© All rights reserved. Courtesy of Marion Donald 

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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 Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this architect:
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 2177B, Queen's Road, Aberdeen, ScotlandBusiness1970sAfter 2002 
Item 2 of 2177b, Queens Road, Aberdeen, ScotlandBusiness1970sAfter 2002 

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this architect (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 7Bryan K Thomas19691969Assistant 
Item 2 of 7Lyster Grillet & Harding19691970Assistant 
Item 3 of 7Sir Basil Spence, Glover & Ferguson19721973Architect(?) 
Item 4 of 7Scottish Special Housing Association (SSHA)19731974Architect(?) 
Item 5 of 7Jenkins & Marr19741976Architect(?) 
Item 6 of 7John and Marion Donald19762006Partner 
Item 7 of 7Castlegate Design Group19842002Partner 

Buildings and Designs

This architect 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 351977260 Queen's Road  AberdeenScotlandGarden room extension.
Item 2 of 351977Stockethill Parish Church HallStockethill AberdeenScotland 
Item 3 of 351978Dale Cottage, Belvedere LaneCults AberdeenshireScotlandAlterations and extensions.
Item 4 of 35197911 Marine Terrace  AberdeenScotlandConservation and restoration of basement.
Item 5 of 351979Home FarmMaryculter KincardineshireScotlandExtension and conservatory.
Item 6 of 35198027 Marchbank RoadCults AberdeenshireScotlandArtist's studio.
Item 7 of 351981287 King's Gate  AberdeenScotlandExtensions.
Item 8 of 351981Culdrain HouseGartly AberdeenshireScotlandRepairs and restoration.
Item 9 of 351982Gavelcruive, 177b Queen's Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 10 of 351983Garage and car showroom, LochcroftNigg Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 11 of 351984207 Queen's Road  AberdeenScotlandAlterations and conservatory.
Item 12 of 351984Erroll SchoolErtoll PerthshireScotlandConversion to dwellling house and restoration
Item 13 of 351984Port Erroll SchoolPort Erroll AberdeenshireScotlandConversion and restoration.
Item 14 of 351984Provost Young's House  AberdeenScotlandRestoration and conversion to flats.
Item 15 of 351985Eastside FarmhouseMaryculter AberdeenshireScotlandAlterations and extensions.
Item 16 of 3519865 Royfold Crescent  AberdeenScotlandExtension.
Item 17 of 351988Burnbrae, Contlaw RoadMilltimber AberdeenScotlandExtension.
Item 18 of 351988The College of ScalanBraes of Glenlivet BanffshireScotlandRepairs.
Item 19 of 35198926 Abbotshall PlaceCults AberdeenshireScotlandRefurbishment and extension.
Item 20 of 351990Farm cottages, Nethermains of AquhorthiesInverurie AberdeenshireScotlandRestoration of derelict farm cottages.
Item 21 of 351990Roseir, 529 North Deeside RoadCults AberdeenshireScotlandReconstruction, extension and garage.
Item 22 of 35199272 Forbesfield Road  AberdeenScotlandExtension - assisted by Richard Hughson.
Item 23 of 351993Croft CottageGlenmuick AberdeenshireScotlandExtension - assisted by Neil Sutherland.
Item 24 of 351993Rosevalley Cottar House, CothalDyce AberdeenshireScotlandReconstruction and extension including glazed rhododendron house.
Item 25 of 351994543 Great Western Road  AberdeenScotlandHairdressing salon.
Item 26 of 35199482 Gray Street  AberdeenScotlandExtension.
Item 27 of 351995Drumoak Manse steadingDrumoak AberdeenshireScotlandConversion to house - assisted by Richard Hughson.
Item 28 of 351995Tenement, Walker RoadTorry AberdeenshireScotlandRefurbishment - assisted by Graham Mitchell and Brian Noble.
Item 29 of 35199630 Woodburn Avenue  AberdeenScotlandAlterations and extension - with Richard Hughson as assistant.
Item 30 of 351996House, Pembroke PlaceRoseburn EdinburghScotlandAddition of garden room
Item 31 of 351996St James' Episcopal ChurchStonehaven KincardineshireScotlandRepairs.
Item 32 of 3519973A Mackie Place  AberdeenScotlandExtension - with Richard Hughson as assistant.
Item 33 of 351997Cocklarchy FarmhouseHuntly AberdeenshireScotlandRefurbishment - with Graham Mitchell.
Item 34 of 351998Bellfield CottageKinneff KincardineshireScotlandAlterations and extension - with Richard Hughson.
Item 35 of 352001Replacement house at Forbes LodgeStrathdon AberdeenshireScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this architect:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Allen, Nic (ed.) Scottish Architects in Conservation  p33

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this architect:
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1Courtesy of John DonaldInformation sent via DSA website  

Images

© All rights reserved. Courtesy of Marion Donald 

© All rights reserved. Courtesy of Marion Donald