Architecture
Conder, Neville. (2 of 13). National Life Story Collection: Architects' Lives
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Type
sound
Duration
0:31:16
Shelf mark
C467/42
Subjects
Architecture
Recording date
1999-08
Interviewees
Conder, Neville, 1922-2003 (speaker, male)
Interviewers
Powers, Alan, (speaker, male)
Abstract
Part 2: More on Vic Oliver and previous wife, Sarah Churchill. Sister later sold stock of Churchill paintings in USA. After Oxford school went to school in Wimbledon where parents later moved to. Minor cycling accident, explored Wimbledon Common. At new school, encouraged to draw. Good at maths and boxing though very small, 'Titch'. Back to Christchurch , the uniform, rules of dress and corporal punishment. Dawn of idea of becoming an architect. Father taught him workshop skills. Built model yacht, 'Jubilisha'. Father built house with Neo-Georgian architect, Oliver Law, near Kaufmann/Benjamin house. NC shown architect's drawings. Discovery of the school library and the romanticism of the Architectural Review and Studio. Joined school studio and encouraged. Father arranged for him to go to Bartlett School of Architecture although expected to go into Bensons like his brother. Bartlett under Prof. A E Richardson, a brilliant lecturer, anti-Corbusier. Principles of modern design. J M Richards' Introduction to Modern Architecture. Outbreak of WW2, NC joined up, put in 'deferred service'. While waiting did farming in Cornwall. September 15 1940, accidentally shot his hand off while catching rabbits, details.;tape 2-Side A Continues shooting episode. Treatment at Liskard hospital, saving his arm, written up in Lancet. Later refused cosmetic surgery in London. Broke away from Bartlett, went to AA under Jellicoe. Opened up his life intellectually. Worked hard and did well. Lived in 'Talieson', a hugely stimulating architects' commune. Lists other residents. Impact of Pevsner's review in Journal of AA where NC specially commended. Meeting with Pevsner at Birkbeck re landscaping bombed churches. Invited to design the scheme. Details written up in AR. Later produced in book form, written up by Hugh Casson. NC's factory drawings for Robert Harling. Later drawings for Wimpey run in The Times. Article for Robin Maugham. Continued to earn as an illustrator. RH and James Shand invited him to do book in series on Modern Architecture edited by HC.;tape 2 -Side B Married Jean McArthur, small flat in Dolphin Square. Submitted book to HC, published in 1949 for which paid £100. c1949 invited by HC to work in his practice. Refers back to shared house in Thurlow Street at end of war with Powell and Moya. Went to AA with theory about 'derivative' architecture. Explains this. Began to develop deeper penetration of functional idea. Took first prize including travel scholarship to Switzerland, honeymoon at same time. Little study on Swiss chalets. Drawing for prefab house, Howard House. Did future perspectives under name of Hugh Benson. Meeting with sculptor, Reg Butler. Further information on Freddie Gibberd. Competition for paintings to enliven Mount House won by NC. His dissertation on C19 and interest in William Gilpin. Cycle trip to Potter's Bar to see half built building , manic about feasability and working drawings. Comments on ethos of construction almost Arts and Crafts. Powell and Moya's Churchill Gardens in Pimlico. His early experience with HC. Reference to Christopher Nicholson and Gouldon. Design for Standard Tube Investment at British Industries Fair at Birmingham.;tape 3 No recording;tape 4 Side A Description of building for staff house, Birmingham University, based on buildings in Channel Islands. Made an Honorary Member of Staff Committee. Reference to staircase and refectory. Opened by Anthony Eden in 1956. Further buildings for them. On retirement introduced Michael Cain. Won competition for aluminium telephone kiosk for Post Office, written up in Design Magazine. Reference to earlier Irish phone box. Design not accepted as PO returns to cast-iron. Dispute with PO. Second competition which NC ignores. Desiderata for kiosk. Reference to past role as architect-in-chief for British Industries Fair, masterminding Olympia and Earl's Court. Design of Elephant House after approach by Zuckerman from London Zoo. Mainly Hugh's building leading to international recognition. Describes design for Lady Mitchell Hall, Cambridge, turned down by Senate. NC's lecture to