Robert Atkinson

Robert Atkinson (1 August 1883 – 26 December 1952) was an English architect primarily working in the Art Deco style.

Life Atkinson was born in Wigton in Cumberland and studied at University College Nottingham, and afterwards in Paris, Italy and America. He was a talented draughtsman and worked for C. E. Mallows from 1905. In turn he illustrated many of the town planning and garden designs of Thomas Hayton Mawson, included in the latter's books The Art and Craft of Garden Making, and Civic Art (1911), to which he contributed a number of skilled perspective views.

Atkinson experimented with various styles, including the American Beaux-Arts and oriental, in search of a new modern style. He is known for his cinema designs in English cities, including the 3,000 seat Regent Cinema, Brighton (built 1919–1923; demolished 1974). Described as the "first luxury cinema on the American model", it was really a recreation centre, in which one could also "take tea", eat or dance. Atkinson is also well known for the art deco interior of the Daily Express Building, London, in 1931–2, which has been described as the "best surviving art deco interior in Britain".

Atkinson was appointed an OBE in 1951, shortly before his death.

Partial list of works

The following is a selection of Atkinson's works:

All Hallows Twickenham (incorporating portions moved from All Hallows Lombard Street) Barber Institute of Fine Arts, University of Birmingham (RIBA Bronze Medal, 1946) Canadian Red Cross Memorial Hospital, Taplow, Bucks (in grounds of Cliveden) Cannon Royal Cinema, Charing Cross Road, London City Hall, Norwich (site plan) Croydon 'B' power station Oslo Court, St John's Wood, London Daily Express Building, London (lobby interior) Eros Cinema, Shaftesbury Avenue, London (demolished) Gresham Hotel and Clerys department store O'Connell Street, Dublin 30 Horniman Drive, Forest Hill, London (private residence) Regent Cinema, Brighton (demolished) Ridgehanger, 7 Hillcrest Road, Ealing, London. Grade II listed detached private residence Stockleigh Hall, Regent's Park Estate, Camden Borough, London (RIBA Bronze Medal, 1937) Wallington Town Hall