Basic Biographical Details

Name: William Norman Hunter
Designation:  
Born: 4 August 1930
Died: 3 July 1994
Bio Notes: William Norman ('Norrie') Hunter was born in in Selkirk on 4 August 1930, the son of William Hunter, solicitor and his wife Marion Davidson. He studied at the School of Architecture, Edinburgh College of Art. He was admitted ARIBA in 1955. He met his wife Ailsa at the College where she was studying dress design. The couple married in June 1956. He worked in the office of Basil Spence & Partners in the early 1960s, and subsequently made a tour of the United States and Canada and taught at a university there. After his return to Scotland, he worked in the practice of Robert Matthew and later with Jack Oberlander. Around 1968-69 he had a post in the City Architect's Department in Edinburgh where he remained until he joined the practice of Moira Moira & Wann in 1973. He was initially an associate with the practice which subsequently became Moira & Wann. He later became a partner. He remained with the practice until 1983.

Eric Davidson remembers him as a good draughtsman and a 'quiet sort of person'.

Hunter moved to Thailand in 1992 where he built a house. He died on 3 July 1994. He was predeceased by his wife who had died in 1984.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 443, Meadowfield Avenue, Portobello, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivatec. 1953After 1956As a student
Item 2 of 4Dunscroft, Lasswade, Midlothian, ScotlandPrivate1960After 1970 
Item 3 of 4Craufurd, Kevock Road, Lasswade, Midlothian, ScotlandPrivate1979 *After 1987 
Item 4 of 4Thailand Before 19941994 

* 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 6Basil Spence & Partners19611964Architect 
Item 2 of 6Sir Basil Spence, Glover & Ferguson19641964Architect 
Item 3 of 6Robert Matthew, Johnson-Marshall & Partners (RMJM)1970s(?)   
Item 4 of 6Moira Moira & Wann1974 Associate 
Item 5 of 6Oberlander Associates1980s(?)   
Item 6 of 6Moira & Wann1981 * Partner(?) 

* 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 99 December 1960Dunbartonshire County Council OfficesDumbarton DunbartonshireScotlandfinalist in competition per Builder p1067
Item 2 of 9Before 1960University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings, Animal Breeding Research Organisation Headquarters  EdinburghScotlandWorking for Basil Spence & Partners
Item 3 of 91964Mortonhall Crematorium  EdinburghScotlandOriginal project architect (he left Sir Basil Spence, Glover & Ferguson in this year)
Item 4 of 91981Postal engineering and vehicle maintenance depot  EdinburghScotland 
Item 5 of 91981Private warehousing  EdinburghScotland 
Item 6 of 9Before 1981Sports facilities for Lothian Regional Council  LothianScotland 
Item 7 of 9c. 1981British Philatelic Headquarters for the Postal Board, office  EdinburghScotland 
Item 8 of 9c. 1981Postal engineering and vehicle maintenance depotLerwickMainlandOrkneyScotland 
Item 9 of 9c. 1981Private warehousing  AberdeenScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 7Glendinning, Miles1997Rebuilding Scotland: The Postwar Vision, 1945-75  Tuckwell Press Ltdpp38, 96, 98, 162 Mortonhall Crematorium
Item 2 of 7RIBA1954RIBA Kalendar 1953-54   
Item 3 of 7RIBA1960The RIBA Kalendar 1959-19601959-1960  
Item 4 of 7RIBA1970RIBA Directory 1970   
Item 5 of 7RIBA1979Directory of members   
Item 6 of 7RIBA1987RIBA Directory of Members 1987   
Item 7 of 7Willis, Peter1977New architecture in Scotland  p14, p38-41 Mortonhall Crematorium

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Builder9 December 1960  'Competition Result - Council Offices, Dumbarton, for Dunbarton County Council' pp1066-1071
Item 2 of 2RIAS NewsletterNovember 1994v5, no 9 Death note

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 4Courtesy of John DonaldInformation sent via DSA website Sent February 2011
Item 2 of 4Courtesy of William Norman Hunter's son, Christopher HunterInformation sent via 'Contact Us' on the website Sent November 2011
Item 3 of 4National Archives (via Scotlands People)Statutory births  
Item 4 of 4Sent to DSA by emailInformation from AHRC/RCAHMS Spence project per David W Walker and Clive Fenton Clive Fenton's research notes (sent July 2010)