Basic Biographical Details

Name: John and Marion Donald
Designation:  
Born: 1976
Died: 2006
Bio Notes: John Donald was born in 1947 at Glenluce, Wigtownshire, the second son of John Hutcheon Donald, architect, and his wife Jane Hughes. He was educated at Wick High School and Robert Gordon’s College, Aberdeen. He studied architecture at the Scottish Sutherland School in Aberdeen from 1964-1970 and was awarded his diploma in 1970. In 1969 he won the Mary Byrne Travelling Scholarship. During his ‘year out’ in the session 1967-68 he worked in Aberdeen City Architects Department, as assistant to John Merson who was in charge of several large housing developments. From 1970-72 he studied for the degree of MSc in Rural and Regional Planning at the University of Aberdeen. On the completion of this degree course he worked as an assistant with Moira & Moira in Edinburgh. He was admitted ARIBA and ARIAS in 1974.

In 1976 Donald opened business on his own account in partnership with his wife, Marion Coats Donald, also an architect, whom he had married, in 1972. Born Marion Coats McClure in 1947 in Aberdeen, the daughter of James McClure, Superintendent of Works, and his wife Christine Hunter Currie, she had been educated at Aberdeen High School for Girls and Colchester County High School for Girls. She had studied for the Diploma in Architecture at the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture from 1966-72. During her ‘year out’ she had been an assistant with Bryan K Thomas in Colchester and Lyster Grillet & Harding in Cambridge. After qualification in 1972 she had held a post with Sir Basil Spence Glover & Ferguson in Edinburgh, moving to the SSHA the following year. She was admitted to the RIBA and as ARIAS in 1974, and from 1974-76 she worked in the practice of Jenkins & Marr in Aberdeen.

The practice of John & Marion Donald continued until 2006. From 1984 concurrently John and Marion ran a separate practice with Dr William Brogden, entitled Castlegate Design Group. This closed in 2002, while John & Marion Donald continued until their retirement in 2006.

Besides running his practices, John Donald held a series of teaching posts at the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture, being a Lecturer from 1974-1991, Senior Lecturer and Deputy Head from 1991-1998, Acting Head from 1998-2000 and Deputy Head of the School (Architecture & Surveying) from 2001-2002. He held a Tertiary Level Teaching Certificate which he gained at the Robert Gordon University in 1993. Marion also was a part-time lecturer from 1988-2002 at the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and from 2002-2009 Professional Studies Advisor (Architecture) at the Scott Sutherland School.

Both John and Marion were elevated to FRIAS in 2000.

Outwith his professional life, John is interested in history, gardening, reading and collecting books, while Marion’s interests outwith her work include the arts, gardening and the countryside. The couple have two children: James, a project manager with offshore windfarms and Christina, a solicitor.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 2177B, Queen's Road, Aberdeen, ScotlandBusiness1970sAfter 2002 
Item 2 of 2177b, Queens Road, Aberdeen 1970sAfter 2002 

Employment and Training

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 10John Devlin19761976Assistant 
Item 2 of 10John Donald19762006Partner 
Item 3 of 10Marion Coats Donald (née McClure)19762006Partner 
Item 4 of 10Colin SmithAfter 1981Before 1994AssistantRIBA Part 1 practical training
Item 5 of 10Heather Smith19851986AssistantSix months of practical training
Item 6 of 10Graham MitchellBefore 1990After 2002AssistantLatterly as an Associate.
Item 7 of 10Richard HughsonBefore 1992After 1999AssistantParts 1 & 2 Practical Training, then as Associate
Item 8 of 10Neil Sutherland1993 * AssistantPart 1 Practical Training.
Item 9 of 10Lynne Reid1994 * AssistantPart 1 Practical Training.
Item 10 of 10Brian Noble1995 * AssistantPart 1 practical training.

* earliest date known from documented sources.

