Basic Biographical Details

Name: Robert William Kelly Cupples Rogerson
Designation:  
Born: 14 May 1917
Died: 25 April 2007
Bio Notes: Robert William Kelly Cupples Rogerson was born on 14 May 1917, the son of Robert James Robertson, foreman joiner, and his wife, Elizabeth Cupples Whitelaw. He studied at the School of Architecture, Glasgow School of Art from 1936 to 1940 and at the same time served his articles in the office of Keppie & Henderson. He undertook survey work, the preparation of working drawings and of alteration details during this period with Keppie & Henderson. In 1938, presumably during his vacations, he spent some time in Oxford and made an in-depth study of the architecture in the City and surrounding area. In 1939 he was awarded an RIBA studentship and spent six weeks in Italy, three of which were in Rome.

His studies were interrputed when he was called up. He served with the Royal Engineers, Works Services Branch, from 1940-45. During the war he was stationed in Italy for 18 months and in Greece for a year.

After the end of the war he returned to his studies, passed the professional exam in July 1947 and was admitted ARIBA in 1948, his proposers being Andrew Graham Henderson, William McCrea and Professor William James Smith. Also in 1948 he had won the Bellahouston Scholarship. In June and July that year he attended the Ist Congress of the International Federation of Housing and Planning, spending a week in Switzerland and two weeks touring in Italy. It was during this period that he acquired a deep interest in Italian architecture. The following year, 1949, he spent two weeks in Switzerland studying modern architecture and in August 1951 he made a study of French Chateaux, based in Touraine. In June 1952 he travelled to Spain and made a similar study of Spanish architecture and in August 1953 a study of French Medieval architecture.

In 1955 he was awarded the RIAS MacLaren Fellowship and spent six months in the USA and Canada. Later that year he set up business on his own account in Glasgow. From 1948 to 1962 he lectured at the Glasgow School of Architecture on construction and history. He spent a further period of three weeks in Italy in 1956 and three weeks in Scandinavia in 1961-62. He was elected FRIAS in 1963 and admitted FRIBA in 1964, his proposers being Jack Coia, William McCrea and Alexander Hodge Livingstone. He formed a partnership with Philip Hill Spence in 1965.

Elements from Rogerson's study of the liturgy in continental churches were incorporated in the design of several of his own. His increasing awareness of building for the disabled involved the practice in designing for special needs and lead to a wide-ranging study which culminated in 1969 in a book entitled 'Place at Work: the Working Environment of the Disabled' which was co-authored by Rogerson and Spence. He later wrote a monograph on his friend and idol Jack Coia.

Rogerson retired in 1977 and he was was able to give more time to his varied interests outwith work. Following a family tradition he participated in the work of the Trades House, giving many hours of his time and served as Deacon of the Incorporation of Wrights. He continued working as a volunteer for the disabled and disadvantaged and was awarded the OBE for his services. In 1981 together with A Farquhar he wrote 'Access for disabled people: guide book'. He was also an active and long-standing member of the Glasgow Arts Club and served on the council and as treasurer.

He died aged 89 at the Western Infirmary, Glasgow on 25 April 2007, his wife Mary Clerk McNeill, who had been a teacher of English and Religious Studies, having predeceased him. He was survived by his children Neill and Fiona and his grandchildren.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 7Glen Shira, Inveraray, Argyll, ScotlandPrivate 2007 
Item 2 of 7Beinn Bhuidhe House, Glen Shira, Inveraray, Argyll, ScotlandPrivate 2007 
Item 3 of 7Blythswood/62, Queen Victoria Drive, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate/business(?)1950 *After 1953 
Item 4 of 721, Stirling Drive, Bearsden, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate/business(?)1960  
Item 5 of 7257, St Vincent Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1970 *  
Item 6 of 7272, St Vincent Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1979 *  
Item 7 of 7Flat4/49, Roman Court, Bearsden, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate/business(?)1987  

* earliest date known from documented sources.


Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 2Keppie & Henderson19361940Apprentice 
Item 2 of 2Rogerson & SpenceMid 1950s Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 6Jack Antonio Coia9 December 1964For Fellowship
Item 2 of 6Andrew Graham Henderson5 August 1948For Associateship
Item 3 of 6Alexander Hodge Livingstone9 December 1964For Fellowship
Item 4 of 6William McCrea5 August 1948For Associateship
Item 5 of 6William McCrea9 December 1964For Fellowship
Item 6 of 6(Professor) William James Smith5 August 1948For Associateship

RIBA Proposals

This proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 1John Armstrong Lane5 June 1968For Fellowship

