Sir Hugh Casson was educated at Eastbourne College, St John’s College, Cambridge, and the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College, London. In 1933 he was Craven Scholar at the British School at Athens. As assistant and later partner to Christopher Nicholson (1904–48) Hugh Casson was involved in the Modern Movement but also worked on the Surrealist transformation of Monkton House (1936–8), West Dean Park, Chichester, W. Sussex (originally designed by Lutyens), for the collector and patron Edward James. Casson served as a Camouflage Officer (1940–44) in the Air Ministry and as Technical Officer in the Ministry of Town and Country Planning (1944–6). In 1946 he established a partnership with Neville Conder, who had been educated at Charterhouse School, Surrey, and the Architectural Association School, London. In 1948, Hugh Casson was appointed Director of Architecture for the Festival of Britain, coordinating the brilliant display of modern architecture for the arts complex on the South Bank, London (opened May 1951), with attention to vistas, landscape and colour. Hugh Casson was knighted in 1952 in recognition of this achievement.

Sir Hugh Casson, a distinguished artist as well as architect and planner, was in practice with Christopher Nicholson before World War II and with Neville Conder for nearly thirty years after the War. He was the Director of Architecture coordinating the design of the South Bank exhibition for the Festival of Britain in 1951 and has also served as President of the Royal Academy and Professor of Environmental Design and Provost of the Royal College of Art. His architectural work has included Coronation decorations educational and research buildings, civic design projects, domestic architecture and zoo buildings.

Born in London in 1910

Educated at Eastbourne College and St John's College, Cambridge

Studied architecture at Cambridge; British School at Athens; Bartlett School;

University College, London

Awarded Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order

Master of Arts

Albert Medal, Royal Society of Arts 1984

Italian Order of Merit 1980

Elected Member of the Royal Academy

Past President of the Royal Academy 1976 - 1985

Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects

Associate Fellow of the Surveyors Institute

Appointed Director of Architecture, Festival of Britain 1951

Professor of Environmental Design, Royal College of Art 1953 - 1975

Honorary Doctor at the Royal College of Art 1975

Royal Designer of Industry

Publications 'Homes by the Million' 'Hugh Casson's London'

'Victorian Architecture' 'Hugh Casson's Oxford'

'New Sights of London' 'Hugh Casson's Cambridge'

'Nanny Says' 'Japan Observed'

'Diary' 'The Tower of London'