Ivor Hopkins

Description Ivor Hopkins

Collection Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland

Catalogue Number 551 223/14

Category All Other

Scope and Content The Ivor B. Hopkins collection contains drawings done by Hopkins while attending Robert Gordon College. Among them are designs for buildings, student exercises, and small posters/flyers. 1936 – 1937 Hopkins made A Sketch Design for a Memorial Hall in 1936. A statue is shown commemorating an unknown figure, while a visitor reads a plaque in the same room. Hopkins also gave a small section of the building/room. A Sketch Design for a Small Shop: Tourist Centre in the Highlands was also made in 1936. The watercolour gives a perspective of the small brick building behind a wall, and amongst the greenery of the highlands. A Sketch Design for an Entrance Gateway for a Hospital shows the hospital entrance in detail, amongst the vague surroundings of trees and pedestrians. No hospital can be seen in this drawing. Ivor also made A Polar Exploration Research Institute: The Approach in 1936. Another example of one of the many watercolours done by Hopkins shows a perspective view and plan for a staircase leading to an unassuming building at the top of a small hill. As seen in the John Donald collection, another student at Robert Gordon College, Coronation Decorations at Aberdeen shows Hopkins’s design for pylons and decorations intended to line Union Street in Aberdeen in honour of King George VI’s coronation. During his fourth year at Robert Gordon, Hopkins completed a series of drawings displaying the Principles of Composition. Three different types of plans; circular, rectangular, and square, are shown through eight drawings. These plans are based on temples and cathedrals. The group is also accompanied by two sheets of text, in which Hopkins explains the three different forms he’s depicted. This was also the year Hopkins’s group of drawings designated as History of Architecture were created. Forty pencil sketches of different architectural styles such as: Greek, Roman, Italian Renaissance, English Renaissance, Gothic, Egyptian, Assyrian, etc. 1937 - 1938 A large portion of the collection is from Hopkins’s fifth year at Robert Gordon College. One of his most extensive designs is for A Golf Club House. Drawings for the building take the form of two watercolours; one showing elevations and a basic cross section of the two story building, and the other giving two basic plans for each floor. There are also nine more drawings of the house on tracing paper. These are much more in depth, giving detailed measurements of interior and exterior features. Two separate drawings, also on tracing paper but accompanied with a solid sheet as well, are titled Studies for a Golf Club House, but are undated, and were possibly made at a different time. The two drawings show perspective sketches of the same club house, but are much more lacking in detail. Another subject spanning multiple drawings is Hopkins’s subject of a renaissance building. A Terrace to a Renaissance House shows a perspective sketch and plan of the building, while the accompanying A Renaissance Doorway shows a partial elevation of, presumably, the same building. Mechanics of Structures shows the technical side of Hopkins’s work. Between two drawings we can see stress tables, and outlines of different angles drawn side by side. Hopkins has also displayed the Pithead Baths through two drawings, one watercolour giving a perspective view of the building, and one plan on tracing paper, showing locker rooms, drying rooms, and showers. A Throne and Canopy in the Presence Chamber shows just that, a faceless figure sitting in a throne below an elaborate canopy. Any other details concerning the room were not provided by Hopkins. One of Hopkins’s more simple drawings can be seen in An Office Building for a Manufacturing Company. The pencil sketch shows a perspective view of the buildings, as well as elevations, and plans for the ground and first floors. Hopkins fifth year of study was where many of his watercolours took shape. 319th (City of Aberdeen) Coy. T.A. shows figures standing near a spotlight, shining it through the sky to illuminate a crest. The watercolour advertises the anti aircraft division of military. Decorations for a Hall for School Xmas Party is one of Hopkins’s most vibrant watercolours. He’s created a hall decorated floor to ceiling with streamers and colourful hangings. A faceless crowd in the foreground starts to inhabit the glowing room. A Drop Scene shows a play being played out from a seat in the audience. Everyday Things, another of Hopkins’s watercolours, presents and brightly coloured set of tableware in front of a loosely draped curtain. This is an unusual piece when compared to other works by Hopkins. A Petrol Filling Station shows a perspective view, and plan for the station through four drawings. Two works on tracing paper give a detailed view of the plan, while two watercolours give perspective views, as well as highlighted measurements within the structure itself. Five Apartment House is a sketch done on tracing paper, showing elevations and a perspective view of a more modern styled house placed in the suburbs. Entrance Gate and Lodges to a Mansion provides a perspective of an entrance gate to an unseen compound. Only the plans for the lodges can be seen, but include a kitchen, living area, and baths. Another specific element of a house is the focus of Hopkins’s Carpentry Work of a Roof. Specific parts of a roof are highlighted in cross sections, and are provided construction notes. The meticulous detail present in Hopkins’s work is never more noticeable than in A Private Garage, and A Dormer Window. The sketch of a garage is complete with extensive measurements and detailed construction notes on sections of the small structure. A Dormer Window offers insight into the inner workings of a window, and how it functions, and fits a wall in relation to other structural necessities. Hopkins’s continues to represent different regions of the world with his watercolour design for A Villa for a Retired Professor of Fine Arts. The Spanish style villa is seen amongst a mountainous landscape, and is accompanied by a small plan for the large residence. Another tight focus on a single element of a structure is seen in An Entrance Doorway to a Public Building. The doorway and entrance to a building are shown through a cross section, describing different elements of the doorway’s construction. One of the grandest designs in the collection is Hopkins’s idea for A Monument for the Abolishing of War. A large obelisk stands proud among classical structures in the watercolour perspective. 