John Voelcker
Encyclopedia
John Harold Westgarth Voelcker (1927-1972) was a British architect and designer. He was the first Professor of Architecture at the University of Glasgow.
Voelcker was born in Preston, Lancashire. He studied at the Architectural Association (AA) and then worked in Milan, later returning to London, where he became a member of the Royal Institute of British Architects
.
In the early 1950s Voelcker was a member of Team 10, dominated by Peter and Alison Smithson, but later split with the group. In 1954 he moved to Kent where he developed a country practice creating designs for farm improvements, school and office buildings. He also worked on houses and housing schemes for local authorities and businesses. At the same time he taught in various capacities concerning planning and public design, including work at the AA School and Cambridge University.
In 1956 Voelcker collaborated with Richard Hamilton
and John McHale
on the seminal This is Tomorrow
exhibition, for which Voelcker designed the structure of their part of the exhibition.
In 1958 a dispute with local planning authorities over a building designed for the Jazz musician Humphrey Lyttelton
led to Voelcker and Lyttelton successfully challenging the authorities. The building was a dramatic U-shaped structure and included a "splendidly witty" pop art mural by McHale. As a result of their defence of creative architecture Voelcker and Lyttelton were named the Architect's Journals men of the year.
In 1965 he became director of Senior Studies at the AA School. Three years later in 1969 Voelcker became Professor of Architecture at Glasgow. He held the position until his early death.
Voelcker was born in Preston, Lancashire. He studied at the Architectural Association (AA) and then worked in Milan, later returning to London, where he became a member 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:...
.
In the early 1950s Voelcker was a member of Team 10, dominated by Peter and Alison Smithson, but later split with the group. In 1954 he moved to Kent where he developed a country practice creating designs for farm improvements, school and office buildings. He also worked on houses and housing schemes for local authorities and businesses. At the same time he taught in various capacities concerning planning and public design, including work at the AA School and Cambridge University.
In 1956 Voelcker collaborated with Richard Hamilton
Richard Hamilton (artist)
Richard William Hamilton, CH was a British painter and collage artist. His 1956 collage, Just what is it that makes today's homes so different, so appealing?, produced for the This Is Tomorrow exhibition of the Independent Group in London, is considered by critics and historians to be one of the...
and John McHale
John McHale (artist)
John McHale was an artist and sociologist. He was a founder member of the Institute of Contemporary Arts, and a founder of the Independent Group, which was a British movement that originated Pop Art which grew out of a fascination with American mass culture and post-WWII technologies...
on the seminal This is Tomorrow
This is Tomorrow
This Is Tomorrow was a seminal art exhibition in August 1956 at the Whitechapel Art Gallery, facilitated by curator Bryan Robertson. The core of the exhibition was the ICA Independent Group.-History:...
exhibition, for which Voelcker designed the structure of their part of the exhibition.
In 1958 a dispute with local planning authorities over a building designed for the Jazz musician Humphrey Lyttelton
Humphrey Lyttelton
Humphrey Richard Adeane Lyttelton , also known as Humph, was an English jazz musician and broadcaster, and chairman of the BBC radio comedy programme I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue...
led to Voelcker and Lyttelton successfully challenging the authorities. The building was a dramatic U-shaped structure and included a "splendidly witty" pop art mural by McHale. As a result of their defence of creative architecture Voelcker and Lyttelton were named the Architect's Journals men of the year.
In 1965 he became director of Senior Studies at the AA School. Three years later in 1969 Voelcker became Professor of Architecture at Glasgow. He held the position until his early death.