Christopher David George Nicholson [commonly known as Christopher Nicholson; also known as Kit Nicholson] was born in Hampstead, London, on 16 December 1904. In 1923 entered Jesus College, Cambridge, and initially studied English, but switched to architecture and enrolled at Cambridge University School of Architecture. After graduating in 1926, he continued his architectural studies at Princeton University School of Architecture in Princeton, New Jersey, where he remained until 1927.
Following his return to England, Nicholson worked on a small scale architectural commissions, including a garden house at at Brampton in Cumbria, for Charles Roberts, and the Carlisle Memorial in Brampton In 1929 he returned to Cambridge University School of Architecture where for the next two years he was employed as a student assistant and began teaching first year students. He also worked briefly in the London office of Myer & Watson-Hart.
In 1933 Nicholson set up an independent practice in London. In 1935 he was joined by Hugh Casson.
In addition to his work as an architect, Nicholson designed several stands for exhibitions and trade fairs, including the 'Britain Can Make It' exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London (1946), Textile Section of the British Industries Fair held at Earls Court in London (1947) and the Sanderson stand at the Daily Mail ‘Ideal Homes’ exhibition in London (1948).
During World War Two Nicholson served in the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1939). Nicholson was killed in a gliding accident in Italy on 28 July 1948.
The Royal Institute of British Architects Drawings Collection owns Nicholson's complete collection of drawings, record books and photographs.
Architectural projects by Nicholson and his office included the Gliding Club in Dunstable (1934-35), house for Dr Crowe, near Henley (1935-37), Monkton House near Chichester in Sussex (1935), and a glider factory in Dunstable (1939).
‘Aircraft hangar for B.E.A.’ Architects' Journal 1 May 1947 pp. 366-369 [Architect: Christopher Nicholson]
Bingham, Neil. Christopher Nicholson. London: Academy Editions, 1994 (RIBA Drawings Monographs No.4)
Casson, Hugh. ‘Ben and Kit and Nancy and EQ: the artistic family Nicholson’. Designers’ Journal n. 38, June 1988 pp. 56-60
Fraser, Murray. ‘Christopher Nicholson’. Architects' Journal vol. 204, no. 12, 3 October 1996 pp. 54-55.
‘London Gliding Club, Dunstable’ Architectural Review June 1936 pp. 253-262 [Architect: Christopher Nicholson]
‘The London Gliding Club's building, Dunstable’. Architects' Journal vol. 83, no. 2160, 11 June 1936, pp. 915-919. [Architect: Christopher Nicholson]
Powers, Alan. Powers, Alan. Modern. The Modern Movement in Britain. London: Merrell, 2005
The Nicholsons, a story of four people and their designs: Ben Nicholson, 1894-1982; Nancy Nicholson, 1899-1977; Kit Nicholson, 1904-1948; E.Q. Nicholson, born 1908. York: York City Art Gallery, 1988
Sambrook, Justine. ‘Parting shot. London Gliding Club, Dunstable, 1935’. RIBA journal vol. 128, no. 6, June 2021, p. 78. [Architect: Christopher Nicholson]
Thirties: British Art and Design before the War. London: Arts Council of Great Britain, 1979 [Catalogue of an exhibition at the Hayward Gallery, London, 25 October-13 January 1979]
‘Village centre in the Cotswolds: hall and club serving the three villages of Coln St. Aldwyn, Hatherop and Quenington’. Architects' Journal 14 August 1947 pp. 141-143 [Architect: Christopher Nicholson]