McGrath, Raymond 1903 - 1977

Raymond Herbert McGrath [commonly known as Raymond McGrath] was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 7 March 1903.  After studying at the University of Sydney (B.Arch, 1921-26), he moved to England where, between 1926 and 1930 he attended Brixton School of Building, Westminster School of Art and Clare College, University of Cambridge (where he was a research fellow).  

McGrath received his first architectural commission while still a student at Cambridge - the remodelling of ‘Finella’, a house in Cambridge (1928-29).  He was in private practice as an architect in London from 1930 to 1939. During this period his major architectural projects included the design of the BBC studios at Broadcasting House in London (1930-32), with Wells Coates (1895-1958) and Serge Chermayeff (1900-1996); the interiors of Embassy Club (1932) and Fischer Restaurant in London (1933); and St Ann’s Hill in Chertsey, Surrey (1936).  In addition to his work as an architect, McGrath was engaged in many other fields of design. He designed radio cabinets for Ecko, a wall clock (the Synchronome) for Abbey Electric Clock Works, an exhibition stand for James Clark & Sons at the 1938 ‘Building Exhibition at Olympia in London, trophies for the menswear company Austin Reed, and the interiors of Imperial Airways’ Atlanta aircraft.

McGrath was the author of ‘Glass in Architecture and Decoration’ (London: Architectural Press, 1937, revised edition 1961) and many of his projects incorporated glass elements, notably the doors at the Royal Institute of British Architects in Portland Place, London (1934).

McGrath moved to Ireland in 1940 where he worked as Architect to the Office of Public Works until 1968. During the post-Second World War years he was also Professor of Architecture at the Royal Hibernian Academy in Dublin.  McGrath died in Dublin on 23 [or 2 - sources differ] December 1977.