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 351976Seacroft, DowniesPortlethen KincardineshireScotlandJohn Donald responsible, assisted by John Devlin.
Item 2 of 351977260 Queen's Road  AberdeenScotlandGarden room extension.
Item 3 of 351977Stockethill Parish Church HallStockethill AberdeenScotlandMarion Donald responsible.
Item 4 of 351978Dale Cottage, Belvedere LaneCults AberdeenshireScotlandAlterations and extensions.
Item 5 of 35197911 Marine Terrace  AberdeenScotlandConservation and restoration of basement - Marion Donald responsible.
Item 6 of 351979Home FarmMaryculter KincardineshireScotlandExtension and conservatory.
Item 7 of 35198027 Marchbank RoadCults AberdeenshireScotlandArtist's studio.
Item 8 of 351981287 King's Gate  AberdeenScotlandExtensions.
Item 9 of 351981Culdrain HouseGartly AberdeenshireScotlandRepairs and restoration - Marion Donald responsible.
Item 10 of 351982Gavelcruive, 177b Queen's Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 11 of 351983Garage and car showroom, LochcroftNigg Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 12 of 351984207 Queen's Road  AberdeenScotlandAlterations and conservatory.
Item 13 of 351984Erroll SchoolErtoll PerthshireScotlandConversion to dwellling house and restoration
Item 14 of 351984Port Erroll SchoolPort Erroll AberdeenshireScotlandConversion and restoration - Marion Donald responsible.
Item 15 of 351985Eastside FarmhouseMaryculter AberdeenshireScotlandAlterations and extensions.
Item 16 of 351985InvercraigKingswells AberdeenshireScotlandGarden room extension - John Donald responsible.
Item 17 of 3519865 Royfold Crescent  AberdeenScotlandExtension.
Item 18 of 351988Burnbrae, Contlaw RoadMilltimber AberdeenScotlandExtension.
Item 19 of 35198926 Abbotshall PlaceCults AberdeenshireScotlandRefurbishment and extension.
Item 20 of 351989Roof extension to listed cottageCatterline AberdeenshireScotlandRoof extension (at '22 Catterline') - John Donald responsible, in collaboration with Ernie Smith.
Item 21 of 351990Farm steadingDrumblade, Huntly AberdeenshireScotlandConversion to house - John Donald responsible, with Graham Mitchell.
Item 22 of 351990Roseir, 529 North Deeside RoadCults AberdeenshireScotlandReconstruction, extension and garage - Marion Donald responsible, with Graham Mitchell.
Item 23 of 35199272 Forbesfield Road  AberdeenScotlandExtension - Marion Donald responsible, assisted by Richard Hughson.
Item 24 of 351993Croft CottageGlenmuick AberdeenshireScotlandExtension - Marion Donald responsible, assisted by Neil Sutherland.
Item 25 of 351993Rosevalley Cottar House, CothalDyce AberdeenshireScotlandReconstruction and extension including glazed rhododendron house.
Item 26 of 351994543 Great Western Road  AberdeenScotlandHairdressing salon - Marion Donald resposnible, assisted by Lynne Reid.
Item 27 of 35199482 Gray Street  AberdeenScotlandExtension.
Item 28 of 351995Drumoak Manse steadingDrumoak AberdeenshireScotlandConversion to house - Marion Donald responsible, assisted by Richard Hughson.
Item 29 of 351995Tenement, Walker RoadTorry AberdeenshireScotlandRefurbishment - Marion Graham responsible, assisted by Graham Mitchell and Brian Noble.
Item 30 of 35199630 Woodburn Avenue  AberdeenScotlandAlterations and extension - Marion Donald responsble, assisted by Richard Hughson.
Item 31 of 351996House, Pembroke PlaceRoseburn EdinburghScotlandAddition of garden room
Item 32 of 3519973A Mackie Place  AberdeenScotlandExtension - Marion Donald responsible, assisted by Richard Hughson.
Item 33 of 351997Cocklarchy FarmhouseHuntly AberdeenshireScotlandRefurbishment - Marion Donald and Graham Mitchell responsible.
Item 34 of 351998Bellfield CottageKinneff KincardineshireScotlandAlterations and extension - Marion Donald and Richard Hughson responsible.
Item 35 of 352001Replacement house at Forbes LodgeStrathdon AberdeenshireScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Allen, Nic (ed.) Scottish Architects in Conservation  p33

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1Courtesy of John DonaldInformation sent via DSA website