British architectural partnership formed in 1956 by Robert (Hogg) Matthew (b Edinburgh, 12 Dec 1906; d Humbis, E. Lothian, 21 June 1975) and Stirrat Johnson-Marshall (b India, 1912; d 16 Dec 1981). Robert Matthew was the son of John Fraser Matthew (1875-1955), a Scottish architect who had been in partnership with Robert S. Lorimer. He trained at the Edinburgh College of Art and with Lorimer & Matthew (his father's firm). Influenced by the thinking of Patrick Geddes, he turned gradually towards the social and strategic aspects of architecture and planning. For some years from 1937 Matthew worked with the architectural staff of the Department of Health for Scotland. He was then asked by Patrick Abercrombie to assist on a plan for the Clyde Valley commissioned by the Scottish Office (1944-6). Matthew was architect to the London County Council (LCC) from 1946 to 1952, the period of the first post-World War II reconstruction in inner London, based on Abercrombie's plan of 1943. Matthew's confidence, forcefulness, belief in teamwork and architectural ability earned him universal respect. He reorganized the large LCC Architect's Department and brought a spirit of responsible Modernism to the social architecture of London. He took charge of hundreds of LCC building schemes, including the Royal Festival Hall on the South Bank (1948-51) for which he appointed a team of architects led by Leslie Martin and Peter Moro. In 1953 he returned to Edinburgh as Professor of Architecture at the University and began a private practice, his first commission being Turnhouse Airport, Edinburgh. The growth of this practice, notably through the commission of New Zealand House, Haymarket, London, led him to establish the Robert Matthew, Johnson-Marshall (RMJM) partnership in 1956. He was knighted in 1962.
See the Abbreviations for further details.
