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Architects

Basic Biographic Details

T Scott Sutherland
Architect
Exact Date
Exact Date
13/06/1963
Thomas (Tom) Scott Sutherland was born in Torry, Aberdeen, the son of Robert William Sutherland, fisherman in a steam trawler and Annie Hutchinson Scott, on 13 January 1899. He was educated at the School of Architecture, Robert Gordon's College under Thomas Harold Hughes from 1916, and entered the office of John Alexander Ogg Allan in 1918. He received his diploma and a scholarship in 1921, and was awarded his post-diploma in June 1923, commencing practice as a principal at 13 Bridge Street, Aberdeen, in partnership with civil engineer I D McAndrew in that month. He passed the qualifying exam in London in October the same year and was admitted ARIBA on 3 March 1924, his proposers being John Alexander Ogg Allan, Robert Gordon Wilson Junior and John Wilson Walker. His partnership with McAndrew was dissolved that year, Sutherland continuing on his own account at the same address.

From at least 1927 to 1933 Sutherland was operating in partnership with a former fellow apprentice in Allan's office, William Logan Taylor, at 9 The Square, Huntly, as T Scott Sutherland & Taylor. He appears to have concurrently continued his own separate practice in Aberdeen, however, as he was registered with both home and office at 10 Albyn Place in 1930 when he was admitted FRIBA, his proposers being Allan, James Brown Nicol and Robert Gordon Wilson Junior. At that time he was also a member of the Council of the Aberdeen Society of Architects. His RIBA nomination papers state that prior to that date he had been responsible for 22 schools for the County Education Authority (District 5), to which he had been appointed architect in 1927, as well as some 250 private houses. The year before his admittance as FRIBA, Sutherland had married Edith Iris Webber, daughter of William G Webber.

Early in life Sutherland lost a leg but overcame the disability to become a good tennis player, swimmer, cricketer and fisherman and preferred a motorcycle to a car; he was also an expert bridge player and a leading member of the Aberdeen Magical Society.

Sutherland specialised in cinema and house design and was as much a businessman as an architect. He was a director of some forty companies in and around Aberdeen, notably Caledonian Associated Cinemas of which he was one of the founders; James Allan & Company of which he was chairman; and Modern Homes Ltd., the housing developments of which were sold from his office (he boasted that he once sold three within twenty minutes). His office was also for a time the Aberdeen branch of Scottish Amicable until he built their office c.1933. And his practice was unique in that the staff were expected to carry out other work when new commissions were few and they were somewhat underemployed. In the 1920s and early 1930s Sutherland lived at Beechgrove House, but he sold it to the BBC. He then bought Garthdee House with the long-term intention of giving it to the School of Architecture at Gray's.

Sutherland was elected progressive councillor for Ruthrieston in 1934 and was appointed housing convener. He was responsible for the competition for Kincorth Housing Scheme in 1936, won by R Gardner Medwin, and encouraged the Viennese design of the Council housing at Rosemount Square begun in 1938. By the end of his first year as Housing Convenor he had increased the number of council houses being built from 250 to 800 per year. By 1946 a quarter of Aberdeen's population had been re-housed with 7,000 slum houses demolished and 8,500 new houses built.

In 1941 he was divorced from his wife Iris, having separated earlier. In 1948 on a slow boat to China he met Georgina Buchanan, the young secretary to the Governor of Hong Kong: they married in 1950. About this time Sutherland carried out his intention of giving Garthdee to the School of Architecture with a substantial endowment. It opened in 1956 and took his name. After his death, his wife continued to support the school and a library at the current Robert Gordon University which stands on the site of the Garthdee estate, was dedicated to her.

In the mid-1950s Scott Sutherland appears to have been working under the practice title of Thomas Scott Sutherland & Partners.

Sutherland died on 13 June 1963 in Aberdeen. His practice was continued by Denis Michael Alastair Shewan as Scott Sutherland Design Associates.

Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this person:

Private Addresses

Private Addresses2 classic

AddressClassDate From CharDate From TypeDate To CharDate To TypeNotes
28 Salisbury Terrace Aberdeen ScotlandPrivate
10 Albyn Place Aberdeen ScotlandPrivate/business
Polmuir House Ferryhill Aberdeen ScotlandPrivate

Business Addresses

Business Addresses2 classic

Employment and Training

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this person (click on an item to view details):

Employers2 classic

NameName LinkDate FromDate ToPositionNotes
Sutherland & McAndrew2046841923/06In year 1924Partner
Sutherland & Taylor207688Before 1927After 1933Partner
Thomas Scott Sutherland & Partners402077Before 1953After 1954Partner
John Alexander Ogg Allan200016In year 1918In year 1921Apprentice

