- Morris and Steedman
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Morris and Steedman was an architecture firm based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The firm was founded by James Shepherd Morris (1931–2006) and Robert Russell Steedman (born 1929) in the 1950s. The pair are best known for their private houses in the modernist style, built during the 1950s and 1960s, described as "arguably the most important series of 20th century houses by a single practice in Scotland".[1] Both founders retired in 2002, although their practice continues as Morris and Steedman Associates.
Several of their buildings are now listed, and seven of their works were included on the list of 100 best modern Scottish buildings published by Prospect magazine in 2005.
Contents
Architects
James Morris met Robert Steedman while the two were studying together at Edinburgh College of Art (ECA). Encouraged by their tutor, Ian McHarg, the two went on to complete a Master of Liberal Arts course in landscape architecture at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Here, under the guidance of Philip Johnson, they absorbed the ideas of architects such as Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Marcel Breuer, Richard Neutra, and the "Case Study Houses" of California.[2] Both architects were elected associates of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) in 1955; they joined in partnership, based in Edinburgh in 1957.[3][4]
Buildings
They obtained their first commission from Steedman's dentist in 1952, while still in their final year at ECA. The resulting house, "Avisfield", at Cramond (1957) was listed at category B in 2007, as "one of the first modern-movement houses to be built in Scotland".[5] Their second house, at Kevock Road, Lasswade, was built on a narrow site above the River North Esk. The narrow site required the building to be cantilevered over the slope. The Sillito House on Blackford Hill followed in 1959, with the main living space placed on the first floor to take advantage of views across Edinburgh. By 1970 around 15 houses had been completed, including Morris' own house at Fala (1970), and Steedman's in Ravelston (1960), as well as the Principal's House at the University of Stirling (1967), which was listed at category A in 2009.[6]
Their public buildings include the University of Edinburgh Student Centre at Potterrow (1966), and a visitor centre for the Countryside Commission for Scotland (now Scottish Natural Heritage) at Battleby, Perthshire (1971). Their extension to the Princess Margaret Rose Hospital in Edinburgh (1966) was demolished after a fire in 2002.
References
- ^ Architects Volume 1, page 3
- ^ Green, Simon. "Early private houses", in Morris and Steedman: Clarity of intent. pp.4–5
- ^ "Robert Russell Steedman". Dictionary of Scottish Architects. http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/architect_full.php?id=400367.
- ^ "James Shepherd Morris". Dictionary of Scottish Architects. http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/architect_full.php?id=400366.
- ^ "12 Cramond Road North, Avisfield: Listed Building Report". Historic Scotland. http://hsewsf.sedsh.gov.uk/hslive/hsstart?P_HBNUM=50793.
- ^ "Stirling University Campus, 1 Airthrey Castle Yard, Principal's House: Listed Building Report". Historic Scotland. http://hsewsf.sedsh.gov.uk/hslive/hsstart?P_HBNUM=51322.
- "Architects Volume 1: Morris and Steedman". Historic Scotland. http://www.celebratingscotlandsarchitecture.org/architectsvolume1.pdf.
- "Morris and Steedman: Clarity of intent: Early Homes 1952-70". Prospect. http://www.msastudio.co.uk/M&SFEATURE_30_1_07.pdf.
External links
Categories:- Architecture firms of Scotland
- Companies based in Edinburgh
- 1950s establishments in Scotland
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