Raglan Squire
Encyclopedia
Raglan Squire was a renowned British architect known for his building designs in London and many parts of the world. He was also one of the chief architects who rebuilt Eaton Square
in London
's Belgravia
district between 1945 and 1949 as part of the Temporary Housing Programme.
, was born in London
and educated at Blundell's School
in Tiverton and at St John's College
in Cambridge
to read Architecture. Upon graduation Rag spent a year working on building sites, followed by four years working in architects' offices and studying part-time for his RIBA exams at the Regent Street Polytechnic
's evening classes in the early 1930s.
In 1937 Squire set up in practice and during World War II
he served with the Royal Engineers
and helped establish the RIBA Reconstruction Committee, many of whose recommendations were put into practice during the rebuilding of London after the war.
in Belgravia
, working for the Grosvenor Estate, in charge of the conversion of 100 houses in Eaton Square.
In 1952 Squire embarked on his first major overseas project when he was commissioned to design the Engineering College at Rangoon University in Burma. He regarded this project as the high point of his career, and it opened the door to commissions all over the world. He was particularly proud of his design for the assembly hall at Rangoon. His other foreign work included a town planning scheme for Mosul
in Iraq
, and a report for Baghdad
airport, both in 1955.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Raglan Squire & Partners was involved in several British projects, including large office blocks in Croydon
and a notable factory at Farnborough
.
Squire was also much in demand abroad, particularly in Singapore
and the Middle East
, and had a long and fruitful relationship with the Hilton Hotel
chain, for which he designed the vast Royal Teheran Hilton, the Tunis Hilton, the Nicosia Hilton, the Bahrain Hilton and the 400-room Hilton in Jakarta.
In the 1970s he worked in Holland, Jamaica
(where he designed the beachside Intercontinental Hotel at Ocho Rios
) and Malta
; he also designed the spectacular Bank of America building in Singapore.
Squire retired from active practice in 1981. The architect Michael Squire, of Squire and Partners
, is his son, and is probably best known for redesigning the Chelsea Barracks
.
Eaton Square
Eaton Square is a residential garden square in London's Belgravia district. It is one of the three garden squares built by the Grosvenor family when they developed the main part of Belgravia in the 19th century, and is named after Eaton Hall, the Grosvenor country house in Cheshire...
in London
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...
's Belgravia
Belgravia
Belgravia is a district of central London in the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Noted for its immensely expensive residential properties, it is one of the wealthiest districts in the world...
district between 1945 and 1949 as part of the Temporary Housing Programme.
Early life
Raglan Squire, the eldest son of the poet and critic J C (later Sir John) SquireJ. C. Squire
Sir John Collings Squire was a British poet, writer, historian, and influential literary editor of the post-World War I period.- Biography :...
, was born in London
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...
and educated at Blundell's School
Blundell's School
Blundell's School is a co-educational day and boarding independent school located in the town of Tiverton in the county of Devon, England. The school was founded in 1604 by the will of Peter Blundell, one of the richest men in England at the time, and relocated to its present location on the...
in Tiverton and at St John's College
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
in Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
to read Architecture. Upon graduation Rag spent a year working on building sites, followed by four years working in architects' offices and studying part-time for his RIBA exams at the Regent Street Polytechnic
University of Westminster
The University of Westminster is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom. Its origins go back to the foundation of the Royal Polytechnic Institution in 1838, and it was awarded university status in 1992.The university's headquarters and original campus are based on Regent...
's evening classes in the early 1930s.
In 1937 Squire set up in practice and during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he served with the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
and helped establish the RIBA Reconstruction Committee, many of whose recommendations were put into practice during the rebuilding of London after the war.
Later career
In 1948 Squire founded Raglan Squire & Partners; their early commissions including educational and industrial buildings. He was also involved in the redevelopment of Eaton SquareEaton Square
Eaton Square is a residential garden square in London's Belgravia district. It is one of the three garden squares built by the Grosvenor family when they developed the main part of Belgravia in the 19th century, and is named after Eaton Hall, the Grosvenor country house in Cheshire...
in Belgravia
Belgravia
Belgravia is a district of central London in the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Noted for its immensely expensive residential properties, it is one of the wealthiest districts in the world...
, working for the Grosvenor Estate, in charge of the conversion of 100 houses in Eaton Square.
In 1952 Squire embarked on his first major overseas project when he was commissioned to design the Engineering College at Rangoon University in Burma. He regarded this project as the high point of his career, and it opened the door to commissions all over the world. He was particularly proud of his design for the assembly hall at Rangoon. His other foreign work included a town planning scheme for Mosul
Mosul
Mosul , is a city in northern Iraq and the capital of the Ninawa Governorate, some northwest of Baghdad. The original city stands on the west bank of the Tigris River, opposite the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh on the east bank, but the metropolitan area has now grown to encompass substantial...
in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, and a report for Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
airport, both in 1955.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Raglan Squire & Partners was involved in several British projects, including large office blocks in Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
and a notable factory at Farnborough
Farnborough, London
Farnborough is a settlement in the London Borough of Bromley. It is a suburban development located 13.4 miles southeast of Charing Cross.-History:...
.
Squire was also much in demand abroad, particularly in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
and 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...
, and had a long and fruitful relationship with the Hilton Hotel
Hilton Hotels
Hilton Hotels & Resorts is an international chain of full-service hotels and resorts founded by Conrad Hilton and now owned by Hilton Worldwide. Hilton hotels are either owned by, managed by, or franchised to independent operators by Hilton Worldwide. Hilton Hotels became the first coast-to-coast...
chain, for which he designed the vast Royal Teheran Hilton, the Tunis Hilton, the Nicosia Hilton, the Bahrain Hilton and the 400-room Hilton in Jakarta.
In the 1970s he worked in Holland, Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
(where he designed the beachside Intercontinental Hotel at Ocho Rios
Ocho Rios
Ocho Ríos is a town in the parish of Saint Ann on the north coast of Jamaica. Although he landed in many spots along the Jamaican coast, many believe that Christopher Columbus first set foot on land in Ocho Rios...
) and Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
; he also designed the spectacular Bank of America building in Singapore.
Squire retired from active practice in 1981. The architect Michael Squire, of Squire and Partners
Squire and Partners
is a major UK-based architectural practice, founded by Michael Squire in 1976.There are approximately 100 employees in the practice, including over 70 architects and architectural assistants, supported by dedicated teams for computer visualisation, illustration and modelmaking...
, is his son, and is probably best known for redesigning the Chelsea Barracks
Chelsea Barracks
Chelsea Barracks was a British Army barracks located in the City of Westminster, London, adjacent to Chelsea, on Chelsea Bridge Road.-History:The barracks was originally built in the 1860s to house two battalions of troops...
.