Basic Biographical Details Name: | Percy Johnson-Marshall & Associates | Designation: | | Born: | 1960 | Died: | c. 1990 | Bio Notes: | Percy Johnson-Marshall & Associates was formed in 1960 by Percy Johnson-Marshall (brother of Robert Matthew’s partner, Stirrat Johnson-Marshall). Percy, who had previously worked with Robert Matthew in the Planning Division at London County Council, moved from London to Edinburgh to take up a lecturing post in Edinburgh University. As part of his agreement with Percy, Matthew shut down the small planning arm of Robert Matthew Johnson-Marshall & Associates’ (RMJM) Edinburgh office and transferred the staff to Percy, allowing him to set up his own planning consultancy with a healthy dowry of existing projects. Matthew also provided Percy and his family with a large home (Bella Vista) in the picturesque Edinburgh suburb of Duddingston. This home was used as the base for his practice.
In the early 1960s, Percy Johnson-Marshall & Associates were involved at the planning stage of almost all RMJM urban projects. Many of these projects were based around Edinburgh University, including the Edinburgh University masterplan. Also in conjunction with RMJM, Percy and his team were involved in Sir Robert Matthew’s extensive work in Northern Ireland, both as planning consultants on the Belfast Regional Plan and as author of the Coleraine-Portrush-Portstewart Area Plan (while Matthew handled the design for the New University of Ulster in Coleraine). Percy’s team also advised on planning matters for Matthew’s Administrative Sector Plan in Islamabad, Pakistan.
By 1964, although the close integration with RMJM was fading, with Percy’s growing academic interests in Edinburgh University, the Bella Vista team were engaged in a number of even more ambitious new projects on their own account, including the planning of a multilevel complex for Halifax, Nova Scotia and an ambitious Ł22m redevelopment of an 87-acre site in Salford.
Although Percy maintained good relations with the RMJM’s Edinburgh office, headed up by Robert Matthew, at times relations became strained with the practice’s London arm, led by his brother Stirrat Johnson-Marshall. This happened once when one of Percy’s staff, George Duncan, was recruited by the London RMJM team for a planning study for Central Lancashire (Preston/Leyland) New Town, meaning that Percy lost the job to RMJM London. Percy was also suspicious of Stirrat encouraging confusion over the Johnson-Marshall name in order to siphon off planning consultancy work.
In the RIBA Directory for 1975 besides the work listed the practice undertool public enquiry work for Great Western Road, Glasgow, Edinburgh Airport, KIlmarnock CPO as well as a site feasibility for the NLS and a regional plan for Porto Portugal for the DGSV.
See also entries for Percy Johnson-Marshall & Partners and Percy Johnson Marshall Architects. |
Employment and TrainingEmployees or Pupils
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Glendinning, Miles | 2008 | Modern architect: the life and times of Robert Matthew | | RIBA Publishing | pp288-9, 292-3, 329, 340, 342-3, 415, 444 | | Miles Glendinning, Diane Watters, David Whitham | | Docomomo Scotland Leaflet | | | p226, p229 Edinburgh University redvelopment, George Square | | RIBA | 1970 | RIBA Directory 1970 | | | | | RIBA | 1975 | RIBA Directory of practices | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 10 July 1964 | | | p57 |
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