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this person (click on an item to view details):

Employees or Pupils2 classic

NameName LinkDate FromDate ToPositionNotes
Ruth Knox Jackson2044921923 or 19241926 or 1927Apprentice
William Halkerston1004751927/09/091930/09/08Apprentice
James Munro2006491933/12After 1934Assistant
William Halkerston1004751934/041934/06Assistant
William Alexander Wood205616After 1931Before 1941Assistant
William George Whyte205387In year 1922In year 1925Apprentice
Robert Smart Brown204323In year 1925In year 1928Apprentice
Frank Maxwell Hutchinson204766In year 1927In year 1930Apprentice
Ruth Knox Jackson204492In year 1927In year 1928AssistantPart-time whilst completing her studies
Jessie Elizabeth Kennedy (Mrs Bassett)100514In year 1928In year 1931Apprentice
James Rattray Riddell204739In year 19311939/03Chief Assistant
James Conner400128In year 1933In year 1936Apprentice

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this person for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):

RIBA PROPOSERS2 classic

ProposerProposer LinkDate ProposedNotes
John Alexander Ogg Allan2000161924/03/03for Associateship
John Wilson Walker2009311924/03/03for Associateship
Robert Gordon Wilson (junior)2009281924/03/03for Associateship
John Alexander Ogg Allan200016Mid 1930sfor Fellowship
Robert Gordon Wilson (junior)200928Mid 1930sfor Fellowship
James Brown Nicol203500Mid 1930sfor Fellowship

RIBA Proposals

This person proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):

RIBA PROPOSALS2 classic

PersonDate ProposedNotes
Frank Maxwell HutchinsonEarly 1932sfor Associateship
Robert George Will1934/01/08for Associateship
William Halkerston1935/02/11for Associateship
Jessie Elizabeth Kennedy (Mrs Bassett)1935/03/11for Associateship
Lionel Ethelbert Knight1935/05/13for Associateship
Frederick George Grant AngusMid 1935sfor Associateship
Chessor Lille Matthew1936/05/11for Associateship
James Conner1940/03/12For Associateship
Duncan James Johnston Wright1941/10/21for Associateship
James Hunter1943/02/16for Licentiateship
Gordon Stansfield Esslemont1944/12/12For Associateship
Robert Archibald Hendry1947/02/11For Licentiateship

Buildings and Designs

This person was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):

Buildings and Designs2 classic

Building NameDate StartedTown, District or VillageIslandCity or CountyCountryNotes
Housing schemeAfter 1923FraserburghAberdeenshireScotland
Nicoll HospitalAfter 1923RhynieAberdeenshireScotland
Water supply schemeAfter 1923RhynieAberdeenshireScotland
Russell Institute and LibraryAfter 1923InschAberdeenshireScotland
Bungalow Duthrie TerraceIn year 1926AberdeenScotland
Twelve Flatted HousesIn year 1926FraserburghAberdeenshireScotland
Regal CinemaIn year 1927AberdeenScotland
SchoolhouseIn year 1929ClattAberdeenshireScotland
Broomhill Estatec. 1930AberdeenScotlandFrom about 1930 onwards
SchoolIn year 1931RhynieAberdeenshireScotlandExtension
Regent CinemaIn year 1932AberdeenScotland
Amicable HouseIn year 1933AberdeenScotland
George Street CinemaIn year 1933AberdeenScotland
250-252 Union StreetIn year 1933AberdeenScotland
Victoria CinemaIn year 1934InverurieAberdeenshireScotland

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this person:

Bib ref classic

AuthorTitleDatePublisherPartNotes
McKean, CharlesThe Scottish Thirties: An Architectural Introduction1987Edinburgh: Scottish Academic Press
Scottish Biographies1938E J Thurston (pub.)
Sutherland, T SFat went West1956
Sutherland, T ScottLife on one leg1957
Morgan, DianeThe life and times of Tommy Scott Sutherland1976The Leopard, 7-part series of articles, Dec/Jan 1975-July/August 1976

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this person:

Period ref classic

Periodical NamePublisherDate CircEditionNotes
Scotsman2014/06/03Obituary of Georgina Scott Sutherland (born 28 November 1918, died 14 May 2014)

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this person:

Arc ref classic

Archive NameSourceSource Cat NoBuilding IdItem NameNotes
RIBA Nomination PapersRIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum100005A no3759 (microfilm reel 28); F no2794 (box 12)
Collection of plans, manuscripts etcRobert Gordon's University Archive200743Several photo albums, newscuttings and other memorabilia relating to busines and personal life