academic community. Submission of second design accepted. Success of Elephant House in 1965 and Raynor Banham's unfair review.;tape 4 Side B Comments on Banham's review and previous meeting with Paul Rudolph. Concrete tested by operative with 4 lb hammer. Master plan for Pestalozzi Children's Village at Saddlescombe. Design of international house for Lord Verulam to launch appeal for money. Pittance as same day as Cuban missile crisis and project foundered. NC emotionally involved with job but ended as complete disaster. Commission for Swindon Civic Centre and Civic Hall. Identified with clerk of works who admired their work. Project cancelled. Replaced by design for new Wyvern Theatre and shops. Michael Cain's contribution. Gained RIBA award, opened by Queen. Redesign of reach of river in middle of Bath through Hugh's appointment as Private Fine Art Commissioner for City of Bath. Success in limited competition for Derby City Halls. Difficulties with sub-contractor who was Leader of Conservative Group. Opened by Queen Mother.;tape 5 Side A Functionalism and stone joints. Ismaili Centre. Discussed emblems of a modern architect. NC's book on Modernism. Knew little of Islamic architecture. Aga Khan wanted immediate statement of Islamic art at entrance so worked with Iranian expert in field. Design of windows and privacy. Firm lost money on the building. His last important job was extension to civic buildings in Basingstoke. Effect of Prince of Wales speech belittling modern architecture. Began follow-up career as a painter. 1993 Exhibition though sold little. Great romanticism in his painting from his farming days. Trying to free himself from tightness of architectural perspectives.;tape 5 Side B Paintings on his walls mainly his own. Large abstract by his wife with degree in Fine Art from Harvard. Work of Kenneth Rowntree. His work in the sixties on his retirement. and his 'Field' paintings, especially 'Eclipse' (1992). Retired to small cottege in Rogate, Sussex which he extended. His relaxation through physical work; his wife a plantswoman and counsellor. Remains a consultant to the firm. Looks back over partnership with Hugh Casson and Hugh's input. National Westminster Bank's regional building in Manchester .;tape 6 Side A Hugh's contribution to Ismaili Centre - reform of top part of building . NC kept interior design to himself, aided by Pamela Robinson and Joyce Conway Evans. HC's royal commissions and his pride in the connection with the Queen. NC comments on royal connections and HC's CBE. HC as impresario. Recalls Festival of Britain and the boat dock, his small contribution to New Brutalism. South Bank as summing up of thirties architecture and arrival of Max Fry and Basil Spence. NC's thought on fashion as despicable, his search for rectitude. HC's understanding of wheel of fashion and his piece in Architects Journal ruling him out of modern movement. His wonderful Presidential speech at RA, his books and paintings which ' skipped over the surface of life'. Quotes Guardian Obituary. Series of travel articles and some darker incidents. Disagreement over reference to himself in HC's book.;tape 6 Side B HC's attitude to fame and NC's response. Very close in early days then later personal relationship. The sad period of his illness. Continues on HC. Reference to Norman Foster and Peter Smithson. Birmingham University and the Chamberlain Tower. University of Cambridge and the system of Architects of the Year. Stirling's design for history building and the dome. Design for Selwyn College.;tape 7 Side A Michael Cain's visit to Stirling and weakness of drawing for Cambridge University building. Advised turning it around. Stirling reported to have said that he built the History Building to 'fuck' Casson. Dealings over design for Selwyn College building on extra strip of land. Legal wrangles over land resolved. [After 5 minutes recording finishes];tape 7 Side B [Tape blank until approx 5 minutes from end]:Met with James Stirling at RIBA exhibition of competition drawings where JS denigrated all the entries except for NC's and his own. [ 1 minute of recording only];tape 8 Side A Leon Krier, associate of Stirling, continued to work on the drawings. NC's Stage 1 drawings were later published although unsuccessful in competition. Stirling's drawings never published. [After 2 minutes recording finished];tape 8 Side B [This side is blank]
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