Basic Biographical Details Name: | Alexander Buchanan Gardner | Designation: | | Born: | 25 September 1889 | Died: | 24 March 1961 | Bio Notes: | Alexander Buchanan Gardner was born on 25 September 1889 in Lanarkshire, and was articled to W M Robertson of Glasgow from 1905 to 1910, studying at the Glasgow Technical College. He spent the next three years assisting first Albert V Gardner, then John Campbell McKellar of McKellar Davis & Gunn, before becoming Principal Assistant Architect for the Middle Ward of Lanarkshire County Council in 1914. He remained there until 1926 when he moved to Aberdeen to become Architect and Director of Housing for the Town Council, and by 1930 he had become a member of the Council of the Aberdeen Society of Architects. Later he held the post pf President of the Society and was appointed to the Scottish Housing Advisory Committee in 1944. In 1945 he became Chairman of the committee appointed to advise the Scottish Secretary on possible use of prefabrication in the production of permanent houses.
He was admitted LRIBA in early 1931, his proposers being William Liddle Duncan, Robert Gordon Wilson Junior and Clement George. By that time he had carried out housing schemes to a total value of £1,000,000. He was still City Architect of Aberdeen when he was elected FRIBA on 7 January 1941, proposed by the RIBA Council. He retired from the post of Director of Housing on 20 September 1954.
He died on 23 March 1961 and was survived by his widow Mabel Leila Wood and and his son. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 14, Hamilton Place, Aberdeen, Scotland | Private | 1930 * | | | | Town House, Aberdeen, Scotland | Business | 1930 * | | | | Municipal Offices/11, Broad Street, Aberdeen, Scotland | Business | Before 1939 * | | | | 22, Polmuir Road, Aberdeen, Scotland | Private | 1941 * | | | | Municipal Offices, Bridge Street, The Castlegate, Aberdeen, Scotland | Business | 1950 | After 1954 | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersEmployees or PupilsThe following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | Frederick Wright | 17 February 1926 | c. 1931 | Apprentice | in Aberdeen City Architect's Department | | Leo Durnin | c. 1932 | 1936 | Assistant | In Aberdeen City Architect's Office | | John Charles Richardson | 1936 or 1937 | After 1937 | Assistant | In Aberdeen City Architect's Department | | Duncan James Johnston Wright | 1938 | 1939 | | in Aberdeen City Architect's Office (role unclear) | | Leo Durnin | 1938 | After 1954 | Assistant | In Aberdeen City Architect's Office | | Frederick Wright | Before 1944 | After 1953 | | in Aberdeen City Architect's Department |
RIBARIBA ProposersRIBA Proposals
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 1924 | Aberdeen Municipal Buildings and Tolbooth | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Extensions - as City Architect | | After 1924 | Anderson Library | Woodside | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Extensions - as City Architect | | After 1924 | Fish Market | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | As City Architect | | After 1924 | Housing schemes | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | As City Architect | | After 1924 | Police Buildings | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Extensions - as City Architect | | After 1924 | Public Baths | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | As City Architect | | 1930s(?) | Stewart House | Cults | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Alterations? - as City Architect | | 1931 | City Hospital | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Extensions, including nurses' home - as City Architect | | 1932 | Bon Accord Baths | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | As City Architect - but actually designed by McRobbie | | After 1934 | Northfield Lodge | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1935 | Commercial Buildings | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1936 | Woodend Hospital, Nurses' Home | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | New nurses' home - as City Architect | | 1938 | Kingseat Asylum, nurses home | Kinsgeat | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Addition - as City Architect | | 1941 | Aberdeen Maternity Hospital | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Ante-natal hospital added - as City Architect | | Before 1941 | Woodend Hospital | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Twin theatres, radiology department and cubicle isolation block - as City Architect | | 1944 | Commercial and domestic buildings | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Houses upgraded | | 1945 | Tenements, Rosemount Square | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | As City Architect but with Durnin as designer | | 1948 | King Street Public School | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Additions | | 1950 | High School for Girls | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1950 | Multi-storey Block of Shops and Nursery, Beston Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1950 | Nursery School, The Northfield | | | | | | | 1950 | Pelfordals House | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | For extensions to form nurses' home | | 1950 | Primary School, Kainhill | Kainhill | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1950 | Public School, Middlefield | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1951 | Block of Flats, Mair Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1951 | Hanover Street Primary School | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1951 | Infants' School, Carnegie Park | Carnegie Park | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1951 | Inverdee Infants' School | Inverdee | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | To prepare plans for extensions | | 1951 | Nursery Infants' School, Cornhill | Cornhill | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1951 | Provost Skene's House | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | As City Architect - restoration | | 1951 | Scheme of 100 Houses, Northfield | Northfield | | Aberdeen | Scotland | As Municipal Housing Officer | | 1952 | Housing, Ashgrove Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | As City Architect | | 1952 | Housing, Ashgrove Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1952 | Housing, Back Hilton Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1952 | Housing, Rosehall Drive and Cairnie Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | New housing
