Basic Biographical Details Name: | James Houston & Son | Designation: | | Born: | 1956 | Died: | | Bio Notes: | James Houston was born at Kilbirnie on 22 June 1893, the son of James Houston JP and the younger brother of the painter Robert Houston (1891-1942); the painter George Houston RSA (1869-1847) was a relative. James was educated at Spiers School, Beith and was articled to Fryers & Penman of Largs in July 1909. While there he attended evening classes for one year at Kilbirnie, for two years at Kilmarnock, and for two years at the Glasgow School of Architecture, where he remained as a day student under Professors Bourdon and Gourlay for two further years after completing his apprenticeship in 1914. He excelled academically, achieving first place in all the classes he attended and winning bronze, silver and gold medals, and towards the end of his studies he assisted Gourlay in the illustration of the latter's book 'The Italian Orders of Architecture' (published 1916).
In 1919, following three years' war service in the Royal Navy, Houston was engaged by Gourlay at the Royal Technical College as chief assistant and lecturer. Having taken the opportunity provided by the academic holidays to tour the cathedrals of England, he commenced practice the following year from the family home at Glenlogan, Kilbirnie. The support of the Knox family, owners of Stonyholm and Denholm Mills, enabled him to give up teaching and commence full-time practice at Bridgend House, Kilbirnie in 1925. During the early years of his practice Houston was assisted by Hugh Macdonald who stayed with him for two decades, and Gavin McClure who was killed in the Second World War. The firm specialised in modernistic cinema and entertainment buildings.
Houston was elected FRIBA on 3 April 1939, his proposers being William James Smith, Thomas Harold Hughes and David Bateman Hutton. When the Second World War broke out Houston re-enlisted, this time in the Royal Engineers, being commissioned with the rank of captain. After the war Houston remained sole partner until 1956 when his son John B G Houston was taken into partnership. At some point the practice moved to 2 School Wynd, Kilbirnie.
James Houston died on 6 September 1966 at Whitehurst, Kilbirnie. His son continued the practice, from 1976 in partnership with William MacDougall Dunlop. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 2, School Wynd, Kilbirnie, Ayrshire, Scotland | Business | | After 1970 | |
Employment and TrainingEmployees or Pupils
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | 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 | pp59-62 |
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