John Dennis Lennon [commonly known as Dennis Lennon] was born in London, England on 23 June 1918 and studied architecture at University College London (1936-39).
During World War Two he served in the Army and in 1942 was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry. Following the war he worked as an assistant designer in the London office of Maxwell Fry from 1946 to 1948. He was director of the Rayon Industry Design Centre in London from 1948 to 1950 and designed the Centre’s interiors in 1948. In 1950 Lennon co-founded the architectural and design firm Dennis Lennon & Partners in London.
In addition to his work as an an architect, Lennon also worked as an interior designer, furniture designer and theatre set designer. He designed furniture for Dunn’s of Bromley (1950), Scottish Furniture Manufacturers Ltd. (early 1950s), Peter Jones Stores Stores in London (1957). Interior design projects by Lennon included offices for Thomas Cook & Sons in London (1953); London Steak Houses (1953-70); Vono showrooms in London (1954); interiors of shops for Jaeger in London, Glasgow, Oxford and Manchester (1954-59); the Bowater House showroom in London (1959); interiors on the Queen Elizabeth II (QE2) ocean liner (with James Gardner, 1968); the Albany Hotel in Glasgow (1973); the American Express Bank in Moorgate, London (1975); the Theatre Royal in Bath (1981); and the Bank of Scotland in Threadneedle Street, London (1982). Lennon was consultant architect for the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London (from 1950), and designed stage sets for Glyndebourne Opera House in Glynde, Sussex.
Lennon was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) and later a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA). He died on 16 April 1991.
Contemporary designers. Edited by Sara Prendagast. London: St. James Press, 3rd edition, 1997