Thomas, Mark Hartland 1905 - 1973

Mark Hartland Thomas [also known as Hartland Thomas] was born in Clifton, Bristol, Gloucestershire on 8 October 1905. He studied at the University of Cambridge and trained as an architect at the Royal West of England Academy in Bristol. He then went into partnership with his father, Percival Hartland Thomas (1879-1960) in his architectural practice Hartland Thomas in Bristol. In 1932 he was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA).

In 1940 he joined United Dairies as their deputy chief architect. In 1947 he was appointed Chief Industrial Officer of Council of Industrial Design just as preparations started for the Festival of Britain 1951. He was subsequently awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in recognition of the contribution he made to the success of the Festival.

Following the Festival he returned to architecture. He was particularly interested in the rationalisation of building components and achieved a degree of success in this area by promoting the formation of the Modular Society of which he was the first secretary in 1953. He also wrote and lectured on the subject.

In 1942 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British architects (FRIBA).

Thomas also designed furniture. A bentwood table designed by him for the Wanderer’s Club, Clifton, and made by Tavener of Bedminster Causeway, Bristol is illustrated in Design for To-day vol. 2, no. 8, August 1934 (p. 298).

His address was given as 8 Princes Buildings, Clifton, Bristol in 1939 and 9 Buckingham Gate, London in 1950. He died in Sittingbourne, Kent on 2 July 1973

A biographical file on Mark Hartland Thomas is available on request at the Enquiry Desk, Royal Institute, London