| | 1952 | Housing, West Burn Drive | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1952 | Junior Secondary School, Northfield | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1952 | Public school, Auchnagatt | Auchnagatt | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Prepared plans for new school | | 1952 | Rosemount Junior Secondary School | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Reconstruction | | 1952 | Shops, Abbotswell Crescent | Kincorth | | Aberdeen | Scotland | New shops | | 1952 | Shops, Lambhill Terrace | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | New shops | | 1952 | Shops, Northfield | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | New shops | | 1953 | Aberdeen Crematorium | Kaimhill | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Extension | | 1953 | Flats, Ashgrove | Ashgrove | | Aberdeen | Scotland | As City Architect | | 1953 | Library and Community Centre, Northfield Housing Site | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | New library and community centre | | 1953 | New public school, Marlrick | Marlrick | | Aberdeen | Scotland | New public school | | 1953 | Police Houses, Kingorth Estate | Kingorth | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Plans in hand for 24 new police houses | | 27 February 1953 | Junior Secondary School, Cummings Park | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | New school | | 27 March 1953 | Houses and shops, Spring Gardens Site | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | New houses and shops | | 3 July 1953 | Pubic School, Bucksburn | Bucksburn | | Aberdeen | Scotland | New school | | 10 July 1953 | Public School, Aberdeen | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | New school | | 24 July 1953 | Housing, Mastrick | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Plans prepared for 294 new houses | | 9 October 1953 | Militia Barracks and depot | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Alterations and additions for new transport dept | | 16 October 1953 | Old Folks' Home, Polmuir Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | £29,000 extension | | 6 November 1953 | Newmills Home, Aberdeen | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Reconstruction | | 13 November 1953 | Corporation Housing, Aberdeen | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Plans in hand for scheme of 70 houses | | 20 November 1953 | Housing, Mastrick | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | To prepare plans for 222 houses | | 1954 | Aberdeen Grammar School | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1954 | Community Centre and Library | Northfields | | Aberdeen | Scotland | To prepare plans for new community centre and library | | 1954 | Community Centre, Mastrick Site | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1954 | Housing, Spittal | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1954 | Infant and Nursery School, and Primary School, Mastrick Housing Site | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | New schools | | 8 January 1954 | Maternity and Child Welfare Clinic, Northfield | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Plans prepared and approved for new maternity and child welfare clinic | | 19 March 1954 | Woodside Primary School, Aberdeen | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | To prepare plans for reconstruction, with additions | | Before 1954 | The Beach Ballroom | Sea Beach | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Alterations? | | Before 1954 | Tullos Industrial Estate | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | As City Architect | | 1955 | Dressing Rooms, Hazelhead Park | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1955 | Dressing Rooms, Inverdee Park | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1955 | Housing, Summerfield | Dalmarnock | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1955 | Housing, Summerhill Site | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | | 1955 | Pavilion Clubhouse, Galnagest Golf Course | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Aberdeen Town Council | | Town Council Minutes | | This is a published version of the Minutes (no bibliographical details known as yet) | Volume for 1924 (4 August), p313 | | RIBA | 1939 | The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Aberdeen Evening Express | 24 March 1961 | | | Obituary | | Aberdeen Press and Journal | 24 March 1961 | | | Obituary | | Builder | 24 November 1950 | | | p550 | | Builder | 1 December 1950 | | | p582 | | Builder | 15 December 1950 | | | p649 | | Builder | 8 December 1950 | | | p617 | | Builder | 1 September 1950 | | | p296 | | Builder | 26 January 1951 | | | p155 | | Builder | 9 November 1951 | | | p646 | | Builder | 2 March 1951 | | | p332 | | Builder | 9 March 1951 | | | p367 | | Builder | 13 April 1951 | | | p534 | | Builder | 20 April 1951 | | | p569 | | Builder | 4 April 1952 | | | p536 | | Builder | 11 April 1952 | | | p572 | | Builder | 30 May 1952 | | | p828 | | Builder | 18 July 1952 | | | p112 | | Builder | 15 August 1952 | | | p248 | | Builder | 27 February 1953 | | | p360 | | Builder | 20 March 1953 | | | p472 | | Builder | 27 March 1953 | | | p509 | | Builder | 22 May 1953 | | | p812 | | Builder | 29 May 1953 | | | p849 | | Builder | 3 July 1953 | | | p40 | | Builder | 10 July 1953 | | | p80 | | Builder | 24 July 1953 | | | p156 | | Builder | 9 October 1953 | | | p560 | | Builder | 16 October 1953 | | | p600 | | Builder | 6 November 1953 | | | p720 | | Builder | 13 November 1953 | | | p764 | | Builder | 27 November 1953 | | | p862 | | Builder | 8 January 1954 | | | p77 | | Builder | 15 January 1954 | | | p161 | | Builder | 19 March 1954 | | | p528 | | Builder | 2 April 1954 | | | p616 | | Builder | 9 April 1954 | | | p655 | | Builder | 7 May 1954 | | | p830 | | Builder | 23 July 1954 | | | p157 | | Builder | 6 August 1954 | | | p239 | | Builder | 13 August 1954 | | | p279 | | Builder | 14 January 1955 | | | p116 | | Builder | 4 February 1955 | | | p236 | | Builder | 18 March 1955 | | | p492 | | Builder | 1 April 1955 | | | p572 | | Builder | 8 April 1955 | | | p612 | | Industrialised Building Systems and Components | April 1967 | | | p9-11 Summerfield, Dalmarnock |
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 no3704 (box 15); F no3822 (box 29) |
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