Harry Faulkner-Brown (4 December 1920 – 10 February 2008) was a British architect known for his work on the Newcastle Metro.[1] [2]
Faulkner-Brown began his architectural studies at King's College, Newcastle and worked as a studio assistant during this time.[1]
In the Second World War, Faulkner-Brown served with the Royal Engineers, involved in the construction of bridges, pontoons, and causeways.[1] He subsequently trained with the Durham Light Infantry and participated as a paratrooper in Operation Market Garden in 1944.[1] His wartime efforts, particularly at Oosterbeek, earned him the Military Cross. By 1945, he and his squadron took part in the disarmament of the German Army in Norway.[1]
After the war, Faulkner-Brown completed his architectural studies and relocated to Canada for 12 years, where he designed several libraries, including the National Library of Canada in Ottawa.[1] He returned to Newcastle in 1962 and co-founded Williamson, Faulkner-Brown and Partners in 1963.[1] The firm was responsible for projects such as the Jesmond Library and the Newcastle Metro design, which was inaugurated in 1981,[1] as well as the Manchester Velodrome and the Manchester Aquatics Centre.[3]
His "ten commandments" for library design became reference points in the field, emphasizing aspects such as adaptability and security.[1] This framework was considered by various global institutions when designing their libraries.[1] In 1992, Faulkner-Brown published The role of architecture and design in a security strategy as a chapter in the book Security and Crime Prevention in Libraries.[4]
In 1982, Faulkner-Brown was awarded an OBE for his contributions to architecture and social services. He authored A Sapper at Arnhem.[1]