Basic Biographical Details

Name: Rolf Koren
Designation:  
Born: 28 May 1920
Died: January 1999 or February 1999
Bio Notes: Rolf Koren was born on 28 May 1920. He studied at the School of Architecture, Edinburgh College of Art, from September 1938, working in the office of Oldrieve, Bell & Paterson in the summer of 1939 and taking the intermediate exam in June 1941. His studies were then interrupted by war service. He returned to ECA in October/November 1945, and passed the final exam to obtain his diploma in June 1947. That summer he made a tour of Scandinavia, and from September that year until June 1948 he undertook a course in Town Planning at ECA. At some point during his studies, he worked for Thomas McCrae.

He was admitted ARIBA on 7 July 1948, his proposer being William Innes Thomson (who had been on the ECA staff), James A H Mottram and John Ross McKay. Two months later, he joined the Department of Health for Scotland as a planning assistant.

In January 1949 he left for Singapore, where he found a post as architectural assistant for the Singapore Improvement Trust. He left this post in June 1952 to be taken into partnership by E E Keen & Partners, also in Singapore, in July. His work involved housing estates, private houses, factories and other industrial projects, interior decoration, and religious buildings. He was elected FRIBA on 21 June 1960, proposed by William Irving Watson, Henry L Blomfield and James Kirkwood.

By 1970 he had moved to Melbourne, Australia where he was working with Eggleston, Macdonald & Secomb. He remained with the latter firm until at least 1987.

He died in January or February of 1999. 'Architecture Australia' reported his death.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 67, Laverockbank Crescent, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate1948  
Item 2 of 6The Arcade, Singapore, SingaporeBusiness1953 *  
Item 3 of 6Bank of China Building, Battery Road, Singapore, SingaporeBusiness1960 *  
Item 4 of 6142B, Ford Avenue, Singapore, Singapore 1960 *  
Item 5 of 62, Chesterfield Avenue, Malvern, Melbourne, AustraliaPrivate(?)1970 *After 1987 
Item 6 of 6215, Grattan Street, Carlton, Melbourne, AustraliaBusinessBefore 1979After 1987offices of Eggleston Macdonald Secomb

* 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 5Oldrieve Bell & PatersonMid 1939Mid 1939 Assisting in office during summer months
Item 2 of 5Department of Health for Scotland (Scottish Board of Health; later Scottish Development Department)September 1948January 1949AssistantPlanning Assistant
Item 3 of 5Singapore Improvement TrustJanuary 1949June 1952AssistantArchitectural Assistant
Item 4 of 5E E Keen & PartnersJuly 1952After 1960Partner 
Item 5 of 5Eggleston, Macdonald & SecombBefore 1970   

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 6Henry L Blomfield21 June 1960for Fellowship
Item 2 of 6James Kirkwood21 June 1960for Fellowship
Item 3 of 6John Ross McKay7 July 1948for Associateship
Item 4 of 6James Allan Hugh Mottram (or James A H Mottram)7 July 1948for Associateship
Item 5 of 6William Innes Thomson7 July 1948for Associateship
Item 6 of 6William Irving Watson21 June 1960for Fellowship

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 5RIBA1948The RIBA Kalendar 1948-1949 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 2 of 5RIBA1961Kalendar 1960-61   
Item 3 of 5RIBA1970RIBA Directory 1970   
Item 4 of 5RIBA1979Directory of members   
Item 5 of 5RIBA1987RIBA Directory of Members 1987   

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 no9834 (stored under F5463); F no5463 (combined box 80)