Basic Biographical Details

Name: George Grenfell-Baines (Professor Sir)
Designation:  
Born: 30 April 1908
Died: 9 May 2003
Bio Notes: George Baines was born at Preston on 30 April 1908, the son of a railwayman, Ernest Charles Baines, and Sarah Elizabeth Baines (nee Grenfell). After leaving Roebuck Street Elementary School in 1921 he was first employed as a junior clerk in a rating surveyor and valuer's office, before joining Lancashire County Council architect’s department as a junior draughtsman. Assistant to Bradshaw Gass and Hope of Bolton 1930-1934; Manchester University School of Architecture 1934-1936 where he adopted the name of Grenfell-Banes at the suggestion of a fellow student. He commenced practice 1937; his design thesis, for the parliament house of Southern Rhodesia, took third prize in that year's international design competition, and with the £250 prize money he set up his own office in his mother's front room. In 1941 he formed the Grenfell Baines Group, later Grenfell-Baines and Hargreaves.

The firm he founded in Preston in 1959, Building Design Partnership, (BDP) grew out of the Grenfell Baines Group, and became the UK’s largest multi-discipline practice of architects, engineers and surveyors, and the largest UK architectural firm by turnover. Grenville-Baines was partner and chairman of BDP from 1959 until his retirement in 1974 by which time BDP had fourteen architect partners, six quantity surveyors, and eight mechanical, two electrical, and eight structural engineers, with 723 staff and seven offices.

He was awarded the OBE 1960; Vice President, Royal Institute of British Architects 1967 69; Professor and Head of Department of Architecture, Sheffield University 1972-75 (Emeritus); founder, The Design Teaching Practice 1974 79; Knight 1978; honorary fellow of the American Institute of Architects 1981, and of the Russian International Academy of Architecture 1990.

He married Dorothy Hodson in 1939 (two daughters; marriage dissolved); and in 1954 Milena Fleischmann (one son, one daughter. He died Preston 9 May 2003.

Biography compiled by Neil Darlington.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 160, West Cliff, Preston, Lancashire, EnglandPrivate 2003 

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 2Grenfell-Baines and Hargreaves1940sc. 1960Partner 
Item 2 of 2Building Design Partnership (later BDP)c. 1960 PartnerFounding Partner

RIBA

RIBA Proposals

This proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 1John Keith Ingham2 April 1969For Fellowship. Other proposers uncertain.

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 213 November 1959Kersiebank Avenue Housing and Shopping Centre, GrangemouthGrangemouth StirlingshireScotlandappointed assessor of design competition per Builder p609
Item 2 of 21961RIBA-Ideal Home House CompetitionHarlow and Stockport  Englandassessor

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2DNB Dictionary of National Biography   
Item 2 of 2Who Was Who Who was Who   

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 8Builder13 November 1959  'Competition News: Housing and Shopping Centre, Grangemouth' p609
Item 2 of 8Builder29 September 1961  'Competitions Open' p571 - assessor for Ideal Home/RIBA Group Housing competition
Item 3 of 8Builder6 October 1961  'Competition News: Housing Group Design' p628 - mention of Ideal Home/RIBA competition
Item 4 of 8Builder8 December 1961  'Competition News: RIBA-Ideal Home House Competition' p1081
Item 5 of 8Daily Telegraph3 June 2003  Obituary
Item 6 of 8The Guardian27 May 2003  Obituary
Item 7 of 8The Independent14 May 2003  Obituary
Item 8 of 8The Times14 May 2003  Obituary

Archive References

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