20
Context | Past masters
OBITUARY
‘THIS IS A remarkable achievement: it must be how Frank Lloyd Wright’s first houses looked when they were new, blowing away all the froth of styles without touching the essential rhythms’. So wrote architectural historian and journalist Ian Nairn in the Telegraph in January 1963 of the new group of farm buildings at Fulmer Bucks, designed by the then 29-year- old David Dry and his wife Katharina Halasz. They met while working at Casson Conder
DAVID DRY 1934-2011
Versatile and prolific designer whose private houses in particular shone in a wide-ranging portfolio
and Partners, and their practice enjoyed many generous referrals by Sir Hugh Casson, with projects ranging from The Architectural Press’s Georgian offices in Queen Anne’s Gate to Odeon Cinemas. David had endless energy, and fluency across project types from the industrial design of nautical instruments, hotels, restaurants, hair dressing salons, offices, cinemas, production yacht interiors and private houses. David was also committed to public sector housing, and the then ground breaking concept of ‘high density low rise’. Many of his clients became friends who relished their role as patrons of good design. These included George Hoellering, the Austrian film producer/director and client for the Fulmer farm, who was also owner of the Academy Cinema in Oxford Street where Dry Halasz and Associates, having been joined in partnership by John Haryett, excavated and built a second cinema in the basement under the original auditorium. There were also Sir Maxwell and Lady Joseph for whom the practice designed hotel interiors, restaurants and several private houses. In the early years David and Katharina
To inform the RIBA of the death of a member, please email
membership.services@
inst.riba.org with details of next of kin
lived adjacent to the practice’s new studios built in the garden of their home in a joint development with John Darbourne. David’s infectious enthusiasm and generosity often resulted in large office gatherings in the Richmond Rendezvous Chinese restaurant, where table napkins became covered with 2B pencil and felt tip and many design schemes were hatched. David’s work transcended style; he was capable of restraint, but also had a theatrical talent for interior design. His black lacquered and panelled dining room for Lady Eileen Joseph was bold and risky, but magical. The Josephs also commissioned projects at the Carlton Hotel Cannes and the Metropole Monaco, inspiring David to write Architectural
Practice in France. He also wrote the Interior Design Workbook and with Leonard Beaven co- authored the original Architects Job Book. David was later joined in partnership by Bob
Dixon, and the practice, now titled Dry Halasz Dixon, expanded to over 50 people with three offices in Richmond, Manchester and St Neots. David had developed a passion for sailing
and designed with naval architect Julian Everett several pre-production prototypes, culminating in a 43 ft yawl built for himself and his second wife, actress Dorothy (Dot) White. In 1977 David entered a new partnership
with interior designer George Butlin, and architects Vince Hastwell and Roger Bicknell. By the beginning of the 1990s David and Dot
had bought a finca on a hillside near Granada in Andalucia, and set about building a small cluster of holiday cottages grouped around their own house. They settled in Spain and David gained a considerable reputation locally for his private houses, all highly theatrical, showing great respect for local building traditions, yet innovative and energy efficient. While in Spain he became a founder member and eager supporter of the Directory of Social Inventions and Peace Tax Campaigns. He was always drawing, even in meetings
with clients, and could quickly and graphically depict their aspirations. David was an optimist, relentlessly enthusiastic, generous of spirit and touched the lives of many. He leaves his third wife Shujata and his son
Simon from his first marriage to Katharina. His daughter Georgina died a year ago. n
George Butlin IN MEMORIAM
This month, the RIBA has learned with regret of the following members’ deaths Frederick Henry Westrope, elected 1951, Sheffield Reginald Sanger Gray, elected 1951, Harlow, Essex Dennis Clifford Hands, elected 1951, Truro, Cornwall John Michael Watkins, elected 1951, Southend-On-Sea John Osborne Webb, elected 1951, Cardiff Dennis Clark Slater, elected 1952, Sunderland, David H. Bishop, elected 1953, Bridport, Dorset Wilfred Ronald Court, elected 1953, Peterborough, Robert Wilfred Ingram, elected 1953 Vivian Levett, elected 1953, London
WWW.RIBAJOURNAL.COM : SEPTEMBER 2011
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117