Basic Biographical Details

Name: Alexander Strang
Designation:  
Born: 15 March 1916
Died: 1 July 1984
Bio Notes: Alexander Strang was born in 1916, the son of a farmer, and was educated at Falkirk High School. In 1934 he was articled to Wilson & Tait in Grangemouth, commencing a part-time course at Glasgow School of Architecture. After three-and-a-half years he transferred his apprenticeship to the office of Professor Thomas Harold Hughes in Glasgow. He studied full-time at the GSA in 1939-40, securing an exemption from the RIBA final exam. He was admitted ARIBA on 12 November 1940, his proposers being Hughes, William Ross and William James Smith.

He was commissioned in the Royal Engineers during the Second World War. In 1946 he returned as Chief Housing Architect to Stirling County Council, during which period he was responsible for the large housing programme by the County Council in the post-war period. He retained the post until he commenced his own Stirling practice in 1957 under the title Alexander Strang & Partners. He became an expert in designing agricultural buildings, geernally beginning his designs with a pencil sketch. He liked black and white and his buildings reflected this in their choice of materials and white-painted windows. By 1970 the firm was known as Alex Strang & Associates, and he was acting as a consultant. From 1977-79 he had a term as President of the Stirling Chapter of the RIAS. He was also a Past President of the Stirling Rotary Club.

He died in semi-retirement on 1 July 1984, survived by his wife Cathy and their three sons, of whom the W R Strang who was a partner in the firm at the time of his death was probably one.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 4Randyford, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, ScotlandPrivate1940 *  
Item 2 of 4Stirling, Stirlingshire, ScotlandBusiness1946  
Item 3 of 430, Slamannan Road, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, ScotlandPrivate(?)1950 *  
Item 4 of 4Silverburn, Glen Road, Dunblane, Perthshire, ScotlandPrivate1970 *  

* earliest date known from documented sources.

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 5Wilson & Tait1934c. 1937Apprentice 
Item 2 of 5Thomas Harold Hughesc. 1937c. 1939Assistant 
Item 3 of 5Stirling County Council Architects' Department19461957 Chief Housing Architect
Item 4 of 5Alexander Strang & Partners1957Before 1964Partner 
Item 5 of 5Alex Strang & AssociatesBefore 19641984Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3Thomas Harold Hughes11 December 1940for Associateship
Item 2 of 3William Ross11 December 1940for Associateship
Item 3 of 3(Professor) William James Smith11 December 1940for Associateship

Buildings and Designs

This was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):
 Date startedBuilding nameTown, district or villageIslandCity or countyCountryNotes
Item 1 of 341958Garage for Millers Garage (Stirling) LtdStirling StirlingshireScotlandReconstruction
Item 2 of 341959Car showrooms and filling stationDunblane PerthshireScotland 
Item 3 of 341959Golf clubhouseDunblane Perthshire  
Item 4 of 341959Restaurant for Christie RestaurantsStirling StirlingshireScotland 
Item 5 of 341964FlatsKippen StirlingshireScotlandConversion
Item 6 of 341964Housing developments for the Keystone Housing SocietyDunblane PerthshireScotland 
Item 7 of 341964Housing developments for the Keystone Housing SocietyFalkirk StirlingshireScotland 
Item 8 of 341964Industrial EstateFalkirk StirlingshireScotland 
Item 9 of 341964Kildean Cattle Market Complex including restaurant, RaplochStirling StirlingshireScotland 
Item 10 of 341964Knitwear FactoryTillicoultry ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 11 of 341964Showroom and offices for Towers LtdFalkirk StirlingshireScotland 
Item 12 of 341967Luxury flatsBridge of Allan StirlingshireScotland 
Item 13 of 341967SilverburnDunblane PerthshireScotland 
Item 14 of 34196849 High StreetAlloa ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 15 of 341968Community CentreBonnybridge StirlingshireScotland 
Item 16 of 341968Factory for Exotic Metal EngineersAshington NorthumberlandEngland 
Item 17 of 341969Car showroom, workshop and filling stationGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 18 of 341969Stirling Royal InfirmaryStirling StirlingshireScotland'Hospital conversion'
Item 19 of 341970sBarclays BankCarlisle CumbriaEngland 
Item 20 of 341970sBorderway MarketCarlisle CumberlandEnglandDate unknown
Item 21 of 341970sClub for Miners' WelfareStirling StirlingshireScotland 
Item 22 of 341970sFactory for Parker LtdStirling StirlingshireEngland 
Item 23 of 341970sGarage and showroomFalkirk StirlingshireScotland 
Item 24 of 341970sGlen Scotia DistilleryCampbeltown ArgyllScotland 
Item 25 of 341970sOffices for Kings Ltd  GlasgowScotland 
Item 26 of 341970sRestaurant Factory and offices for Pioneer FoodsCarlisle CumbriaEngland 
Item 27 of 341970sSheltered housing for Kirkcare Housing AssociationCallander StirlingshireScotland 
Item 28 of 341970Bridgend CourtPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 29 of 34c. 1976Beaconhurst Grange School    New buildings added
Item 30 of 341979Inverallan MillBridge of AllanStirlingshireScotland Restoration
Item 31 of 34Before 1981Bottling hall and offices for Grangemouth Bonding Co.Grangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 32 of 34Before 1981Cattle market for Stirling Livestock MartsStirling StirlingshireScotland 
Item 33 of 34Before 1981Housing developments for the Keystone Housing SocietyDumfries DumfriesshireScotland 
Item 34 of 34Before 1981Housing developments for the Keystone Housing SocietyPerth PerthshireScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Prospect1984Autumn Obituary

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A no7737 (combined box 197)