Larger versions of these images are located at the foot of the page. Basic Biographical Details Name: | Marion Coats Donald (née McClure) | Designation: | Architect | Born: | 1947 | Died: | | Bio Notes: | Marion Coats Donald (nee McClure) was born in 1947 in Aberdeen, the daughter of James McClure, Superintendent of Works, and his wife Christine Hunter Currie. She was educated at Aberdeen High School for Girls and Colchester County High School for Girls. She studied for the Diploma in Architecture at the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture from 1966-72. During her ‘year out’ she was an assistant with Bryan K Thomas in Colchester and Lyster Grillet & Harding in Cambridge. After qualification in 1972 she had a post with Sir Basil Spence Glover & Ferguson in Edinburgh, moving to the SSHA the following year. She was admitted to the RIBA and as ARIAS in 1974. From 1974-76 she worked in the practice of Jenkins & Marr in Aberdeen.
In 1976 Marion set up practice in partnership with her husband John whom she had married in 1972 under the title John & Marion Donald. The practice continued until the Donalds' retirement in 2006, and both partners being elevated to FRIAS in 2000.
John and Marion Donald were both members of the North-East Group of the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland (AHSS), in which architectural historian Dr William Alvis Brogden had a leading role. In 1984, the Donalds collaborated with Brogden on several architectural competitions including the Macleod Centre Iona (entry selected for exhibition in London, New York, Glasgow and Aberdeen), the presentation drawings for which were prepared by Aberdeen School of Architecture student Malcolm Mackay. The collaboration between the Donalds and Brogden was formalised in the establishment of the Castlegate Design Group to put into practice the conservation principles of the AHSS. Castlegate Design Group ran concurrently with that of John & Marion Donald until the former’s closure in 2002.
Marion also was a part-time lecturer from 1988-2002 at the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and from 2002-2009 Professional Studies Advisor (Architecture) at the Scott Sutherland School.
John and Marion Donald have two children: James, a project manager with offshore windfarms and Christina, a solicitor.
Marion’s interests outwith her work include the arts, gardening and the countryside. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this architect: | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |  | 177B, Queen's Road, Aberdeen, Scotland | Business | 1970s | After 2002 | |  | 177b, Queens Road, Aberdeen, Scotland | Business | 1970s | After 2002 | |
Employment and TrainingEmployers
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 |  | 1977 | 260 Queen's Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Garden room extension. |  | 1977 | Stockethill Parish Church Hall | Stockethill | | Aberdeen | Scotland | |  | 1978 | Dale Cottage, Belvedere Lane | Cults | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Alterations and extensions. |  | 1979 | 11 Marine Terrace | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Conservation and restoration of basement. |  | 1979 | Home Farm | Maryculter | | Kincardineshire | Scotland | Extension and conservatory. |  | 1980 | 27 Marchbank Road | Cults | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Artist's studio. |  | 1981 | 287 King's Gate | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Extensions. |  | 1981 | Culdrain House | Gartly | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Repairs and restoration. |  | 1982 | Gavelcruive, 177b Queen's Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | |  | 1983 | Garage and car showroom, Lochcroft | Nigg | | Ross and Cromarty | Scotland | |  | 1984 | 207 Queen's Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Alterations and conservatory. |  | 1984 | Erroll School | Ertoll | | Perthshire | Scotland | Conversion to dwellling house and restoration |  | 1984 | Port Erroll School | Port Erroll | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Conversion and restoration. |  | 1984 | Provost Young's House | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Restoration and conversion to flats. |  | 1985 | Eastside Farmhouse | Maryculter | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Alterations and extensions. |  | 1986 | 5 Royfold Crescent | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Extension. |  | 1988 | Burnbrae, Contlaw Road | Milltimber | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Extension. |  | 1988 | The College of Scalan | Braes of Glenlivet | | Banffshire | Scotland | Repairs. |  | 1989 | 26 Abbotshall Place | Cults | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Refurbishment and extension. |  | 1990 | Farm cottages, Nethermains of Aquhorthies | Inverurie | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Restoration of derelict farm cottages. |  | 1990 | Roseir, 529 North Deeside Road | Cults | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Reconstruction, extension and garage. |  | 1992 | 72 Forbesfield Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Extension - assisted by Richard Hughson. |  | 1993 | Croft Cottage | Glenmuick | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Extension - assisted by Neil Sutherland. |  | 1993 | Rosevalley Cottar House, Cothal | Dyce | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Reconstruction and extension including glazed rhododendron house. |  | 1994 | 543 Great Western Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Hairdressing salon. |  | 1994 | 82 Gray Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Extension. |  | 1995 | Drumoak Manse steading | Drumoak | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Conversion to house - assisted by Richard Hughson. |  | 1995 | Tenement, Walker Road | Torry | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Refurbishment - assisted by Graham Mitchell and Brian Noble. |  | 1996 | 30 Woodburn Avenue | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Alterations and extension - with Richard Hughson as assistant. |  | 1996 | House, Pembroke Place | Roseburn | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Addition of garden room |  | 1996 | St James' Episcopal Church | Stonehaven | | Kincardineshire | Scotland | Repairs. |  | 1997 | 3A Mackie Place | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Extension - with Richard Hughson as assistant. |  | 1997 | Cocklarchy Farmhouse | Huntly | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Refurbishment - with Graham Mitchell. |  | 1998 | Bellfield Cottage | Kinneff | | Kincardineshire | Scotland | Alterations and extension - with Richard Hughson. |  | 2001 | Replacement house at Forbes Lodge | Strathdon | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this architect: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes |  | Allen, Nic (ed.) | | Scottish Architects in Conservation | | | p33 |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this architect: | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes |  | Courtesy of John Donald | Information sent via DSA website | | |
Images © All rights reserved. Courtesy of Marion Donald |