George Marsh (architect)

Horace George Marsh (16 March 1921 - October 1988) was an English architect, best known as the designer of buildings including Centre Point in London and Alpha Tower in Birmingham, in his role as a partner in the architectural practice of R. Seifert and Partners.[1]

Born in Birmingham,[1] Marsh studied at the Birmingham School of Architecture while working as a pupil with a local architectural firm, before joining the leading Birmingham architectural practice of H. W. Weedon & Partners in 1941.[2] In 1946 he moved to London, working for a variety of architects until he joined the practice of Richard Seifert in 1957, becoming a founding partner[3] in the newly-formed R. Seifert & Partners a year later.[2]

Seifert's own early work had been in a pedestrian commercial style typified by Woolworth House of 1955 on London's Marylebone Road.[4] Marsh's architectural style was very different[5] and brought a fresh design input to the practice.[6] From the time of Marsh's arrival in the late 1950s their work displayed a new-found flamboyance influenced by the Swiss architect Le Corbusier, Brazilian Oscar Niemayer and the American practice Skidmore Owings and Merrill.[4] Marsh was to be the practice's leading designer throughout the 1960s and early 1970s[7] and was responsible for the design of many of their most important buildings including Tolworth Tower,[8] Centre Point[9] and CAA House (originally called Space House)[10] in London, and Alpha Tower in his home city of Birmingham.[11]

Marsh was elected a fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1968.[2] and retired from the architecture in March 1986.[3] Of his most famous works, Centre Point was listed grade II in 1995, and Alpha Tower was listed grade II in 2014.[1] The house Marsh built for himself and his family in Radlett, Hertfordshire, was also listed Grade II in 1999.[12]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Neil, Elkes (2014-08-15). "Alpha Tower handed listed status". Birmingham Post (Trinity Mirror Midlands). Retrieved 2014-10-01.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Horace George Marsh". Dictionary of Scottish Architects. Retrieved 2014-10-01.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Notices". RIBA Journal (Royal Institute of British Architects) 93 (1): 84. 1986.
  4. 4.0 4.1 Cruikshank, Dan (January 1995). "Centre Point 1966-1995". RIBA Journal (Royal Institute of British Architects) 102 (1): 39–45.
  5. Hatherley, Owen (2007-08-21). "Speculative Surrealism". Archinect. Retrieved 2014-10-03.
  6. Powers, Alan (2007). Britain. Modern architectures in history. Reaktion Books. p. 147. ISBN 1861892810. Retrieved 2014-10-03.
  7. Dunnett, James (2009-03-20). "Mellow on Marsh". Building Design (UBM Built Environment). Retrieved 2008-01-13.
  8. Wright, Herbert (2006). London High. London: Frances Lincoln. p. 63. ISBN 0711226954.
  9. "Centre Point". The National Heritage List for England. English Heritage. 2013-04-26. Retrieved 2014-10-04.
  10. "Brutalism: Everything You Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask". 20 Bedford Way. Institute of Education. Retrieved 2014-10-04.
  11. "Alpha Tower". The National Heritage List for England. English Heritage. 2014-07-31. Retrieved 2014-10-04.
  12. "29A Loom Lane". National Heritage List for England. English Heritage. Retrieved 2014-10-01.