Noel Moffett Collection
Remove from selection
Add to selection
- Date of Birth: 1912
- Date of death: 1994
- History/Biography: Noel Moffett was born in Cork on Christmas Day 1912. He was educated at Cork Grammar School and Mountjoy School, Dublin. He studied in Trinity College Dublin, and completed RIAI testimonials of study before taking a B. Arch degree in the University of Liverpool (1937). This was followed by a Certificate in Civic Design, also from Liverpool (1939), his thesis for which was a planning scheme for Youghal, Co. Cork. Moffett worked briefly as assistant architect in Liverpool Corporation Housing Department (1938) before moving to London where he work for a number of architects and architectural practices including Serge Chermayeff (1939-40), Joseph Emberton (1940-41) and Sir John Burnet, Tait & Lorne (1941-43). He returned to Dublin in 1943, taking up the position of Principal Architect in the Dublin Corporation Planning Department where he worked on the development of the City master plan, central market, North Strand housing proposals and Liffey Valley park. He left Dublin Corporation in 1944 and established his own private practice specialising in modern once-off houses. Other designs included an open-air theatre in Achill (1945), three major exhibitions including an Anti-TB exhibition for the Irish Red Cross (1944-6), set designs for the Gate Theatre (1946-7), new interior for Jammet’s Restaurant (1947), and a scheme of social housing for Dundalk Urban District Council (1948-50). He also ran a private school of architecture and planning. Students and young architects who encounter him during this period included Robin Walker, Patrick Hamilton, and Kevin Roche. The Achill Theatre project arose out of his involvement with the White Stag Group, itself a reflection of his lifeline interest in art. He drew and painted himself, while photography was for him both a means of artistic expression and a tool for documenting architecture including his own projects. In 1950 Moffett returned to London and established his private practice there, specialising in local authority and low-cost housing with a particular interest in housing for the elderly. From 1958 he practiced in partnership with his Polish born third wife, the architect Alina Zofia Boleslawicz-Moffett. Significant projects included the Adnum House, Esher, Surrey (1954), office and shop development, Windsor (1958-64), housing development at Pitsea Street for the Greater London Council (1962-65), housing scheme for the elderly, White City Estate (Malabar Court), London (1964-65, the first of several schemes designed on a hexagonal system, the inspiration for which he ascribed to the Giant’s Causeway), Highshore ESN (Educationally Sub Normal) School, Camberwell, London (1965-69), Priory Road flats scheme for the St. Marylebone Housing Association, London (1967), housing development at Somerford Street, Tower Hamlets, London (1970-74), housing scheme for the elderly, Forman Court, Albert Road, Twickenham (1974), and Oncological Hospital Chapel, Gdynia, Poland (1991-2). In parallel with the busy architectural practice, Moffett consulted on a number of urban design and planning schemes in particular in the London area. He maintained a significant architectural journalistic output, editing special editions of ‘Architectural Design’ on Ireland (1947) and Japan (1958), broadcasting on architectural subjects on the BBC (1958) and contributing articles to numerous architectural publications in the UK and further afield. His last major publication was ‘The Best of British Architecture 1980-2000’, London, 1993. He also maintained and developed his involvement in architectural education. He was variously Senior Lecturer , Head of the Evening School and Head of the Department of Town Planning at the School of Architecture and Civic Design at Kingston College of Art, Kingston-on-Thames, and taught in the AA School of Architecture, London. At the end of the 1970s he took up positions in the architecture department of several America universities: Iowa State University (1978-7
TitleNoel Moffett Collection
Reference0098/046-
Date
1913-1994
Creator
Noel Moffett+-
Scope and ContentPhotographs, printed matter, manuscript and typescript material and architectural drawings documenting the life, career and interests of Irish architect Noel Moffett.
Extent13 boxes, 8 folders
LanguageEnglish
Level of descriptionfonds
Hierarchy browser
