Henry George Malcolm Laing was born in Dulwich, Surrey, England on 29 June 1874. After working in a junior position in the office of Edward Dru Drury (1841-1919) and Alfred Lovejoy (1842?-1893) of Drury & Lovejoy in 1891-92, he was articled to Herbert George Ibberson (1866-1935) in London from 1893 to 1896. He remained with him as his assistant until 1910. Whilst continuing to work as an assistant to Ibberson, Laing set up his own independent practice in London in 1906.
Laing was elected a Licentiate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (LRIBA) in 1910. His address was given as 28 Martin's Lane, Cannon Street, London; 3 and 4 Bury Court, London, and "Strathclyde", West Norwood, London., and the Bungalow", Graveney, Kent in 1914; "Strathclyde", West Norwood, London., and the Bungalow", Graveney, Kent in 1914; 9, Old Square, Lincoln's Inn, London in 1914 and 1939; and 75 Palace Road, Tulse Hill, London in 1948. He died in London on 3 January 1948.
Domestic work in London (Norwood, Peckham, Bayswater, Herne Hill, Loughborough Junction), and in Kent, Beds, Bucks, Berks, and Cambridgeshire; business premises at Westcombe Park and Charlton, and many additions thereto; alterations to business premises, and additions, in Kingsway; water-softening installation at Rotherhithe; crematoriums at Pontypridd and Hendon; additions to crematoriums at Norwood, and Shanghai, China.
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 2: L-Z. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001