Basic Biographical Details Name: | Alexander Fraser Lawrie | Designation: | | Born: | 12 May 1900 | Died: | 8 September 1985 | Bio Notes: | Alexander Fraser Lawrie was born on 12 May 1900. His parents had moved to South Africa but he was sent to school in Scotland. He was in England when the First World War broke out and from September 1915 studied at Aberdeen School of Architecture, Robert Gordon's Technical College. In June 1917 he was articled to Jenkins & Marr whilst continuing to attend evening classes at the School of Architecture.
He seems to have enlisted aged 17 and joined the Gordon Highlanders but did not see active service until June 1918 when he was posted to France. He was in France when the armistice was signed. He was demobilised in March 1920 and was keen to continue in the army for a further seven years but was encouraged by his parents to qualify as an architect or engineer.
In September 1922 he returned as a full-time day student to Aberdeen School of Architecture and was admitted ARIBA through the war exemption scheme on 3 March 1924, his proposers being John Alexander Ogg Allan, Robert Gordon Wilson junior and John Wilson Walker. By this time he was qualified both as an architect and as a structural engineer. Later that same year, 1924, he moved to Transvaal, South Africa to take up a post in the Public Works Department. He remained in South Africa, (with a short interlude in Malaya) and had built his own house at 247 Loveday Street, Muckleneuk, Pretoria by 1929, which was to become his best-known work; his daughter Elisabeth Humphreys described the house as 'almost a monument to Frank Lloyd Wright, whom he much admired'. Lawrie must have remained as a volunteer in peace-time or joined up in the Second World War as he had risen to the rank of Colonel by the time of his death on 8 September 1985 in Johannesburg. His last two years were spent living at the Pretoria Club, 12 Paul Kruger Street, Pretoria.
Lawrie's later career is detailed in 'Artefacts' (www.artefacts.co.za). | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | Pretoria Club/123, Paul Kruger Street, Pretoria, South Africa | Private | | Before 1985 | | | 38, Mount Street, Aberdeen, Scotland | Private | 1923 * | | | | 19, Derby Road, Bertrams, Transvaal, South Africa | Private | 1923 * | | | | Public Works Department, Union Buildings, Pretoria, Transvaal, South Africa | Business | Late 1923 * | | | | 247, Loveday Street, Muckleneuk, Pretoria, South Africa | Private | 1929 * | After 1970 | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersThe following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | Jenkins & Marr | June 1917 | June 1922 | Apprentice | With the exception of war servie, June 1918 to March 1920 | | Pretoria Public Works Department | 1923 * | | Assistant | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
RIBARIBA Proposers
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | www.artefacts.co.za | | www.artefacts.co.za | | Website of artefacts, for the recording of South African buildings | Information also courtesy of Frank Gaylard (sent May 2015) |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | A no3756 (microfilm reel 28) (including letter from his daughter Elisabeth Humphreys, 16 September 1985, announcing his death) |
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