Jane Drew and Maxwell Fry
Edwin Maxwell Fry was born in Liscard, Merseyside on 2nd August 1899. After completing his qualifications, Fry worked briefly in New York, before returning to Britain and working for the firm of Adams & Thompson, and then Southern Railways from 1924 to 1926. Fry then returned to Adams & Thompson, becoming a partner. Moving away from the neo-Georgian influence of his architectural schooling, Fry moved towards the modernist movement that was spreading its influence from Europe. Fry would work with Walter Gropius, founder of the Bauhaus, during his two year stay in Britain. Together they would design at house at 66 Old Church Street in Chelsea, an electricity showrooms in Cannon Street and Impington College School in Cambridgeshire. As well as a number of private houses, Fry would design the Kensal House in apartments in Ladbroke Grove with Elizabeth Denby in the 1930’s.
During World War 2, when Fry served in the Royal Engineers, he married the fellow architect Jane Drew and set up in partnership as Fry, Drew & Partners. Drew was born in Croydon on 24 March 1911, and studied at the Architectural Association, qualifying in 1934, and working mainly in Winchester in partnership with her first husband James Alliston. Fry, Drew & Partners produced work at home and abroad in the first few years of the post war period. In Britain they completed projects in the new towns of Harlow and Hatfield, as well as in Lewisham, Bethnal Green (with Denys Lasdun) and at the Festival of Britain.
Abroad, Fry and Drew worked in Africa and India, producing a range of buildings from housing, to schools and colleges, as well as libraries and hospitals. In India, they collaborated with Le Corbusier and his cousin Pierre Jeanneret in designing the new city of Chandigarh. The practice took in new partners throughout the post war period, with Denys Lasdun, Lindsay Drake, Frank Knight and Norman Creamer all becoming partners. Fry retired in 1973, with Drew continuing work until 1979.
Featured Buildings: Denham Film Studios, Kensal House, Ladbroke Grove, Miramonte, Old Church St, Sun House Frognal, Woodsford Square
During World War 2, when Fry served in the Royal Engineers, he married the fellow architect Jane Drew and set up in partnership as Fry, Drew & Partners. Drew was born in Croydon on 24 March 1911, and studied at the Architectural Association, qualifying in 1934, and working mainly in Winchester in partnership with her first husband James Alliston. Fry, Drew & Partners produced work at home and abroad in the first few years of the post war period. In Britain they completed projects in the new towns of Harlow and Hatfield, as well as in Lewisham, Bethnal Green (with Denys Lasdun) and at the Festival of Britain.
Abroad, Fry and Drew worked in Africa and India, producing a range of buildings from housing, to schools and colleges, as well as libraries and hospitals. In India, they collaborated with Le Corbusier and his cousin Pierre Jeanneret in designing the new city of Chandigarh. The practice took in new partners throughout the post war period, with Denys Lasdun, Lindsay Drake, Frank Knight and Norman Creamer all becoming partners. Fry retired in 1973, with Drew continuing work until 1979.
Featured Buildings: Denham Film Studios, Kensal House, Ladbroke Grove, Miramonte, Old Church St, Sun House Frognal, Woodsford Square