Roberts married architect Margaret MacDonald Baird, and they settled in Cambridge where they built their house at 11 Wilberforce Road. Their only son, Nicholas Wyn Roberts, born in 1948, became an architect and professor of architecture at Woodbury University in Los Angeles.
Roberts began teaching at the Department of Architecture, University of Cambridge in 1946, and became a fellow of Magdalene College, Cambridge in 1958. He influenced many students and employees who became scholars and architects, including Anthony Vidler, Lionel March, Nicholas Ray, Cedric Price, and John G. Ellis. Roberts was a modernist architect in postwar Cambridge with his University Health Centre built in 1951. Roberts's earliest college work was at Magdalene where, in Benson and Mallory Courts, he created a small townscape; he refurbished existing houses, and built new infill, to create a street effect, rather than imposing the conventional form of a college courtyard.[2]
With his headquarters overlooking the Cam, Roberts kept his office small, six to eight people. Many young architects passed through the practice. Rory Spence wrote in the catalogue, David Roberts Architect, "He seemed to approach each job with fresh enthusiasm and great integrity. It is no wonder that he had such admiration for Philip Webb and the meticulous individual care which he lavished on each design. Like Webb, David never worked to a formula, as so many of even the best architects do, and possibly for this reason his buildings are less well-known than they should be. There is always a strong idea at the heart of each building, related to its context, which is unique to that building".[3] A former student, Geoffrey Clarke, became a partner in 1964.
Roberts is described as the first architect to specialise in modern educational buildings. He gave a stepped profile to his designs for student accommodation (for example at Clare College in 1956 and Jesus College in 1963) to give the rooms a dual aspect. His student accommodation buildings at Jesus College, Cambridge and St Hugh's College, Oxford, have already been given a heritage listing of Grade II.[4]
^Goldie, Dr. Mark. "David Wyn Roberts (1911–1982)". A Cambridge Necropolis. Friends of the Parish of the Ascension Burial Ground. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
^David Roberts Architect, A Commemoration. Royston, England: The FoxHollow Press. 1984. p. 85. ISBN0-946447-02-0.
david, roberts, 1911, cardiff, wales, november, 1982, british, architect, educator, designed, more, university, buildings, cambridge, university, than, other, architect, with, modernist, practice, based, cambridge, also, designed, many, city, housing, projects. David Wyn Roberts 1911 in Cardiff Wales 8 November 1982 was a British architect and educator who designed more university buildings for Cambridge University than any other architect With a modernist practice based in Cambridge he also designed many city housing projects schools and private residences Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Notable works 3 1 Collaboration with Geoffrey Clarke 4 ReferencesEarly life EditRoberts father John Roberts was a preacher and historian of the Presbyterian Church of Wales David Roberts was educated at the Cardiff High School and Welsh School of Architecture and was awarded the 1936 RIBA Soane Medal David Roberts was commissioned as an officer in the Royal Engineers in August 1942 1 and he served in the Italian campaign Roberts married architect Margaret MacDonald Baird and they settled in Cambridge where they built their house at 11 Wilberforce Road Their only son Nicholas Wyn Roberts born in 1948 became an architect and professor of architecture at Woodbury University in Los Angeles Career Edit Mallory Court at Magdalene College Cambridge Roberts began teaching at the Department of Architecture University of Cambridge in 1946 and became a fellow of Magdalene College Cambridge in 1958 He influenced many students and employees who became scholars and architects including Anthony Vidler Lionel March Nicholas Ray Cedric Price and John G Ellis Roberts was a modernist architect in postwar Cambridge with his University Health Centre built in 1951 Roberts s earliest college work was at Magdalene where in Benson and Mallory Courts he created a small townscape he refurbished existing houses and built new infill to create a street effect rather than imposing the conventional form of a college courtyard 2 With his headquarters overlooking the Cam Roberts kept his office small six to eight people Many young architects passed through the practice Rory Spence wrote in the catalogue David Roberts Architect He seemed to approach each job with fresh enthusiasm and great integrity It is no wonder that he had such admiration for Philip Webb and the meticulous individual care which he lavished on each design Like Webb David never worked to a formula as so many of even the best architects do and possibly for this reason his buildings are less well known than they should be There is always a strong idea at the heart of each building related to its context which is unique to that building 3 A former student Geoffrey Clarke became a partner in 1964 Roberts is described as the first architect to specialise in modern educational buildings He gave a stepped profile to his designs for student accommodation for example at Clare College in 1956 and Jesus College in 1963 to give the rooms a dual aspect His student accommodation buildings at Jesus College Cambridge and St Hugh s College Oxford have already been given a heritage listing of Grade II 4 Roberts and his wife are buried together in the Ascension Parish Burial Ground in Cambridge Notable works Edit North Court Jesus College Cambridge University Health Centre Gresham Road Cambridge 1949 St Mary s Convent School Bateman Road Cambridge 1955 1971 River Building Magdalene College Cambridge 1956 Clare Hostel Chesterton Lane Cambridge 1957 Boathouse for Sidney Sussex College Cambridge 1957 The Snowcat Arbury Road Cambridge 1959 Sacher Building New College Oxford 1961 St Bede s School Birdwood Road Cambridge 1961 Dominican Priory Buckingham Road Cambridge 1961 North Court Jesus College Cambridge 1963 Fitzwilliam Museum Trumpington Street Cambridge 1963 Kenyon Building St Hugh s College Oxford 1964 now Grade II listed 4 Roscoe and Gladstone Halls of Residence University of Liverpool 1965 Churchill College Wolfson Flats Cambridge 1965 St Hugh s College Stage II Oxford 1966 Cromwell Court Sidney Sussex College Cambridge 1982Collaboration with Geoffrey Clarke Edit New Master s Lodge Magdalene College Cambridge 1966 East Road Development Cambridge 1968 Buckingham Court Magdalene College Cambridge 1968 Cosin Court Tennis Court Terrace Cambridge 1969 Wolfson Court Clarkson Road Girton College Cambridge 1970 Trinity Hall Central Site Development Cambridge 1973 Fitzwilliam Museum Stage II Cambridge 1973 Burrell s Field Grange Road Cambridge 1976 Darwin College Silver Street Cambridge 1977 Rose Crescent Shops Rose Crescent Cambridge 1979References Edit No 35690 The London Gazette Supplement 1 September 1942 p 3857 Goldie Dr Mark David Wyn Roberts 1911 1982 A Cambridge Necropolis Friends of the Parish of the Ascension Burial Ground a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a Missing or empty url help David Roberts Architect A Commemoration Royston England The FoxHollow Press 1984 p 85 ISBN 0 946447 02 0 a b Historic England St Hugh s College Kenyon Building 1392941 National Heritage List for England Retrieved 18 January 2015 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title David Wyn Roberts amp oldid 1116930925, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
