Gordon Tait
Encyclopedia
Gordon Thomas Tait was a British architect, active in London
.
Tait was the eldest son of Scottish architect Thomas Smith Tait
and Constance Hardy. He abandoned a career as a sculptor to follow in his father's footsteps. Between 1930 and 1935 he studied at the Architectural Association
in London, with his younger brother Kenneth. During 1933-34 he acted as clerk of works
for his father's partner, Francis Lorne, on the Mount Royal flats in London's Oxford Street
. He then found employment with Alliston & Drew and Hugh Minty, rejoining his father's firm of Burnet Tait & Lorne in 1936. In 1938 he worked alongside his father on the Tait Tower
and other buildings of the Glasgow Empire Exhibition
, and on various housing schemes. He was admitted to the Royal Institute of British Architects
(RIBA) on 3 April 1939, being proposed by his father, Hugh Minty, and Joseph Emberton. Although he was made a partner in the practice in that year, he soon joined the Royal Air Force
and served in Rhodesia
during the Second World War, attaining the rank of Squadron Leader
.
After the war, his father's practice experienced financial difficulties, following a sharp decline in business, the death of Ludovic Gordon Farquhar, and the cancellation of a Colonial Office
commission. Gordon Tait took up residence in Bedford Square
, and took responsibility for the London practice. He was elected a fellow
of RIBA in 1948, with Basil Spence
as one of his proposers. Francis Lorne took charge of the Edinburgh office, moving to South Africa
around 1949. Tait bowed to financial pressure and reluctantly took on new partners in the London practice, which became known as Sir John Burnet
, Tait & Partners, then just Burnet Tait. The subsequent economic revival provided an increase in commissions, and the partnership specialised in corporate headquarters buildings, schools and housing. The practice also expanded into the Middle East
, with an office in Riyadh
, Saudi Arabia
where it built the King Faisal Hospital
.
Tait was active politically as a Conservative Party
councillor in Paddington
, and as Master of the Worshipful Company of Masons
. He married Patricia in 1934 and had two children by her. The elder of these, Gavin, continued the practice. Following the death of Patricia in 1960, he remarried and had three children with Marion Tait. Gordon Tait retired in 1979, leaving London to live in his holiday home in Ladymead, East Harting
, West Sussex
, a property which he had owned since 1962. He collected vintage cars, rode and sailed.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Tait was the eldest son of Scottish architect Thomas Smith Tait
Thomas S. Tait
Thomas Smith Tait was a prominent Scottish Modernist architect. He designed a number of buildings around the world in Art Deco and Streamline Moderne styles, notably St...
and Constance Hardy. He abandoned a career as a sculptor to follow in his father's footsteps. Between 1930 and 1935 he studied 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...
in London, with his younger brother Kenneth. During 1933-34 he acted as clerk of works
Clerk of works
Clerks of Works are the most highly qualified non-commissioned tradesmen in the Royal Engineers. The qualification can be held in three specialisations: Electrical, Mechanical and Construction. The clerk of works , often abbreviated CoW, is employed by the architect or client on a construction site...
for his father's partner, Francis Lorne, on the Mount Royal flats in London's Oxford Street
Oxford Street
Oxford Street is a major thoroughfare in the City of Westminster in the West End of London, United Kingdom. It is Europe's busiest shopping street, as well as its most dense, and currently has approximately 300 shops. The street was formerly part of the London-Oxford road which began at Newgate,...
. He then found employment with Alliston & Drew and Hugh Minty, rejoining his father's firm of Burnet Tait & Lorne in 1936. In 1938 he worked alongside his father on the Tait Tower
Tait Tower
Tait Tower was a tower in the art deco style constructed at the summit of Bellahouston Hill in Bellahouston Park in Glasgow in Scotland as part of the Empire Exhibition, Scotland 1938.It was designed by Thomas S...
and other buildings of the Glasgow Empire Exhibition
Empire Exhibition, Scotland 1938
Empire Exhibition, Scotland 1938 was an international exposition held at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow, from May to December 1938....
