Basic Biographical Details

Name: James ('Jim') Paxton Landels
Designation:  
Born: 10 May 1954
Died: 14 June 2010
Bio Notes: James 'Jim' Paxton Landels was born on 10 May 1954, the son of James Paxton Landels, a Joppa butcher, and his wife Ellen Bannon. He was educated at Portobello Primary School where he was dux and won a scholarship to the Royal High School. He studied architecture at Edinburgh College of Art. His year out between Parts I and II of his degree was spent with the Scottish Special Housing Association and the Scottish Development Department.

After qualification Landels took a post with Robert Matthews Johnson Marshall & Partners. In 1978 he moved to the practice of Kneale & Russell where he became a partner in 1982. He undertook a number of sheltered housing projects in Edinburgh. The complexity of dealing with buildings in multiple ownership and the conflicting demands made upon him by contractors, owners and tenants proved demanding were handled by Landels with 'humour and sense of purpose'. He also designed new-builds for Edinvar, Viewpoint, VCanmore and Link Housing Associations. He demonstrated his ability to work as a conservation architect with the commission in the 1980s for major works at Fort George.

Landels was involved with a wide range of designs which included work for the University of Edinburgh, the Bank of Scotland, British Telecom, as well as comissions in healthcare, the hotel industry and schools.

At the same time as conducting his private practice, Landels taught courses at Napier, Heriot Watt and Edinburgh Universities. He was an external examiner for undergraduates (?)and also for the Architects' Professional Examination Authority as a Part III examiner.

Landels believed in the ability of well-designed buildings to influence people's lives and this is apparent in his published articles.

Outwith his work Landels was interested in photography and the history of the subject. He worked hard in the creation of a museum of photography in the old Royal High School building, though this did not come to fruition. He was also a great reader and a keen sportsman. He enjoyed camping and the outdoors, skiing, fishing and sailing and owned a GP14 sailing dinghy.

Landels was first diagnosed with cancer in 2002 and was given a short prognosis but he lived for a further eight years. He died on 14 June 2010, survived by his mother, his wife Lorraine and his two daughters Jennifer and Rebecca. He was the second architect ever to receive a posthumous Fellowship of the RIAS.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 1Edinburgh, Scotland    

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 2Kneale & Russell19781982Architect 
Item 2 of 2Kneale & Russell1982 Partner 

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 171980s(?)Development of private and social housing, Morrison Street  EdinburghScotlandAs partner in charge
Item 2 of 171980sTenements, Caledonian CrescentGorgie EdinburghScotlandRefurbishment- partner in charge
Item 3 of 171980sUniversity of Edinburgh, Buch Estate, laboratoriesRoslin MidlothianScotlandAs partner in charge
Item 4 of 171980sUniversity of Edinburgh, Bush Estate, Small Animal HospitalRoslin MidlothianScotlandPartner in charge
Item 5 of 171980sUniversity of Edinburgh, Bush Estate, teaching facilitiesRoslin MidlothianScotlandAs partner in charge
Item 6 of 171984Royal Naval Base, HMS Cochrane, junior ratings' accommodationRosyth FifeScotlandAs partner in charge
Item 7 of 17Early 1980sFort George PrisonFort George Inverness-shireScotlandRestoration - as partner in charge
Item 8 of 17Mid 1980sDeanery Close sheltered housing schemeRestalrig EdinburghScotlandPartner in charge.
Item 9 of 171990s(?)Bank of ScotlandPortobello EdinburghScotlandPartner in charge
Item 10 of 171990s(?)Bank of ScotlandPeebles PeeblesshireScotlandRefitting old branch? Conflict of information: Borders Buildings of Scotland gives J D Cairns & Davidson but Scotsman obituary of Jim Landels says it was a new build by Kneale & Russell.
Item 11 of 171990sBank of ScotlandSouthampton  EnglandRefitting
Item 12 of 171990s(?)Bank of Scotland  BristolEnglandRefitting
Item 13 of 171990s(?)British Telecom Call CentreDumbarton DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 14 of 171990s(?)British Telecom Call Centre  GlasgowScotland 
Item 15 of 171990sEdinburgh Airport Hotel  EdinburghScotlandRefitting
Item 16 of 171990s(?)Scotsman Buildings  EdinburghScotlandRefitting as hotel?
Item 17 of 171990Leith AcademyLeith EdinburghScotlandAs partner in charge

References

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2RIAS Quarterly2010SummerRoyal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS)p.111: obituary
Item 2 of 2Scotsman26 June 2010  Obituary by Neil Baxter.