Buildings and Designs

This 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 58 Ruchazie Church  GlasgowScotland 
Item 2 of 581949Dollar Academy, Science and Domestic Science block, northern extensionsDollar ClackmannanshireScotlandLayout of extension begun - as assistant with Hughes & Waugh
Item 3 of 581949Glasgow University, Inorganic Chemistry Block  GlasgowScotlandAs assistant with D S R Waugh and T Harold Hughes
Item 4 of 581949Glasgow University, new surgical building  GlasgowScotlandAs assistant with Hughes & Waugh
Item 5 of 581951Westerton Primary SchoolBearsden GlasgowScotland 
Item 6 of 582 October 1953Candleriggs (general), Glasgow  GlasgowScotlandTo prepare plans for alterations and additions
Item 7 of 581957Penilee Primary SchoolPenilee GlasgowScotland 
Item 8 of 581958Fernhill Housing EstateRutherglen LanarkshireScotlandMay have been responsible for design
Item 9 of 581960sCarnegie Public LibraryRutherglen LanarkshireScotlandAdditions? Alterations?
Item 10 of 581960sGovan Old Parish ChurchGovan GlasgowScotlandEnvelope repairs; upgrading and repositioning ealry Christian stone coffins
Item 11 of 581960sHotelMilngavie DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 12 of 581960sLansdowne House Church of Scotland Home  GlasgowScotland 
Item 13 of 581960sQueen's Cross Church  GlasgowScotlandMaintenance and scheme for demolition and re-erection on a different site.
Item 14 of 581960sSewage Works for Glasgow CorporationKirkintilloch DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 15 of 581960sThistle Foundation scheme with houses, hostel and medical centre  EdinburghScotlandHostel for single people added.
Item 16 of 581960Dalmarnock Sewage WorksDalmarnock GlasgowScotlandModernisation
Item 17 of 581960Offices for Richards IronworksLowestoft SuffolkEngland 
Item 18 of 581960University of Glasgow, offices for Advisers of Studies  GlasgowScotland 
Item 19 of 588 July 1960Dumbarton Central Area DevelopmentDumbarton DunbartonshireScotlandawarded 3rd in competition £500 per Builder p47
Item 20 of 581961Fernhill and Cathkin Parish ChurchRutherglen GlasgowScotland 
Item 21 of 581961Glasgow University, Telephone Exchange  GlasgowScotland 
Item 22 of 581961Maisonette terrace and cottage-type Council houses, Fernhill and BlairbethFernhill/Blairbeth, Rutherglen LanarkshireScotland 
Item 23 of 581961Parkhouse Special School  GlasgowScotland 
Item 24 of 581961SOGAT House  GlasgowScotland 
Item 25 of 581962Balmore Public School  GlasgowScotlandOpen corridors glazed.
Item 26 of 581962Bowhouse Pumping StationGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 27 of 581962Hostel and workshopsLargs AyrshireScotland 
Item 28 of 581962Sheltered workshop for British Red Cross Society  GlasgowScotland 
Item 29 of 581962Trade Union Offices for Glasgow Typographical Society  GlasgowScotland 
Item 30 of 581963Castlehill Primary SchoolBearsden GlasgowScotland 
Item 31 of 581963East Kilbride South ChurchEast Kilbride LanarkshireScotland 
Item 32 of 581963Loch Turret Water SchemeLoch Turret  Scotland 
Item 33 of 581964Balornock Tron Parish ChurchBalornock GlasgowScotland 
Item 34 of 581964Red Cross Hostel and workshops, RaigmoreInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 35 of 581964St Mary Tron Church  GlasgowScotland 
Item 36 of 581964Swimming poolRutherglen LanarkshireScotland 
Item 37 of 581967Dennistoun LibraryDennistoun GlasgowScotlandInternal reconstruction.
Item 38 of 581967Rutherglen Town HallRutherglen LanarkshireScotlandInterior gutted during conversion to offices.
Item 39 of 581968Library, CardonaldCardonald GlasgowScotlandRogerson & Spence give Cardonald Library in their list of works in the 1970 RIBA Directory.
Item 40 of 581968Victoria Park Church  GlasgowScotland 
Item 41 of 581969Govanhill and Crosshill District LibraryGovanhill and Crosshill GlasgowScotlandReconstruction.
Item 42 of 581970sChurch of Scotland ChurchClydebank DunbartonshireScotlandMay be involved if before 1977
Item 43 of 581970sClydemuir Primary schoolClydebank DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 44 of 581970sSchoolDumbarton DunbartonshireScotlandInvolved if constructed before 1977
Item 45 of 581972Hillhead Public LibraryHillhead GlasgowScotland 
Item 46 of 58Before 197590 Main StreetRutherglen LanarkshireScotlandRebuilding?
Item 47 of 58Before 1975Cleansing depotRutherglen LanarkshireScotland 
Item 48 of 58Before 1975Loch Bradan WaterworksLoch Bradan AyrshireScotlandRenovation
Item 49 of 58Before 1975Queen Mary HostelBearsden GlasgowScotland 
Item 50 of 58Before 1975Red Cross hostel and workshopsLargs AyrshireScotland 
Item 51 of 58Before 1975Sewage WorksCumbernauld LanarkshireScotland 
Item 52 of 58Before 1975Swimming poolRutherglen LanarkshireScotland 
Item 53 of 58Before 1977Local Authority HousingRutherglen GlasgowScotlandRenovations. Involved if before 1977.
Item 54 of 58Before 1977Local Authority HousingMaryhill GlasgowScotlandRenovation
Item 55 of 58Before 1977Sewage Works  GlasgowScotlandOnly involved if before 1977
Item 56 of 581980Shieldhall Sewage WorksShieldhall GlasgowScotland 
Item 57 of 58c. 1980Ibrox LibraryIbrox GlasgowScotland 
Item 58 of 58Before 1981OfficesRutherglen LanarkshireScotlandMay be involved if this dates from before 1977

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 2 of 4RIBA1960The RIBA Kalendar 1959-19601959-1960  
Item 3 of 4RIBA1970RIBA Directory 1970   
Item 4 of 4RIBA1979Directory of members   

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Builder2 October 1953  p525

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 3H M Register HouseDeath Register  
Item 2 of 3RIAS, Rutland SquareRecords of membership Includes obituary by Philip Spence
Item 3 of 3RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A no10230; F no 5696 (Combined Box 95)