Percy Erskine Nobbs (August 11, 1875 – November 5, 1964) was a Canadian architect who was born in
Haddington, East Lothian
The Royal Burgh of Haddington ( sco, Haidintoun, gd, Baile Adainn) is a town in East Lothian, Scotland. It is the main administrative, cultural and geographical centre for East Lothian. It lies about east of Edinburgh. The name Haddington is ...
, and trained in the United Kingdom. Educated at the
Edinburgh Collegiate School and
Edinburgh University
The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a Public university, public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted ...
, he spent most of his career in the
Montreal
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous city in the Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1642 as '' Ville-Marie'', or "City of Mary", it is named after Mount Royal, the triple ...
area. Often working in partnership with George Taylor Hyde, Nobbs designed a great many of what would become Montreal's heritage buildings and was a key Canadian proponent of the
Arts and Crafts Movement in architecture. He served as the director of
McGill University
McGill University (french: link=no, Université McGill) is an English-language public research university located in Montreal, Quebec
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous ...
's
School of Architecture for ten years and designed many buildings on the campus as well as
McGill's Coat of Arms, which continues to be used today.
Architecture career
He designed the fire station on
Euston Road, in the "Arts and Crafts" style. It was built in 1901-2 and still stands. Nobbs had already received awards and won prizes as a practicing architect when he came to
McGill University
McGill University (french: link=no, Université McGill) is an English-language public research university located in Montreal, Quebec
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous ...
in 1903 to teach architecture. He got permission to practice architecture while teaching and soon obtained commissions for private homes as well as for institutional buildings. His designs for homes had the distinction of paying a great deal of attention to the siting and orientation of the building and the placement of the windows. He considered this at least as important as what the home actually looked like. He called it "building for Prospect as well as Aspect," and designed many an impressive
mansion in this way. The magnitude of such mansions can be grasped by studying through his various plans and blueprints, such as the house of the Quebec Alpha of the
Phi Delta Theta fraternity, in
Montreal
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous city in the Canadian province of Quebec. Founded in 1642 as '' Ville-Marie'', or "City of Mary", it is named after Mount Royal, the triple ...
. The initial plans divided the house across 4 floors, 11 bedrooms, a library, and 2 servants' rooms. These documents are currently kept in the Canadian Architecture Collection of the
McGill University Archives.
In partnership with
Cecil Burgess, Percy Erskine Nobbs designed the J.B. Porter House on McTavish Street, Montreal,
which has been demolished. In 1906-1907 Nobbs was in a temporary partnership with
David Robertson Brown.
Projects
Nobbs designed the interior decorative program of the
Currie Hall at the
Royal Military College of Canada
'')
, established = 1876
, type = Military academy
, chancellor = Anita Anand ('' la, ex officio, label=none'' as Defence Minister)
, principal = Harry Kowal
, head_label ...
in
Kingston, Ontario
Kingston is a city in Ontario, Canada. It is located on the north-eastern end of Lake Ontario, at the beginning of the St. Lawrence River and at the mouth of the Cataraqui River (south end of the Rideau Canal). The city is midway between To ...
. The Currie Building decorations evoke the achievements of the
Canadian Corps in the
Great War
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
, and with the British Monarchy.
Nobbs and Hyde designed many
McGill University
McGill University (french: link=no, Université McGill) is an English-language public research university located in Montreal, Quebec
Montreal ( ; officially Montréal, ) is the second-most populous city in Canada and most populous ...
buildings: Power House (1909); Strathcona Medical Building (1923); Pathology Building (1923); Pulp & Paper Research Institute (1927). Nobbs and Hyde remodeled many McGill University buildings: MacDonald Engineering Building, reconstruction after a fire in 1907; a major addition to the University Library, McTavish Street (1921–22); addition of West Wing at Royal Victoria College (1930–31). Nobbs and Hyde provided interiors and furniture for the Osler Memorial Library (1923). Many of his drawings for McGill University buildings can be found in his archive, held in the
Canadian Architecture Collection at McGill University.
Nobbs and Hyde designed some commercial buildings around Montreal as well as the University Club building (1913) on Mansfield Street.
Nobbs and
Frank Darling designed the master plan for the
University of Alberta
The University of Alberta, also known as U of A or UAlberta, is a Public university, public research university located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It was founded in 1908 by Alexander Cameron Rutherford,"A Gentleman of Strathcona – Alexande ...
in 1909–1910. With Cecil S. Burgess, Nobbs designed the Provincial College of Medicine (1920–21). Nobbs designed the Arts Building (1914–15); laboratories and Power House (1914);
Nobbs and Hyde won the competition for the war memorial in
Regina.
He designed the
University Club building in Montreal, associated with McGill University, which was completed in 1913 and was eventually registered as a monument historique of Quebec. He also designed the McGill University Coat of Arms, three years into his directorship at the
McGill School of Architecture, which continues to be used by the university today.
He was an accomplished athlete in
fencing
Fencing is a group of three related combat sports. The three disciplines in modern fencing are the foil, the épée, and the sabre (also ''saber''); winning points are made through the weapon's contact with an opponent. A fourth discipline, ...
, representing Canada at the
1908 Olympics and for all of his life he was a true fisherman and founded the Atlantic Salmon Federation due to his love of fishing. He published two books, now both out of print, entitled ''Fencing Tactics'' and ''Salmon Tactics''. His talent as a
draftsman
A drafter (also draughtsman / draughtswoman in British and Commonwealth English, draftsman / draftswoman or drafting technician in American and Canadian English) is an engineering technician who makes detailed technical drawings or plans for ...
and painter—he was an RCA—was also quite exceptional.
Honours
He was elected an Academician of the
Royal Canadian Academy of Arts
The Royal Canadian Academy of Arts (RCA) is a Canadian arts-related organization that was founded in 1880.
History 1880 to 1890
The title of Royal Canadian Academy of Arts was received from Queen Victoria on 16 July 1880. The Governor General ...
in 1920, and in 1924 became President of the Québec Association of Architects. In 1928 he was named President of the Town Planning Institute of Canada, and in 1929 he was elected to the Royal Society of Arts and also became President of the Royal Architectural Institute in Canada.
References
Further reading
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External links
Historic Places in CanadaHistory Writ Large: The Architecture of Percy Erskine Nobbs (John Bland Canadian Architecture Collection) Percy Erskine Nobbs FondsCanadian Architecture Collection, McGill University Library & Archives.
The Canadian Encyclopedia
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nobbs, Percy Erskine
1875 births
1964 deaths
19th-century Scottish architects
Architects from Montreal
Canadian male fencers
McGill University faculty
Fencers from Montreal
Anglophone Quebec people
Canadian people of Scottish descent
Members of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts
Olympic fencers of Canada
Fencers at the 1908 Summer Olympics
People from Haddington, East Lothian
Arts and Crafts architects
Persons of National Historic Significance (Canada)
Alumni of the University of Edinburgh
People educated at Edinburgh Collegiate School