{{Short description|British architect, lecturer, and writer}}
'''David Leslie Medd''' (5 November 1917 – 10 April 2009) was a British architect, lecturer, and writer.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web |url=https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/property-home/article/david-medd-school-architect-nftxgb9mt2z |url-access=subscription |title=David Medd: school architect |work=The Times |date=May 22, 2009 |access-date=October 18, 2023}}</ref>{{Infobox architect | name = David Medd | image = | image_size = <!-- if image is smaller than 250px --> | alt = | caption = | birth_name = David Leslie Medd | birth_date = {{Birth date|1917|11|5|df=yes}} | birth_place = | death_date = {{Death date and age|2009|4|10|1917|11|5|df=yes}} | death_place = | alma_mater = Oundle School | spouse = Mary Medd | partner = | children = | parents = | awards = | practice = Hertfordshire county<br />Ministry of Education | significant_buildings = | significant_projects = | significant_design = | website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> }}
==Early life and education== Medd was born in Elswick, Lancashire in 1917.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2009/apr/14/david-medd-obituary-architecture-school-buildings |title=David Medd |first=Andrew |last=Saint |work=The Guardian |date=April 13, 2009 |access-date=October 18, 2023}}</ref><ref name="auto2"/> He attended Oundle School and later joined the Architectural Association (AA) in 1936 upon recommendation from his uncle, Henry Medd, and guidance from designer Gordon Russell.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/david-medd-architect-who-revolutionised-school-design-1674818.html |title=David Medd: Architect who revolutionised school design |work=The Independent |date=April 26, 2009 |access-date=October 18, 2023}}</ref><ref name="auto1"/> At the Architectural Association, he met Mary Crowley, and both had the opportunity to work under architects such Berthold Lubetkin and Ernö Goldfinger.<ref name="auto"/>
==Career== After qualifying in 1941, Medd served at the Camouflage Development and Training Centre in Farnham with Stirrat Johnson-Marshall.<ref name="auto"/><ref name="auto2"/> During the post-war period, they collaborated to address the educational infrastructure needs of Hertfordshire, which experienced a population surge.<ref name="auto"/> Along with education officer John Newsom, they explored innovative design philosophies to adapt to the teaching advancements of the time.<ref name="auto"/>
Medd further contributed to the Ministry of Education's prefabrication initiative, working along with Hills of West Bromwich to develop a modular primary school design based on an 8ft 3in grid.<ref name="auto"/>
In 1949, Medd and Crowley joined Johnson-Marshall at the Ministry of Education, working on prototype school structures.<ref name="auto"/><ref name="auto2"/> They further transitioned to designing brick buildings, emphasizing efficient space use for diverse teaching needs.<ref name="auto"/> One such design was the village school at Finmere, which introduced flexible, mixed-age teaching spaces, later implemented in urban settings.<ref name="auto"/><ref name="auto2"/>
The Eveline Lowe school in London, co-designed with John Kay in 1964-6, reflected Medd's preference for segmented spaces, prioritizing natural light and ventilation.<ref name="auto"/> Its design provided an alternative to the prevalent urban tower blocks.<ref name="auto"/>
Medd received an OBE in 1964.<ref name="auto"/><ref name="auto2"/> In his later years, Medd engaged in a documentary project comparing his architectural contributions with modern designs.<ref name="auto"/>
== Collections == In 1998 the Institute of Education received the papers of David Medd and Mary Medd, which had previously been held at Bishop Grossteste College.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=UCL Special Collections |title=Papers of David Medd (1917-2009) and Mary Medd (1907-2005) |url=https://archives.ucl.ac.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=ME |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=UCL Archives Catalogue}}</ref> In subsequent years the collection was added to by Medd until his death in 2008.<ref name=":0" /> University College London also holds the archive of the Architects and Building Branch (for whom David and Mary Medd worked), and the archive of educators George and Judith Baines who collaborated with the Medds.<ref>{{Cite web |last=UCL Special Collections |title=Photographic Archive of the Architects and Building Branch, Ministry of Education and its successors |url=https://archives.ucl.ac.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=ABB |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=UCL Archive Catalogue}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=UCL Special Collections |title=Papers of George and Judith Baines |url=https://archives.ucl.ac.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=BA |access-date=2024-06-25 |website=UCL Archives Catalogue}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links ==
* [https://archives.ucl.ac.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=BA Papers of George and Judith Baines] at the Institute of Education, University College London * [https://archives.ucl.ac.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=ME Papers of David Medd and Mary Medd] at the Institute of Education, University College London * [https://archives.ucl.ac.uk/CalmView/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=ABB Photographic Archive of the Architects and Building Branch, Ministry of Education and its successors] at the Institute of Education, University College London * [https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/record?catid=387&catln=2 Records of the Architects and Building Branch] at The National Archives * [https://www.ucl.ac.uk/library/collections/special-collections/our-collections/archives-and-manuscripts/institute-education-1 Institute of Education Archives Guides] at University College London {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Medd, David}} Category:1917 births Category:2009 deaths Category:20th-century British architects Category:Alumni of the Architectural Association School of Architecture Category:People educated at Oundle School