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Thomas S. Tait

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recreational halls, washblocks and a dining hall/kitchen complex. These Camps were replicated in over 30 different rural locations around the country. During the war years, these acted as safe refuges for city children from Nazi bombing raids. After the war the ownership of the sites was transferred to the local authorities. Over the years most of these sites have been lost, but the best preserved example today is Sayers Croft which is located at
732: 441: 304:, assisting in the facade design of several commercial buildings on Kingsway and Aldwych. He took this work without the knowledge of Burnet, and when Burnet learned of Tait's moonlighting in 1914, the two fell out. Tait suddenly left London for New York, leaving his wife and son Gordon at home, to work as an assistant with 311:
Tait soon returned to London and took a job as chief draughtsman to Trehearne & Norman on further Kingsway buildings. Between 1915 and 1918, Tait and Burnet became reconciled and collaborated on a number of projects, culminating in Tait's return to Burnet's practice in 1918 as a partner. The firm
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as a body to design and build residential camps for young people that could provide opportunities for outdoor learning and also act as evacuation centres in the event of War. Tait was responsible for the design of the buildings which included accommodation for over 200 children and staff,
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in London (later the Ravenscourt Park Hospital) won him a RIBA award for the best building of 1933. This Moderne brick edifice features nautical-style curved sun porches and balconies, elongated sculpted figures atop the door pilaster. It has been likened to
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and from 1999 the headquarters of the Scottish Government) was completed shortly after the outbreak of war in 1939, leaving much of the proposed interior decoration incomplete. From 1940 to 1942 he worked as Director of Standardisation at the
603:. Tait's vision was of a modernist, utopian future, and the Empire Exhibition was the largest collection of modern architecture built in United Kingdom in the first half of the 20th century. Dominating the whole exhibition was " 394:. He retired from the partnership in 1952, and the practice was taken on by his eldest son, Gordon. Thomas Tait continued in the capacity of consultant to the firm until his death in 1954 at the age of 72. An 1312: 743: 319:(RIBA). Tait's growing reputation resulted in many new commissions both in the UK and internationally, including work in London, South Africa, Australia and Egypt. In 1927-8 he was employed by the 660:. The dining hall and kitchen complex is protected as a Grade II listed building because of the importance of Tait's work, and because of the painted murals depicting the life of the evacuees. 349:
for the best building of 1933. While the commissions slowed down during economic downturn of the early 1930s, they used the available time to publish a highly influential book,
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Tait's architectural works were mostly executed as an employee of John Burnet & Son, or as a partner in Sir John Burnet & Partners, later Burnet, Tait & Lorne.
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as the site, conceiving the master-plan and designing most of its 100 buildings assisted by a panel of young architects chosen by him. It attracted 12.8 million visitors.
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became a partner in the firm, and under the name Sir John Burnet, Tait and Lorne, the practice became one of the most influential architects' firms in Britain.
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Tait and Lorne began to pursue a more Modernist architectural direction, and their work on the Royal Masonic Hospital at Ravenscourt (1930-3) won the
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in London. Burnet opened a London office at 1 Montague Place, calling it simply John J Burnet, and took Tait with him as his personal assistant.
244:. In June 1913 Tait sat and passed the RIBA's qualifying exam and was admitted ARIBA in September 1913, with the influential backing of Burnet, 1006: 607:", designed by Tait himself. The 300-feet-high tower was erected on the summit of the hill in the centre of the park and had three observation 707: 316: 1261: 456:
Tait is credited with the design of a number of notable buildings in London and internationally, including: Adelaide House (1920-5) on the
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Due to ill health, Burnet himself grew less active in the partnership, and Tait's role increased. In 1925 Tait was made a fellow of the
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Tait was also involved in judging a number of architectural competitions, acting as the assessor for competitions to design the
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A plaque on Sydney Harbour Bridge marks the involvement of John Burnet & Partners, Tait's employer, in its construction
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In 1910 he married Constance Hardy, the daughter of a London stationmaster, and they set up home at 26 Holyoake Walk in
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Burnet, Tait & Lorne continued to build in the curved Streamline Moderne style, as evidenced in Tait's whitewashed
627:-shaped building stands on the corner of Lowndes Street and Cadogan Place on the former site of the 1874 home of the 353:(1933). In 1936 Sir Cecil M Weir, convenor of the Scottish Development Council, appointed him Chief Architect of the 652: 218: 532: 575:(1932), which also features curved, nautical balconies and railings, streamlined corners and horizontal bands. 461: 271:
In 1902, Tait was recruited by the architecture firm John Burnet & Son and worked under the founder's son,
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Patricia E.C. Croot, ed. (2004). "Settlement and building - Twentieth century: up to the second world war".
