredun Housing | | Glendinning, Miles and Muthesius, Stefan | 1994 | Tower Block: Modern Public Housing in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland | | Yale University Press: New Haven and London | p75 George Street, Paisley Stage II p228 Blairdardie South Housing Red Road: Cover, p31, p65, p75, p232 Photograph of construction, p233 Photographs of construction and opening, p234, p235; p237, p239, p262, p315, p318, p321, p329, p381, Gazetteer 2 Melbourne Avenue: p82, p380 Drumchapel Unit 2: p154, p397 | | Post Office Directories | | | | | | | RIBA | 1939 | The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | | | RIBA | 1950 | The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | | | RIBA | 1970 | RIBA Directory 1970 | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Architectural Review | November 1967 | | | p343 Red Road | | Architectural Review | November 1967 | | | p343 Red Road | | Builder | 25 April 1941 | | | p408-? [War-Time Development in Scotland] | | Builder | 28 March 1952 | | | p481-487, article on 'Crosswall' construction, with example plans | | Builder | 19 October 1962 | | | p769-70 Red Road | | Builder | 15 March 1963 | | | p568 Red Road | | Glasgow Herald | 26 June 1958 | | | 'New space-saving building shapes: alternative to 'overspill' presented' | | International Asbestos Cement Review | October 1966 | 44 | | p21-5 Red Road | | RIBA Journal | February 1967 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | p46 Red Road | | Systems Building and Design | May 1967 | | | p50-3 Red Road | | Town and Country Planning | 7 August 1982 | | | p177-9 'The story of Red Road Flats' |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | L no5037 (combined box 52); also Licentiateship paper of Duncan McCulloch: L no5350 (combined box 73) |
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