Royal Institute of British Architects - Portland Place, London, UK
N 51° 31.269 W 000° 08.712
30U E 698049 N 5711645
The Royal Institute of British Architects building is on the north east side of Portland Place at the junction with Weymouth Street. Needless to say, the architect won the RIBA Gold Medal several years later.
Waymark Code: WMHXMN
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 08/24/2013
Views: 2
The
Architecture website tells us:
Welcome to 66 Portland Place, home of the Royal
Institute of British Architects. An Art Deco landmark in the heart of the
West End of London, 66 Portland Place offers every kind of venue in a
single, spectacular building.
As befits the headquarters of the British architectural profession, 66
Portland Place is a showpiece of design and craftsmanship. Events held in
this centrally located London venue gain prestige and impact from the
surroundings, which are as impressive today as they were when the building
was first designed in the early 1930s. The architect was George Grey Wornum
(1888- 1957), whose design was judged the best of 3600 entries in a
competition for a new RIBA headquarters. Completed in 1934, the building was
opened by King George V and Queen Mary. Art and craft are everywhere, from
the decorated bronze front doors and sculpted figures either side of them to
the etched glass screens and wooden paneling that can be found throughout
the interior.
The building is Grade II* listed with the entry at the
English Heritage website telling us:
1932-34 by G. Grey Wornum as the result of a
competition. Steel framed and reinforced concrete construction clad in
Portland stone; flat roof. Deep rectangular plan filling 2 original house
plots back to mews. Scandinavian influenced Neo Classicism with carefully
proportioned and restrained use of formal and sculptural details emphasising
institutional character whilst respecting the overall scale of the C.18
Portland Place; plain annexe front to north, 3 storeys (with blind 3rd
floor) and set back attic storey, the annexe with 6 storeys in the same
height, on basement. 3 windows wide with 11-window return; 3 window annexe.
Broad square headed doorway centred in rusticated ground floor with bold
simply moulded architrave surround; large double bronze relief doors by
James Woodford, flanked by free-standing -sculptured monoliths. Through
storey large window above doorway in architrave surround rising into blind
3rd floor level with shallow relief figure carved above. Flanking bays have
tall 1st floor windows, shorter 2nd floor ones and square ones to 4th
floor,all with shallow architrave mouldings. Plat band finishing off ground
floor rustication. Bold sharply profiled crowning cornice. Plain set back
attic storey. Weymouth Street return has outer windows wider spaced from
chain range of 9, similar details to flanking windows on front but with
continuous bronze balcony to 2nd floor and the blind 3rd floor with figured
bas-relief panels by B. Copnall. The annexe has similar plain fenestration
but with 2 storeys of windows in the double height of main block 1st floor
separated by balconettes and plain square windows in 4th floor. Bronze area
railings to annexe and Weymouth Street. Fine unaltered interior by Wornum
and his wife with high standard of finishes and intact fittings; grand
central staircase going across to lecture and memorial halls; excellent use
of ornamental engraved and frosted glass; galleried library, etc.
The Scottish Architects website (http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/architect_full.php?id=204760)
tells us:
George Grey Wornum was born in London on 17 April
1888, presumably a relative of Ralph Selden Wornum, to whom he was articled
from 1906 to 1909. In the latter year he moved to the office of Simpson &
Ayrton as assistant. He commenced independent practice in London the
following year. He served during the war, 1914-1918, being wounded in the
leg and losing his right eye. He worked in partnership with Philip Dalton
Hepworth from 1919 and with Louis de Soissons from c.1921 to 1930.
Thereafter he practised alone, although collaborating with, among others, P
G Freeman, E Maxwell Fry, A C Tripe, Lionel S Smith and possibly Arthur
William Kenyon. At the end of the Second World War he entered into
partnership with Edward Playne. This partnership lasted until Wornum's death
in New York on 11 June 1957. At some point Wornum had practised in San
Francisco (since 1945).
Wornum was the president of the AA in 1930-31, and was a member of the RIBA
council in 1935. He married Miriam Alice Gerstle of San Francisco in 1923
and had a son and two daughters. His publications included 'Housing, a
European Survey' for the Building Centre, and 'House out of Factory, ' with
John Gloag.
Architect: George Grey Wornum
Prize received: RIBA Royal Gold Medal
In what year: 1952
Website about the Architect: [Web Link]
Website about the building: [Web Link]
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