Donald McMorran

Who was Donald McMorran?

Donald Hanks McMorran RA was an English architect who is known today for his sensitive continuation of the neo-Georgian and classical tradition in the period after the Second World War. His buildings include halls of residence at Nottingham University, Wood Street Police Station in the City of London, public housing schemes around London, the South Block extension to the Old Bailey and civic buildings in Exeter and Bury St Edmunds. McMorran was a Master of the Art Workers Guild in 1956 and was elected to the Royal Academy in 1962. His work is characterised by carefully chosen materials, well-detailed and handsomely proportioned facades with minimal classical detail, showing the influence in particular of the work of John Soane. There is also a strong sense of aesthetic opposition to the bulk of the Modern Movement work of the same period. McMorran was, however, not narrow-minded in his attitude to the Modern Movement, and as assessor in the City of London's Golden Lane housing competition he awarded first place to the young Modernists, Chamberlin, Powell and Bon.

Cripps Hall at Nottingham University

South Block of the Central Criminal Court