Walter Max Clendinning[1] (26 September 1924 – 4 June 2020) was an architect, interior designer and furniture designer.[2]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/94/Oxford_Road_station_-_platform_canopy_and_waiting_room_%28geograph_5724039%29.jpg/220px-Oxford_Road_station_-_platform_canopy_and_waiting_room_%28geograph_5724039%29.jpg)
Clendinning was born on 26 September 1924[3] in Richhill, County Armagh in Northern Ireland, the son of a furniture manufacturer. He attended Portadown College, a selective grammar school, where he was taught painting by Crawford Mitchell. He then studied at Belfast College of Art where his work included designing in the Baroque architecture style in the manner of Sir Christopher Wren. Clendinning showed a aptitude for architecture, for which he was awarded the Sir Charles Lanyon prize.[4]
In 1944 he joined the Belfast architectural practice of Henry Lynch Robinson, which included working on Festival of Britain buildings in Northern Ireland.[4]
From 1951 to 1951 Clendinning taught architectural design at Belfast College of Art, although at that stage he did not hold an architectural qualification. In 1951 we was awarded a scholarship to study at the Architectural Association in London, where he obtained the association's diploma and the ARIBA qualification in 1953.[4]
Clendinning is best known for his 1965 design of the "slot-together but sturdy looking" Maxima chair, inspired in part by computer lettering.[5] This design was featured in an exhibit at the Victoria & Albert Museum in 2012.[5] He also created designs for Christian Dior and Liberty & Co.[2] His architectural work included Manchester Oxford Road railway station (1960), which has innovative laminated timber roofs. The station was classified as a grade II listed building in 1995.[6][7][8]
He lived in Islington, London, with the theatrical designer Ralph Adron who had been his partner for forty years.[5][4]
References
edit- ^ "Clendenning, Max Walter 1924 - 2020". AHRnet Biographical Dictionary of British and Irish Architects 1800-1950. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
- ^ a b "Max Clendinning: Avant Craft". Chelsea Space. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
- ^ Telegraph Obituaries (20 August 2020). "Max Clendinning, architect and designer of 1960s minimalist furniture – obituary". The Telegraph. Retrieved 20 August 2020 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
- ^ a b c d Pearman, Hugh (29 July 2020). "Maxwell Clendinning 1924 – 2020". RIBA Journal.
- ^ a b c Williams, Holly (8 April 2012). "Mix and max". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 12 May 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2012.
- ^ Lawrence, David (2016). British Rail Designed 1948-97. Hersham: Ian Allan. pp. 78–9. ISBN 978-0-7110-3837-0.
- ^ 1960s railway structures given listed status The Railway Magazine issue 1138 February 1996 page 11
- ^ Historic England. "Manchester Oxford Road Station (including platform structures) (1255053)". National Heritage List for England.