George Clarke (architect)

George Clarke
Born (1974-05-27) 27 May 1974
Sunderland, England
Residence Notting Hill, London
Education Newcastle University; University College London
Occupation Television presenter, architect, lecturer, author
Years active 2004–present
Employer Channel 4 (2008—)
Channel 5 (2004–07)
Television Presenting:
The Restoration Man
The Home Show
George Clarke's Amazing Spaces
Spouse(s) Catriona Drummond (Divorced)
Children 3
Website Official Website

George Clarke (born 27 May 1974) is a British architect, television presenter, lecturer and writer, best known for his work on the Channel 4 programmes The Home Show, The Restoration Man and George Clarke's Amazing Spaces.[1][2]

Early life

Clarke was born in Sunderland and brought up in nearby Washington. His mother, Anne, worked at Oxclose Comprehensive School, where Clarke was a pupil. His father, a printer[3] died when George was 6, and his mother later remarried.[4] By his own admission, Clarke was a popular but very shy child.[5]

Both Clarke's grandfathers were builders and, after spending school holidays in and around building sites, he decided he wanted to be an architect from the age of 12:

There was nothing else I ever wanted to do. When most of the kids were playing with building blocks and pieces of Lego, I was actually on building sites.[4]

Clarke left school at 16 and found a job with a local firm of architects, David W. Johnson.[6] He studied for a BTEC in Building and Construction at Wearside College, Sunderland, before gaining a First Class BA Honours in Architectural Studies and a Certificate in Architectural Practice from Newcastle University, followed by a post-graduate diploma from London's Bartlett School of Architecture.[7] Whilst he was a student, Clarke supported himself financially by renovating people's homes in his spare time.[8]

Career

Architecture

After graduating in 1995, Clarke trained and worked with FaulknerBrowns in Newcastle upon Tyne, before joining world famous architect Sir Terry Farrell, working in both London and Hong Kong. In 1998, with partner Bobby Desai, he formed his own company, clarke:desai – clients included Simon Fuller and Jamie Oliver.[9]

In 2011, Clarke left clarke:desai and set up a new company George Clarke + Partners, with 25 staff.[3] At the time Clarke commented:

I’ve had a fantastic time at clarke:desai and I’m proud of all the projects we have completed over the years, but, as you can imagine, my media work has taken me in a different direction and I now want to start a new company that isn’t just about architecture, but also covers all aspects of the design, build and property development business.[9]

The firm has mainly been involved in renovation and refurbishment projects but it has also designed new buildings.[3]

Between 2001–2003, Clarke was a visiting lecturer at Newcastle University. He is currently a visiting lecturer at Nottingham University's School for the Built Environment.[9]

Television

Clarke's television career came about by chance. He'd approached a literary agent after being asked to write a book about architecture, not realising the agency also represented television presenters. He was subsequently asked to screen test for a new Channel 5 programme called Build A New Life in the Country, which had been struggling to find a suitably charismatic building professional to front the show.[10] Clarke was offered the job, and then went on to present two more property shows for Channel 5 before being commissioned to present The Restoration Man for Channel 4.[4]

Since 2004, he has been the main presenter for the following programmes:

Property Dreams (2004), Dream Home Abroad (2005) and Build A New Life in the Country (2005–07), all for Channel 5. The Home Show (2008—), The Restoration Man (2010 —), The Great British Property Scandal (2011), The Great British Property Scandal: Every Empty Counts (2012) and George Clarke's Amazing Spaces (2012—), all for Channel 4 and Old House New Home' (also Channel 4 ').

Books

Clarke is also the author of several successful books, including: Home Bible (Orion), and Build a New Life: by Creating Your New Home.[11][12]

Personal life

Clarke lives in Notting Hill, west London and is divorced from his wife, Catriona.[3] He has three children: Georgie, Emilio and Iona. Clarke has completely renovated his 1910 house, transforming the interior into a modern, slick home, while restoring the exterior to its original appearance.[13]

Clarke was on the judging panel of the Affordable Home Ownership Housing Awards in 2007.[1]

In April 2012, Clarke was appointed as an independent adviser to the government to help bring thousands of empty properties back into use for families in need of stable, secure homes.[14]

Clarke is a patron of the Civic Trust Awards scheme.[15] He is an ambassador for the housing and homeless charity Shelter, as well as a Building Community ambassador for the Prince's Foundation.[16] He is also a passionate supporter of Sunderland A.F.C.[17]

He still has family in Blackfell, Washington, and Sunderland, and visits the area at least two or three times a year.[4]

Honours

In July 2012, Clarke carried the Olympic torch through Camden after his brother-in-law Swiggy Drummond, who was the original candidate for the honour, died of cancer.[18]

In January 2014, Clarke became the youngest person ever to be awarded honorary membership of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (Hon RICS).[19] In July 2015, Clarke was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from Leeds Beckett University for his contribution to the arts.[20] In September 2015, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Wolverhampton as a Doctor of Technology[21] and, in December 2015, he received an honorary doctorate from Northumbria University.[22]

References

  1. 1 2 "George Clarke biography". Biogs.com. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  2. ↑ "George Clarke's Amazing Spaces". Channel 4. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Curtis, Nick. "George Clarke – I am single for the first time since I was about 18". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Wilson, Karen (3 April 2010). "Fans go nuts for TV architect George Clarke". The Journal. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
  5. ↑ Graham, Jane (12 August 2012). "George Clarke: I Had to Get Confident". The Big Issue. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  6. ↑ McCarthy, Fiona (16 June 2013). "Restoration Man and Amazing Spaces presenter George Clarke on how he caught the building bug as a boy". The Daily Mail. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  7. ↑ "A Reputation For Restoration". ncl. 3 April 2010. Archived from the original on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
  8. ↑ "Restoration Man George Clarke craves the Roker Roar". Northern Life Magazine. 9 October 2010. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  9. 1 2 3 Fulcher, Merlin (9 September 2011). "TV celebrity architect George Clarke splits from partner". The Architect's Journal. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
  10. ↑ "George Clarke: Do Housewives Try it On?". The Daily Mirror. 3 May 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  11. ↑ Home Bible by George Clarke. Orien. ASIN 0297860321.
  12. ↑ Built a New Life by Creating Your New Home by George Clarke. Orion. ASIN 1844035689.
  13. ↑ Clarke, George (22 February 2011). "My Space by George Clarke architect". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
  14. ↑ "George Clarke appointed empty homes adviser". Retrieved 11 April 2012.
  15. ↑ "George is a Patron of the Civic Trust Awards scheme". George Clarke. 16 September 2009. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  16. ↑ "Prince's Foundation: Ambassadors". Prince's Foundation for Building Community: Ambassadors. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  17. ↑ Barclay, Tom (1 August 2013). "My Club: George Clarke". The Sun. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  18. ↑ "George Carries the Flame for Brother-in-law as Olympic Torchbearer". georgeclarke.com. 13 June 2012. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  19. ↑ "TV's George Clarke win top honour for his passion for the trade". ChronicleLive. Trinity Mirror Northeast. Evening Chronicle. 30 January 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  20. ↑ Braithwaite, Carrie (24 July 2015). "‘Restoration Man’ presenter receives honorary degree". Leeds Beckett University website. Leeds Beckett University. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  21. ↑ Jones, Tamlyn (11 August 2015). "TV architect George Clarke and former MP Clare Short to receive honorary degrees". Birmingham Post website. Birmingham Post. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  22. ↑ Allison, David (8 December 2015). "Washington architect and TV star George Clarke is given honorary degree". Sunderland Echo. Retrieved 16 December 2015.
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