Max Clendinning

Early life and education

Clendinning was born on 26 September 1924 in Richhill, County Armagh in Northern Ireland, the son of a furniture manufacturer. He attended Portadown College, a selective grammar school, where he was taught painting by Crawford Mitchell. He then studied at Belfast College of Art where his work included designing in the Baroque architecture style in the manner of Sir Christopher Wren.

Clendinning showed a aptitude for architecture, for which he was awarded the Sir Charles Lanyon prize.

Career

In 1944 he joined the Belfast architectural practice of Henry Lynch Robinson, which included working on Festival of Britain buildings in Northern Ireland.

From 1951 Clendinning taught architectural design at Belfast College of Art, although at that stage he did not hold an architectural qualification. In 1951 we were awarded a scholarship to study at the Architectural Association in London, where he obtained the association's diploma and the ARIBA qualification in 1953.

Clendinning is best known for his 1965 design of the "slot-together but sturdy looking" Maxima chair, inspired in part by computer lettering. This design was featured in an exhibit at the Victoria & Albert Museum in 2012.

Personal life

He lived in Islington, London, with the theatrical designer Ralph Adron, who had been his partner for forty years.

References

References

1. "Clendenning, Max Walter 1924 - 2020".
2. "Max Clendinning: Avant Craft". Chelsea Space.
3. Telegraph Obituaries. (20 August 2020). "Max Clendinning, architect and designer of 1960s minimalist furniture – obituary". The Telegraph.
4. (29 July 2020). "Maxwell Clendinning 1924 – 2020".
5. Williams, Holly. (2012-04-08). "Mix and max". [[The Independent]].
6. Lawrence, David. (2016). "British Rail Designed 1948-97". Ian Allan.
7. 1960s railway structures given listed status ''[[The Railway Magazine]]'' issue 1138 February 1996 page 11
8. {{National Heritage List for England