Denys Lasdun

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Sir Denys Lasdun CH (8 September 1914–11 January 2001) was an eminent English architect of the 20th century, particularly associated with the Brutalist design of the Royal National Theatre on London's South Bank of the River Thames.

Lasdun studied at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London and was a junior in the practice of Wells Coates. Like other Modernist architects, including Sir Basil Spence and Peter and Alison Smithson, Lasdun was much influenced by Le Corbusier and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, but there was a gentler, more classical influence, too, from the likes of Nicholas Hawksmoor. Before and after Second World War service in the army, he worked for a while with Berthold Lubetkin's Tecton practice becoming a partner, after which he set up his own London-based practice with Lindsey Drake.

While he is esteemed by many of those who like Modernist architecture, some of his work is controversial; Prince Charles once unfavourably compared the Royal National Theatre to a nuclear power station. Lasdun was awarded the RIBA Royal Gold Medal in 1977.

Lasdun’s projects included:

• Hallfield primary school, Paddington, London (1952)
• Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge (1959-60)
• Royal College of Physicians, London (1960-64)
• the core buildings of the University of East Anglia, Norwich (1962-68)
• The Charles Wilson building at the University of Leicester
• Keeling House (a Grade II* listed building) and Bradley House, Bethnal Green, east London
• Institute of Education, and the library of the School of Oriental and African Studies, Bloomsbury, London
• New Court, Christ's College, Cambridge (1966-70)
• Royal National Theatre, London (1967-76)
• first phase of the European Investment Bank, Luxembourg (1974-80)

[edit] References

• The Legacy of Lasdun