, and on various housing schemes. He was admitted to 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:...
(RIBA) on 3 April 1939, being proposed by his father, Hugh Minty, and Joseph Emberton. Although he was made a partner in the practice in that year, he soon joined the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
and served in Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
during the Second World War, attaining the rank of Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
.
After the war, his father's practice experienced financial difficulties, following a sharp decline in business, the death of Ludovic Gordon Farquhar, and the cancellation of a Colonial Office
Colonial Office
Colonial Office is the government agency which serves to oversee and supervise their colony* Colonial Office - The British Government department* Office of Insular Affairs - the American government agency* Reichskolonialamt - the German Colonial Office...
commission. Gordon Tait took up residence in Bedford Square
Bedford Square
Bedford Square is a square in the Bloomsbury district of the Borough of Camden in London, England.Built between 1775 and 1783 as an upper middle class residential area, the sqare has had many distinguished residents, including Lord Eldon, one of Britain's longest serving and most celebrated Lord...
, and took responsibility for the London practice. He was elected a fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
of RIBA in 1948, with Basil Spence
Basil Spence
Sir Basil Urwin Spence, OM, OBE, RA was a Scottish architect, most notably associated with Coventry Cathedral in England and the Beehive in New Zealand, but also responsible for numerous other buildings in the Modernist/Brutalist style.-Training:Spence was born in Bombay, India, the son of Urwin...
as one of his proposers. Francis Lorne took charge of the Edinburgh office, moving to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
around 1949. Tait bowed to financial pressure and reluctantly took on new partners in the London practice, which became known as Sir John Burnet
John James Burnet
Sir John James Burnet was a Scottish Edwardian architect who was noted for a number of prominent buildings in Glasgow, Scotland and London, England...
, Tait & Partners, then just Burnet Tait. The subsequent economic revival provided an increase in commissions, and the partnership specialised in corporate headquarters buildings, schools and housing. The practice also expanded into the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, with an office in Riyadh
Riyadh
Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Najd and Al-Yamama. It is situated in the center of the Arabian Peninsula on a large plateau, and is home to 5,254,560 people, and the urban center of a...
, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
where it built the King Faisal Hospital
King Faisal Specialist Hospital
The King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center is a hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which operates 850 beds with approximately 8,500 employees. In all there are 63 different nationalities making up the staff. The hospital is the national referral center for oncology, organ...
.
Tait was active politically as a Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
councillor in Paddington
Paddington
Paddington is a district within the City of Westminster, in central London, England. Formerly a metropolitan borough, it was integrated with Westminster and Greater London in 1965...
, and as Master of the Worshipful Company of Masons
Worshipful Company of Masons
The Worshipful Company of Masons is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. The Masons were formed in mediæval times to regulate stonemasons. They were formally incorporated under a Royal Charter in 1677. Its members have taken part in the construction several famous structures,...
. He married Patricia in 1934 and had two children by her. The elder of these, Gavin, continued the practice. Following the death of Patricia in 1960, he remarried and had three children with Marion Tait. Gordon Tait retired in 1979, leaving London to live in his holiday home in Ladymead, East Harting
East Harting
East Harting is a hamlet in the Chichester district of West Sussex, England. It lies on the South Harting to Elsted road 4 miles southeast of Petersfield....
, West Sussex
West Sussex
West Sussex is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex , Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming...
, a property which he had owned since 1962. He collected vintage cars, rode and sailed.
Examples of work
- Samuda EstateSamuda EstateThe Samuda Estate is on the east side of Manchester Road, in Cubitt Town on the Isle of Dogs. With 505 dwellings it is home to about 1,500 people and covers .-Historical background:...
, London - CIS TowerCIS TowerThe Co-operative Insurance Tower, or CIS Tower, is an office tower building on Miller Street in Manchester, England. It was completed in 1962 and rises to 387 feet in height. The Grade II listed building, which houses Co-operative Financial Services, a part of The Co-operative Group, is...
, Manchester 1959-1962 (with G S Hay)