Persona

Segal, Walter

1907-1985

Architect. Born, Berlin 1907. Died, London 1985. Son of painter Arthur Segal. Won a scholarship to study architecture at the Technische Hochschule in Berlin, then Zürich, 1929-32. During this time he also became interested in joinery. His first commission, a small timber-framed house in Ascona, was for his father's patron, Bernhard Meyer, 1932. Worked as an archaeological surveyor in Egypt, whilst there began a study of furniture, focussing on the chairs and footstools from the tomb of Tutankhamun, 1935. Moved to London in 1936 to continue his studies at the British Museum. He then worked for interior and furniture designers, and for the Ministry of Supply during the War. Founded his own architectural practice, pioneering the design of inexpensive, self build, timber framed housing. He taught at the Architectural Association, 1944-8. Banister Fletcher Professor, Bartlett School of Architecture, University College, London, 1973. Taught at the Thames Polytechnic, 1976 onwards.

• Building Design 21 December 2007 (http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=725&storycode=3102879&c=2&encCode=00000000017f5aaf), accessed 17/11/2008 [interview with John Segal (son), place of birth quoted as Berlin].
• C. Benton in Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/63143), accessed 15/12/2014 [place of birth given as Ascona, Switzerland].
• C. Ward, 'Walter Segal - Community Architect' (http://www.segalselfbuild.co.uk/news/waltersegalbycol.html), accessed 15/12/2014.
• Who Was Who in Egyptology (4th ed. 2012), 500.