Wells Coates, Architect
1895-1958

Key Building: Lawn Road flats, Belsize Park

Buildings (alphabetical):
BBC Studios, London
1931
The Circles, Long Ditton, Surrey
1930s
Cresta Silks factory
1928
Cresta Silks shop, Brompton Road, west London
1929
Lawn Road flats - Isokon, Hampstead, north London
1934
Palace Gate flats, Kensington, west London
1939
Sunspan House
1934-35
Wells Coates' flat, Yeoman's Row, Knightsbridge, west London
1935

Wells Coates was also a proficient industrial designer



Lawn Road flats, Hampstead

Photo © Robin Lambert

London Architecture

Wells Coates co-founded the MARS group
born in Tokyo
1895-1958
Canadian parents

Education:
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada : M&E Engineering
University of London, UK : Diesel Engine Phd, 1924

Worked for a time as a journalist for the Daily Express newspaper

Practice started in 1929

Designing Modern Britain - Design Museum Exhibition
2006

Well-known architectural assistants to Coates: Denys Lasdun; Patrick Gwynne



Modern Architecture

Buildings in more detail:
Wells Coates - Isokon:
Lawn Road flats was influenced by Le Corbusier's housing proposals

First Client: Jack & Molly Pritchard of Venesta Plywood - Isokon building, London
Four storey white block with clean styling, deck access
29 apartments

Walter Gropius stayed here from 1934-37. Over famous residents include the artist Moholy-Nagy, write Agatha Christie and architect Marcel Breuer

When we visited in the late 1990's the place was not only decrepit but quite scary, with signs of squatting and drug use. It has since been completely refurbished

Isokon stands for Isometric unit construction

The Circles, Long Ditton, Surrey
1930s
Wells Coates
2006 - refurbishment:
John Winter Architect
Private house

10 Palace Gate, Kensington, west London
1937
Refurbished lobby 2003 by John McAslan & Partners
Modern highrise

Exhibition project:
Sunspan house, Ideal Home Exhibition
1934

Modern Architect

World Architecture : e-architect - a guide to key buildings across the globe

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Wells Coates Buildings: page - adrian welch / isabelle lomholt

Website: www.wellscoates.org