Basic Biographical Details Name: | Basil Ionides | Designation: | | Born: | 20 June 1884 | Died: | 23 September 1950 | Bio Notes: | Basil Ionides was born on 20 June 1884, the fourth son of Luke A Ionides, who was a friend of Burne-Jones, and grandson of the Greek ambassador to London. He may have come from the Manchester textile family of that name. He was educated at Tonbridge School and studied at Glasgow School of Art 1900-1903 whilst serving his articles with Alexander Nisbet Paterson. The double villa in Winton Drive, Glasgow was designed when he was only eighteen and barely halfway through his apprenticeship. On completion of his apprenticeship in 1904 or 1905 he moved to London where he joined the office of Leonard Stokes, subsequently spending a short time with Harold Ainsworth Peto before commencing independent practice in 1908 at Hadlow Down and designing a number of houses in various English counties.
During the First World War he served in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, and received a commission but relinquished it as he did not like giving orders to more experienced men and returned later as an ordinary seaman. He was disabled in 1917 and continued to practise, initially mainly carrying out interior work. He became an important Art Deco designer, architect of the Savoy Theatre in London with Frank A Tugwell in 1939-30, and of Claridge's Restaurant. Ionides was also the author of 'Colour and Interior Decoration' (1926) and 'Colour in Everyday Rooms' (1934). Ionides married the Hon (?) Mrs W H Levy, daughter of the First Viscount Bearsted shortly after Levy died in 1923. They acquired Buxted Park in 1931 and were important collectors of works of art; their London address in the 1930s was 49 Berkeley, Square, a house Ionides altered for himself. Buxted Park was burnt down during or just after the Second World War and the Ionides lost much of their collection which had been moved there to safekeeping during the blitz.
Ionides was admitted LRIBA on 11 May 1931, his proposers being Howard Robertson, George Grey Wornum and Maurice Everett Webb. He was elevated to Fellow on 5 December 1938, proposed by Albert Edward Richardson, Charles Herbert Reilly and Walker Hindes Godfrey.
Ionides died in Brighton on 28 September 1950. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 12, Wilson Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1900 | 1901 | | | 35, Falkland Mansions, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1902 | 1903 | | | Hadlow Down, Sussex, England | Business | 1908 | | | | 20, Cork Street, London, England | Business | 1931 * | | | | 49, Berkeley Square, London, England | Private | Before 1931 | After 1938 | | | 28, Cork Street, London, England | Business | 1938 * | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployers
RIBARIBA Proposers
Buildings and DesignsThis was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes | | c. 1902 | Semi-detached villas, Winton Drive | | | Glasgow | Scotland | One pair built in association with David Woodburn Sturrock |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Post Office Directories | | | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 29 September 1950 | v179 | | pp358 & 474 - obituary | | RIBA Journal | September 1950 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | Obituary |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material | | Additional information from Iain Paterson | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | L no3832 (box 17); F no3501 (box 24) |
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