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John Burnet, Tait; Lorne, Architects; Christian Augustus Barman; Thomas S. Tait & Francis Lorne (1933).
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By 1910, Tait was a leading member of Burnet's staff, and played an important part in the design of the
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Tait is perhaps best remembered for his contributions to the design and master planning for the
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Ravenscourt Park Hospital today is a listed building, although it now appears to be closed
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and which was highly influential on the design of many commercial buildings of the time.
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Art Deco Architecture: Design, Decoration and Detail from the Twenties and Thirties
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1938 Festival Tower aerial Empire Exhibition postcard Bellahouston Park, Glasgow
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project in 1928. The houses are white with flat roofs and steel window frames.
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Following his marriage in 1910, Tait took on extra work at a rival practice,
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In 1939 the British Government passed the Camps Act which established the
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War art : murals and graffiti - military life, power and subversion
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Tait is also credited with the design of Chelsea House, built 1934, in
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erected in 2006 commemorates Tait at Gates House, at Wyldes Close in
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architect. He designed a number of buildings around the world in
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In 1905, Burnet was appointed to design new galleries at the
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C20th Architecture: The Structures that Shaped the Century
1264:- 3D reconstruction of the tower by Glasgow School of Art 1007:"Hospital hailed as future of the NHS is forced to close" 351:
The Information Book of Sir John Burnet, Tait & Lorne
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in London, considered to be among the first examples of
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Associates of the Royal Institute of British Architects
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Glancey, Jonathan (1998). "Silver End Housing Estate".
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The Information Book of Sir John Burnet, Tait and Lorne
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John Burnet & Partners; Burnet, Tait & Lorne
128: 120: 105: 97: 83: 75: 56: 41: 34: 1144: 1105:. Vol. 12 - Chelsea. Victoria County History. 251:His former dwelling at Gates House, Wyldes Close, 412:Gates House, Tait's residence at Wyldes Close in 488:(1882–1977) on the design and construction of 468:office (1927–28), London; later phases of the 248:and Herbert Vaughan Lanchester as proposers. 161:(18 June 1882 – 18 July 1954) was a Scottish 8: 1041:Bayer, Patricia (1992). "Civic Structures". 820: 818: 816: 814: 312:was renamed Sir John Burnet & Partners. 232:. Together they had three sons; the eldest, 749:1949-50 Department Store in Plymouth, Devon 527:. Both Tait and Jagger collaborated on the 472:building (1926–29), Oxford Street, London; 31: 1252:- article includes images of Tait's Tower 786: 784: 782: 780: 778: 776: 535:, London (1992), and the (now destroyed) 1194:Thorniley-Walker], [ed. by Jane (2006). 701:The GWR War Memorial, Paddington Station 689:The GWR War Memorial, Paddington Station 431: 423: 150:Southern aspect of St Andrew's House on 145: 1073:"Hawkhead Infectious Diseases Hospital" 772: 667: 611:, each capable of carrying 200 people. 377:cut Tait's career prematurely short. 