Michael Manser (23 March 1929 – 8 June 2016) was a British

architect An architect is a person who plans, designs and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...

. He was a president of the

Royal Institute of British Architects The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally, founded for the advancement of architecture under its royal charter granted in 1837, three supp ...

(RIBA) and established his own successful architecture practice in 1961.

Education and career

Born in

Bristol Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in ...

, Manser studied architecture at Regent Street Polytechnic, now the

University of Westminster The University of Westminster is a public university, public university based in London, United Kingdom. Founded in 1838 as the Royal Polytechnic Institution, it was the first Polytechnic (United Kingdom), polytechnic to open in London. The Polyte ...

. Before setting up his own practice Michael Manser Associates in 1961, Manser worked in London and the West Indies for

Norman and Dawbarn Norman or Normans may refer to: Ethnic and cultural identity * The Normans, a people partly descended from Norse Vikings who settled in the territory of Normandy in France in the 10th and 11th centuries ** People or things connected with the Norm ...

. He later became the non-executive chairman of the Manser Practice. His son Jonathan is now managing director. His daughter Victoria has her own architectural practice. Manser was president of the Royal Institute of British Architects 1983-85 and was elected a member of the Royal Academy in November 1994. He was honoured with a

CBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

in 1993, but declined the honour in 1988 due to the controversy over modern architecture with Prince Charles and an infamous lecture for the 150th anniversary of the RIBA during Manser's presidency of the institute. In 2001, ''

Architects' Journal ''Architects' Journal'' is an architectural magazine published in London by Metropolis International. History The first edition was produced in 1895. Originally named ''The Builder's Journal and Architectural Record'', from 1906 to 1910 it was ...

'' inaugurated the annual Manser Medal, named after Michael Manser, to recognise the best completed house in the UK.

Notable buildings

* Waterlooville Baptist Church,

Waterlooville Waterlooville is a market town in the Borough of Havant in Hampshire, England, approximately north northeast of Portsmouth. It is the largest town in the borough. The town has a population of about 64,350 and is surrounded by Purbrook, Blendwort ...

, Hampshire (1967) *

Capel Manor House Capel Manor House is a small modern steel-framed private house in Horsmonden, in Kent in southern England. It was designed by Michael Manser for John Howard, a former Member of Parliament. It was built between 1969 and 1970. The house was con ...

, 1970 *The Quell, Haslemere, Surrey: private house (1985) *

Hilton Hotel Hilton Hotels & Resorts (formerly known as Hilton Hotels) is a global brand of full-service hotels and resorts and the flagship brand of American multinational hospitality company Hilton. The original company was founded by Conrad Hilton. As ...

(originally Sterling Hotel), Heathrow Terminal 4, 1990 *

Southampton Airport Southampton Airport is an international airport located in both Eastleigh and Southampton, Hampshire in the United Kingdom. The airport is located north-north-east of central Southampton. The southern tip of the runway lies within the Sou ...

, 1994 * British High Commission (Umoja House), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 2002

References

External links

*
Profile on Royal Academy of Arts Collections
1929 births 2016 deaths Architects from Bristol Modernist architects Presidents of the Royal Institute of British Architects Alumni of the University of Westminster Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Royal Academicians {{UK-architect-stub