Arcon was an architectural firm established in Britain in 1943 by George Edric Neel (1914-1952), Raglan Squire (1912-2004) and Rodney Thomas (1912-2003). They were joined later that year by Arthur Middleton Gear (1911-1995). During the 1940s Arcon was at the fore of architectural firms that developed prefabricated buildings to meet the post-war housing need.
The company designed several stands for the ‘Building Exhibition' at Olympia in London in November 1947 including those for ICI, B. Finch & Co. Ltd., Ascot Gas Water Heaters Ltd., Celotex Ltd. and Williams & Williams. They also designed a stand for Frigidaire at the 1950 Ideal Home Exhibition.
In the late 1940s and early 1950s Arcon, in collaboration with Taylor Woodrow Construction, also designed a range of 'demountable' furniture for the Oveseas Food Corporation. The furniture was made using hardwood from Tanganyika. A photograph of 'demountable' furniture in muninga designed for the Overseas Food Corporation by Arcon in collaboration with Taylor Woodrow Construction Ltd. is illustrated in 'Decorative Art' 1951-52 (p.34).
Squire left the practice 1948 to work in Rangoon. Thomas was responsible for the deign of the Transport Pavilion at the Festival of Britain 1951.
‘Arcon kitchen and bathroom service unit. ‘ Architects’ Journal 18 April 1946 pp. 307-310
‘The "Arcon" Mark IV temporary house’. Architectural Design & Construction November 1944 p. 249 [Architects: E. Neel, R. Thomas, R. Squire.]
‘The "Arcon" Mark IV temporary house'. The Builder 3 November 1944 pp. 350-353 [Architects: E. Neel, R. Thomas, R. Squire]
‘Arcon "Mark V" house now in full-scale production.’ Architect & Building News 1 February 1946 pp. 67-69
‘Britain's largest prefabricated housing estate: Shrubland Estate, Great Yarmouth, Mark V houses’. Architect & Engineer (San Francisco) March 1948 pp. 16-17 [Architects: Arcon]
‘Community housing scheme at Brandon Wood, Coventry’. The Builder 8 April 1949 pp. 424-427 [Architects: Arcon]
‘Conversion in Eaton Square’. Architects’ Journal 13 May 1948 pp. 439-440 [Conversion of four houses into flats by Arcon]
‘Conversion plan for Eaton Square’. Architect & Building News 4 October 1946 pp, 9-13 [Architects: Arcon]
‘Demonstration kitchen (gas) for Radiation’. Architects’ Journal 28 December 1944 pp.487-489 [Designed by Arcon]
‘Exhibition stand at Dorland Hall for Aluminium Development Association’. Building December 1946 pp. 374-375 [Designed by Arcon]
Harwood, Elain. Space Hope and Brutalism. English Architecture 1945-1975. New Haven, Connecticut and London: Yale University Press in association with Historic England for the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art, 2015
‘Housing scheme, Woodley, near Reading, for Miles Aircraft Housing Association’. The Builder 12 March 1948 pp. 305-309 [Architects: Arcon]
‘Insecticide testing laboratories, Berkhamstead, Herts’. The Builder 18 April 1952 pp. 593-594 [Architects: Arcon]
‘Kitchen designed by "Arcon" for Radiation.’ The Builder 1 December 1944 p. 432 Architectural Design & Construction November 1944 p. 249 [Architects: E. Neel, R. Thomas, R. Squire.]
‘Kitchens: notes and articles on Arcon demonstration k. for Radiation, British Electricity Development Association, kitchens, etc.’ Architectural Design & Construction February 1945 pp, 28-36
‘London Nuffield Centre Adelaide St.’ The Builder 25 February 1949 pp. 240-245 [Conversion of Gatti’s restaurant as forces club by Arcon]
Neel, Edric. ‘Prefabricated panels’. Building Novembember 1945 pp. 298-303 [Architecta: Arcon]
‘Permanent prefabricated house’. The Builder 28 May 1948 npp. 641-643 [Architects: Arcon]
‘Prefabricated house’. Building June 1948 pp. 178-182 [Architects: Arcon]
‘A prefabricated unit system for schools’. The Builder 23 July 1948 pp. 104-105 [Designed by Arcon]
‘Semi-permanent housing for tropical climates, system developed by Arcon’. Ossature Metallique no. 1, 1952 pp. 19-21
‘Shoe shop in Bond Street, London, for Russell and Bromley’. Architect & Building News 14 January 1949 pp. 26-29 [Architects: L. Brett and Arcon]