338:In 1930, another Scottish architect, 317:Royal Institute of British Architects 7: 1102:A History of the County of Middlesex 1308:Alumni of the Glasgow School of Art 854:. Architectural Press. p. 147. 761:Houses in Silver End Village, Essex 255:London NW11 has been marked with a 1298:Modernist architects from Scotland 1223:Thomas S Tait Biographical Details 948:"War memorial, Paddington Station" 900:National Heritage List for England 529:Great Western Railway War Memorial 25: 1293:People from Paisley, Renfrewshire 1228:Dictionary of Scottish Architects 1122:Dictionary of Scottish Architects 1078:Dictionary of Scottish Architects 978:Dictionary of Scottish Architects 926:Dictionary of Scottish Architects 797:Dictionary of Scottish Architects 737:Terrace of houses, St John's Wood 1005:Hawkes, Nigel (30 August 2006). 866:"TAIT, THOMAS SMITH (1882-1954)" 754: 742: 730: 718: 706: 694: 682: 670: 585:Empire Exhibition, Scotland 1938 428:A pylon on Sydney Harbour Bridge 355:Empire Exhibition, Scotland 1938 238:Empire Exhibition, Scotland 1938 725:De Casa Maury house, Maida Vale 132:Selfridges, Oxford Street; the 1235:McKinnon, Ross (23 May 2007). 27:Scottish architect (1882–1954) 1: 323:to build their works village 713:St Andrew's House, Edinburgh 1256:Photographs of Tait's Tower 571:for Infectious Diseases in 213:where he studied under the 1329: 973:"Port Tewfik War Memorial" 653:National Camps Corporation 677:The Brussels war memorial 484:. Tait collaborated with 205:, he was educated at the 177:(the headquarters of the 140: 116: 1015:. London. Archived from 537:Port Tewfik War Memorial 462:Daily Telegraph Building 385:, (built for the former 207:John Neilson Institution 134:Daily Telegraph Building 51:, Renfrewshire, Scotland 1241:Evening Times (Glasgow) 921:"Sydney Harbour Bridge" 895:"Gates House (1259434)" 525:Charles Sargeant Jagger 414:Hampstead Garden Suburb 403:Hampstead Garden Suburb 321:Crittall window factory 253:Hampstead Garden Suburb 112:, Best Building of 1933 549:Royal Masonic Hospital 531:which stands today in 445: 437: 429: 416: 267:John Burnet & Sons 201:, the son of a master 155: 578: 482:Sydney Harbour Bridge 480:; and the pylons for 443: 435: 427: 411: 211:Glasgow School of Art 187:Sydney Harbour Bridge 185:, and the pylons for 149: 92:Royal Academy Schools 88:Glasgow School of Art 558:Willem Marinus Dudok 373:The outbreak of the 302:Trehearne and Norman 1303:Art Deco architects 1288:Scottish architects 1172:National Archives. 792:"Thomas Smith Tait" 605:The Tower of Empire 564:Town Hall of 1931. 501:De La Warr Pavilion 486:James Lomax-Simpson 291:modern architecture 179:Scottish Government 1258:- Mitchell Library 1019:on 12 October 2008 647:Evacuation centres 539:near Suez, Egypt. 533:Paddington Station 494:Blackfriars Bridge 446: 438: 430: 417: 181:) on Calton Hill, 175:St. Andrew's House 171:Streamline Moderne 156: 1151:. Carlton Books. 1049:Thames and Hudson 589:Bellahouston Park 569:Hawkhead Hospital 547:Tait's acclaimed 543:The Moderne style 474:St Andrew's House 392:Ministry of Works 379:St Andrew's House 359:Bellahouston Park 273:John James Burnet 223:John James Burnet 159:Thomas Smith Tait 144: 143: 18:Thomas Smith Tait 16:(Redirected from 1320: 1251: 1249: 1247: 1210: 1209: 1191: 1185: 1184: 1182: 1180: 1169: 1163: 1162: 1150: 1140: 1134: 1133: 1131: 1129: 1113: 1107: 1106: 1096: 1090: 1089: 1087: 1085: 1069: 1063: 1062: 1038: 1029: 1028: 1026: 1024: 1001: 995: 994: 992: 990: 981:. 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Index

Thomas Smith Tait
Paisley
Aberfeldy
Glasgow School of Art
Royal Academy Schools
RIBA Gold Medal
Daily Telegraph Building

Calton Hill
modernist
Art Deco
Streamline Moderne
St. Andrew's House
Scottish Government
Edinburgh
Sydney Harbour Bridge
Paisley
stonemason
John Neilson Institution
Glasgow School of Art
Beaux Arts
Eugene Bourdon
John James Burnet
Ealing
Gordon
Empire Exhibition, Scotland 1938
Glasgow
Theodore Fyfe
Hampstead Garden Suburb
Blue Plaque

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