John Harris RIP

Kyt · Mar 22, 2008

John Harris | Times Online Obituary

Architect who, after a distinguished war, laid out the master plan which marked the emergence of Dubai as a modern city

n his years as a successful architect John Harris never forgot his harrowing experiences, graphically and carefully recorded in his memories in Oliver Lindsay’s The Battle for Hong Kong (2005), nor the importance of his wartime friendships, nor indeed the sheer luck of survival against all odds. That book recalls how the Chiefs of Staff, years before, had decided that Hong Kong, although a vulnerable and ill-equipped outpost, should be defended as long as possible. Field Marshal Lord Bramall says in the foreword to the book that the defence was heroic and succeeded in holding up an overwhelming and ferocious attack by the Japanese for nearly three weeks.

Harris describes in convincing detail the appalling conditions of the camp, the solidarity, the heroism, the humour, but above all the secret message chain of military intelligence of which he was the last survivor. Five brother officers were executed by their captors and were posthumous winners of the George Cross. Godfrey Bird, a man whose bravery under torture saved Harris’s life, is buried at West Wittering Church, Sussex. Harris chose to be buried next to him.

John Harris was born at Hersham, Surrey, in 1919. His father Alfred Harris served with gallantry in the First World War, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and mentioned in dispatches in 1916 for his part in the first tank battle at Combles. Subsequently Alfred Harris became senior partner of Widnell and Trollope, an international firm of quantity surveyors.

At Harrow, John Harris enjoyed the art classes and sketching excursions of Maurice Clark, who also helped to inspire him to become an architect. Initial studies at the Architectural Association were curtailed in 1939, when he was called up as a Territorial to join the Royal Engineers. He was soon sent to Hong Kong to reinforce the small garrison.

Once the war in the Pacific ended he returned to his studies at the Architectural Association, where he met his wife-to-be, Jill Rowe, and together they formed a most successful partnership. After a project in Kuwait, their first major achievement was to win the RIBA international competition for the design and supervision of the new State Hospital, Doha, Qatar, in 1952. The assessor chose the Harris design particularly for its intelligent approach to climate and environmental concerns. This was advanced thinking long before it became a global necessity... (read the rest at the above link)

Click to expand...

Antipodean Andy · Mar 22, 2008

Dubai apparently has about 15% of the world's cranes (for building skyscrapers) at the moment!

Kyt · Mar 22, 2008

Only you would know something like that! :becky:

Log in or Sign up

John Harris RIP

Kyt Άρης

Antipodean Andy New Member

Kyt Άρης

Share This Page

Log in or Sign up

John Harris RIP

Thread Tools

Kyt Άρης

Antipodean Andy New Member

Kyt Άρης

Share This Page

Useful Searches