Francis Skinner (architect)
Encyclopedia
Francis Skinner Russell Thomas Francis Skinner (1908-1998) was the longest-serving member of Tecton
, the architectural practice founded by Berthold Lubetkin
in 1932 that pioneered the Modern Movement in Britain. As the historian John Allan recalls, ‘Skinner was Lubetkin's closest colleague, who shared and supported his charismatic partner's belief in modern architecture as an instrument of social progress’.
Politically and architecturally radical, Skinner trained at the Architectural Association
from 1927 but reacted strongly against ‘traditionalist teaching’ in favour of the progressive European Modernism embodied by Lubetkin. ‘His first building, a prize-winning reinforced concrete house for the Modern Homes Exhibition at Gidea Park, was completed in 1934 when he was only 26’ (Allen). He was active in the Communist Party, the Architects & Technicians Organisation, and other leftist groups that campaigned for better housing conditions and the unionisation of building workers. After first-hand observation of bomb damage in the Spanish Civil War
he designed and promoted deep air-raid shelters.
Skinner was involved in all Lubetkin’s projects for the progressive London Borough of Finsbury, beginning with the influential Finsbury Health Centre
(1938), and continuing after World War II with the Spa Green Estate
, Priory Green and Bevin Court (Holford Square), for which he designed the signage as well as supervising the project. John Allen records that Skinner ‘declined an invitation from Le Corbusier
to join him at Chandigarh in 1950 but continued with major housing developments in Bethnal Green, Hackney and Southwark in the reformed firm of Skinner, Bailey & Lubetkin’. Many of his designs for London public housing are preserved in the British Architectural Library of the Royal Institute of British Architects
.
Tecton Group
The Tecton Group was a radical architectural group co-founded by Berthold Lubetkin, Francis Skinner, Denys Lasdun, Godfrey Samuel, and Lindsay Drake in 1932. The name Tecton came from architecton, the Greek word for architecture...
, the architectural practice founded by Berthold Lubetkin
Berthold Lubetkin
Berthold Romanovich Lubetkin was a Russian émigré architect who pioneered modernist design in Britain in the 1930s. His work includes the Highpoint housing complex, London Zoo penguin pool, Finsbury Health Centre and Spa Green Estate.-Early years:Berthold Lubetkin was born in Tiflis into a Jewish...
in 1932 that pioneered the Modern Movement in Britain. As the historian John Allan recalls, ‘Skinner was Lubetkin's closest colleague, who shared and supported his charismatic partner's belief in modern architecture as an instrument of social progress’.
Politically and architecturally radical, Skinner trained at the Architectural Association
Architectural Association School of Architecture
The Architectural Association School of Architecture, more usually known as the AA, is an architectural school in London, United Kingdom...
from 1927 but reacted strongly against ‘traditionalist teaching’ in favour of the progressive European Modernism embodied by Lubetkin. ‘His first building, a prize-winning reinforced concrete house for the Modern Homes Exhibition at Gidea Park, was completed in 1934 when he was only 26’ (Allen). He was active in the Communist Party, the Architects & Technicians Organisation, and other leftist groups that campaigned for better housing conditions and the unionisation of building workers. After first-hand observation of bomb damage in the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
he designed and promoted deep air-raid shelters.
Skinner was involved in all Lubetkin’s projects for the progressive London Borough of Finsbury, beginning with the influential Finsbury Health Centre
Finsbury Health Centre
The Finsbury Health Centre in the Finsbury area of London, England, built in 1935-38, was designed by Berthold Lubetkin and the Tecton architecture practice...
(1938), and continuing after World War II with the Spa Green Estate
Spa Green Estate
Spa Green Estate between Rosebery Avenue and St John St in Clerkenwell, London EC1, is the most complete post-war realization of a 1930s radical plan for social regeneration through Modernist architecture. Originally conceived as public housing, it is now a mixed community of private owners and...
, Priory Green and Bevin Court (Holford Square), for which he designed the signage as well as supervising the project. John Allen records that Skinner ‘declined an invitation from Le Corbusier
Le Corbusier
Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, better known as Le Corbusier , was a Swiss-born French architect, designer, urbanist, writer and painter, famous for being one of the pioneers of what now is called modern architecture. He was born in Switzerland and became a French citizen in 1930...
to join him at Chandigarh in 1950 but continued with major housing developments in Bethnal Green, Hackney and Southwark in the reformed firm of Skinner, Bailey & Lubetkin’. Many of his designs for London public housing are preserved in the British Architectural Library of the Royal Institute of British Architects
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
.