Nan Fairbrother
Encyclopedia
Nan Fairbrother was an English writer
and lecturer on landscape and land use. She was a Member of the UK Institute of Landscape Architects, now the Landscape Institute
. Her brother (James Alick (Rex) Fairbrother) was also a landscape architect
. Fairbrother was born in Coventry
, England, and attended the University of London
, graduating with honours in English. After graduation, she worked as a hospital physiotherapist, before settling in London. In 1939 she married William McKenzie, a physician. During the Second World War, Fairbrother left London with their two sons for the safety of the Buckinghamshire countryside, and wrote her first book, Children in the House (1954), about the experience of living there while her husband was away serving with the Royal Air Force
(RAF). Her most celebrated work is New Lives, New Landscapes, a visionary account of the challenges facing land-use planning in the United Kingdom.
Fairbrother's influence on planners, landscape architects, and educators continues today: in 2009, BBC Scotland Learning produced two programmes in their Industry series (first televised in January 2009), titled New lives, new landscapes, an acknowledgment of Fairbrother's contribution.
Laurie, Michael. (1999) "Women of substance." Landscape Design. March, Iss. 278, Pages 53-55.
Rutz, Miriam Easton. (1987) Landscapes and gardens: women who made a difference. Symposium at Michigan State University, June 9-10, 1987. Michigan: Michigan University Press.
BBC Scotland Learning Programme pages, with links to Programme Notes on their New Lives, New Landscapes documentary series: http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/learning/news_views/2008/12/22/programmes/ (Access date: 11-03-2009).
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and lecturer on landscape and land use. She was a Member of the UK Institute of Landscape Architects, now the Landscape Institute
Landscape Institute
The Landscape Institute is a British professional body for landscape architects. Founded in 1929 as the Institute of Landscape Architects, it was granted a Royal Charter in 1997. The Institute aims to promote landscape architecture, and to regulate the profession with a code of conduct that...
. Her brother (James Alick (Rex) Fairbrother) was also a landscape architect
Landscape architecture
Landscape architecture is the design of outdoor and public spaces to achieve environmental, socio-behavioral, or aesthetic outcomes. It involves the systematic investigation of existing social, ecological, and geological conditions and processes in the landscape, and the design of interventions...
. Fairbrother was born in Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
, England, and attended the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, graduating with honours in English. After graduation, she worked as a hospital physiotherapist, before settling in London. In 1939 she married William McKenzie, a physician. During the Second World War, Fairbrother left London with their two sons for the safety of the Buckinghamshire countryside, and wrote her first book, Children in the House (1954), about the experience of living there while her husband was away serving with 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...
(RAF). Her most celebrated work is New Lives, New Landscapes, a visionary account of the challenges facing land-use planning in the United Kingdom.
Fairbrother's influence on planners, landscape architects, and educators continues today: in 2009, BBC Scotland Learning produced two programmes in their Industry series (first televised in January 2009), titled New lives, new landscapes, an acknowledgment of Fairbrother's contribution.
Further reading
"England Without Tears". (1954) Time Magazine. Monday, June 7. (Review of An English Year).Laurie, Michael. (1999) "Women of substance." Landscape Design. March, Iss. 278, Pages 53-55.
Rutz, Miriam Easton. (1987) Landscapes and gardens: women who made a difference. Symposium at Michigan State University, June 9-10, 1987. Michigan: Michigan University Press.
BBC Scotland Learning Programme pages, with links to Programme Notes on their New Lives, New Landscapes documentary series: http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/learning/news_views/2008/12/22/programmes/ (Access date: 11-03-2009).