George Pace
Encyclopedia
George Pace English architect
, was born in Croydon
, Surrey
.
He won many prizes as a student including the Pugin Studentship in 1937 and the RIBA
Asphitel Prize for the best architectural student in England.
Charles Rennie Mackintosh
was an early influence; a fellow student quoted "whilst most of the students enthused about Lloyd Wright
or Gropius
, George was more concerned with the ideas of William Morris
, Lethaby
and Burges
"
Pace declared a respect for Walter Gropius
whilst at the same time pursuing a passion for medieval Gothic
nurtured by his childhood years drawing churches with his father.
During the early stages of his practice, Pace developed a strong relationship with the ecclesiastical. He formed a close bond with the Dean of York
Minster and through his patronage became architect to several major cathedrals.
Pace believed strongly in the tradition of skill and craftsmanship and developed long lasting relationships with several firms. Much of his professional practice was concerned with the maintenance and restoration of historic churches, including major projects at Llandaff Cathedral
Cardiff, and St Martin Coney Street
in York. Pace's later designs for completely new buildings were rooted in this unique mix of the modern and the conservative, the Gropius and the Morris. Added to this was the belief that industrial architecture was an underestimated art form.
After Pace died in 1975 his practice was taken over by the distinguished ecclesiastical architect Ronald Sims
.
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, was born in Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
.
He won many prizes as a student including the Pugin Studentship in 1937 and the RIBA
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
Asphitel Prize for the best architectural student in England.
Charles Rennie Mackintosh
Charles Rennie Mackintosh
Charles Rennie Mackintosh was a Scottish architect, designer, watercolourist and artist. He was a designer in the Arts and Crafts movement and also the main representative of Art Nouveau in the United Kingdom. He had a considerable influence on European design...
was an early influence; a fellow student quoted "whilst most of the students enthused about Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright
Frank Lloyd Wright was an American architect, interior designer, writer and educator, who designed more than 1,000 structures and completed 500 works. Wright believed in designing structures which were in harmony with humanity and its environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture...
or Gropius
Walter Gropius
Walter Adolph Georg Gropius was a German architect and founder of the Bauhaus School who, along with Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier, is widely regarded as one of the pioneering masters of modern architecture....
, George was more concerned with the ideas of William Morris
William Morris
William Morris 24 March 18343 October 1896 was an English textile designer, artist, writer, and socialist associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the English Arts and Crafts Movement...
, Lethaby
William Lethaby
William Richard Lethaby was an English architect and architectural historian whose ideas were highly influential on the late Arts and Crafts and early Modern movements in architecture, and in the fields of conservation and art education.-Early life:Lethaby was born in Barnstaple, Devon, the son of...
and Burges
William Burges (architect)
William Burges was an English architect and designer. Amongst the greatest of the Victorian art-architects, Burges sought in his work an escape from 19th century industrialisation and a return to the values, architectural and social, of an imagined mediaeval England...
"
Pace declared a respect for Walter Gropius
Walter Gropius
Walter Adolph Georg Gropius was a German architect and founder of the Bauhaus School who, along with Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Le Corbusier, is widely regarded as one of the pioneering masters of modern architecture....
whilst at the same time pursuing a passion for medieval Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
nurtured by his childhood years drawing churches with his father.
During the early stages of his practice, Pace developed a strong relationship with the ecclesiastical. He formed a close bond with the Dean of York
Dean of York
The Dean of York is the member of the clergy who is responsible for the running of the York Minster cathedral.-11th–12th centuries:* 1093–c.1135: Hugh* c.1138–1143: William of Sainte-Barbe...
Minster and through his patronage became architect to several major cathedrals.
Pace believed strongly in the tradition of skill and craftsmanship and developed long lasting relationships with several firms. Much of his professional practice was concerned with the maintenance and restoration of historic churches, including major projects at Llandaff Cathedral
Llandaff Cathedral
Llandaff Cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of Llandaff, head of the Church in Wales Diocese of Llandaff. It is situated in the district of Llandaff in the city of Cardiff, the capital of Wales. The current building was constructed in the 12th century over the site of an earlier church...
Cardiff, and St Martin Coney Street
Medieval churches of York
York had around forty-five parish churches in 1300. Twenty survive, in whole or in part, a number surpassed in England only by Norwich, and twelve are currently used for worship...
in York. Pace's later designs for completely new buildings were rooted in this unique mix of the modern and the conservative, the Gropius and the Morris. Added to this was the belief that industrial architecture was an underestimated art form.
After Pace died in 1975 his practice was taken over by the distinguished ecclesiastical architect Ronald Sims
Ronald Sims
Ronald Sims was a distinguished ecclesiastical architect who redesigned many English church interiors. His style combined modernism with a respect for tradition and particularly the arts and crafts movement. He graduated in 1952, when he joined the practice of George Pace, the ecclesiastical...
.