John Winter (1930-2012)
John Winter was born in Norwich on 16 May 1930. He studied at the Architectural Association from 1950-53, before undertaking national service in the Royal Engineers, where he learned to weld, prefiguring his interest in self building and designing in steel. On getting out of the Army, he went to work in the office of Erno Goldfinger, alongside Denise Scott-Brown. After this he went to the United States, where he studied at Yale, then later travelled around the country exploring its architecture, particularly the Case Study Houses of California. There, he worked for Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and then Charles & Ray Eames.
After returning to Britain in the early 1960s, Winter set up his own practice. His work mostly consisted of house designs and conversions. His most famous house is one he designed for himself, 81 Swains Lane, overlooking Highgate Cemetery and constructed of CorTen steel, now with a rusty patina. Winter has earlier designed another house for himself and his family, in Regals Lane near Regents Park. As well as his houses designs, Winter designed buildings for Camden Council and an extension to Morley College in Lambeth. Winter went back to the Architectural Association to teach, influencing the likes of Michael Hopkins, Nicholas Grimshaw, Jeremy Dixon and Edward Jones. He also wrote for the Architectural Review and a number of books. Winter died in November 2012.
Featured Buildings: Alma Road, Bayham St, Belsize Lane, Days Ltd, Lucas Place, Ornan Road, Regal Lane, Swains Lane
See Also: Metallic Metro-Land
After returning to Britain in the early 1960s, Winter set up his own practice. His work mostly consisted of house designs and conversions. His most famous house is one he designed for himself, 81 Swains Lane, overlooking Highgate Cemetery and constructed of CorTen steel, now with a rusty patina. Winter has earlier designed another house for himself and his family, in Regals Lane near Regents Park. As well as his houses designs, Winter designed buildings for Camden Council and an extension to Morley College in Lambeth. Winter went back to the Architectural Association to teach, influencing the likes of Michael Hopkins, Nicholas Grimshaw, Jeremy Dixon and Edward Jones. He also wrote for the Architectural Review and a number of books. Winter died in November 2012.
Featured Buildings: Alma Road, Bayham St, Belsize Lane, Days Ltd, Lucas Place, Ornan Road, Regal Lane, Swains Lane
See Also: Metallic Metro-Land