1938 – 1939 Hopkins continues his technical drawings with Stress Diagram for a Reinforced Concrete Dome. The drawing shows selected points and measurements on a curved line, though no completed structure can be seen within the drawing. A watercolour from Hopkins’s sixth year at Robert Gordon, A Booth for a Punch and Judy Show, gives a perspective view of a booth flanked by two walls, as well as a quickly drawn plan and elevation for the same structure. Hopkins’s last year at Robert Gordon also saw him complete a Suggested Colour Scheme for Villa for A. Davidson esquire. The design shows interior perspective views of two bedrooms in full colour, as well as the proposed colour schemes of four other room doors within the villa. Hopkins’s watercolour design for Working Class Flats gives a layout plan for a multiple building complex. He also gives plans for the different types of flats, and a perspective view of the area. Five Apartment House is a sketch done on tracing paper, showing elevations and a perspective view of a more modern styled house placed in the suburbs. A Pair of Lamp Posts for the Lord Provost’s Residence offers a perspective view, as well as elevations for the gated residence. Hopkins has also included an enlarged view of the design for the lamp posts near the entrance. Another watercolour design is seen in Zoological Park and Gardens. The park can be seen from a bird’s eye view, as well as through its plan. Hopkins has also included a separate plan for an elephant house. A Fountain in a Public Park also gives a perspective view and plan, this time of Hopkins’s design for an ornate fountain amidst a line of towering trees. Similar to the Pithead Baths, A Public Bathing Establishment can be seen in another sketch by Hopkins. A perspective view is shown, as well as a plan that includes showers, large and small bathing areas, a barber, and shop. An Entrance to a House gives sections, elevations, and a plan for only the entrance to a house. This work provides an example of how much detail goes into the smallest portions of a structure. A layout for a neighbourhood is created during Hopkins’s last year at Robert Gordon. Houses for a New Town gives the layout plan for a set of houses surrounding a park, as well as plans for some of the structures. Alterations for a Lad’s ____ gives detailed plans of a public building, including a boiler room, and fuel store. An Assemblage Block was another project completed by Hopkins during the 1938-1939 school year. Through eight drawings Hopkins shows designs for his assemblage block. Seven of these sketches are on tracing paper and show elevations, cross sections, and plans for the building. There is also a watercolour perspective of the building. A group of works within the Ivor Hopkins collection designated “Life and Antique” contains thirty eight drawings whose subjects are either some aspect of the human body, or inanimate objects. The bulk of this group is not dated by Hopkins. There are three sketches of a classically styled figure; one of a torso and legs, one of the full body in a contrapposto pose marked from Hopkins’s third year of studies, and a single head signed during Hopkins’s second year. There are also three sketches of facial features; a close up sketches of an eye, a pair of lips and a nose which is marked from Hopkins’s third year, and an ear created from his second. There are five drawings which appear to be highly stylized mouldings, or other small designs that might be found within an interior space. Fifteen of the drawings from this group are basic outlines, and sketches of the human body in different positions. Twelve of the thirty eight are still life drawings, mostly of jars and jugs, five of which are in colour. One of the coloured sketches is from Hopkins’s first year at Robert Gordon College. Another group of works within the collection is “Solid Geometry.” Among this group are five untitled, undated drawings of solid objects, often shown through multiple cross sections and views. These drawings, along with the rest in the group, were likely further exercises to help the student architect gain understanding and practice creating different perspectives. Perspective of a Latin Cross is just that. The perspective view of the cross has its corners and sides connected to a visible horizon line, and is accompanied by an overhead view, and a measured plan for the object. Solid Geometry continues in representing measured angles and sides of multiple geometric figures through eight sketches. This work is dated from 1933. A Paxilion Roof shows the measured sides of a roof seen from a cross section. Another technical drawing, Enlarging and Diminishing of Mouldings, shows selected points on different designs for mouldings connected to a horizon line, and redrawn at smaller and larger scales. The collection also contains a number of undated works by Ivor Hopkins, including his drawings for Midmar Castle Aberdeenshire. The sparse design shows only a doorway, and a partial elevation that could possibly be the back of the building. Within these undated works are various untitled drawings, like Hopkins’s brick building, showing only a front elevation and an unfinished elevation from another direction. Hopkins also made a vague, possibly unfinished plan for the same building in another drawing. There is yet another curious drawing of a vague brick building, which is also accompanied by another drawing of its unfinished elevation, beside sketches of Roman gods. A number of smaller untitled drawings by Hopkins include his ink sketch of a compass; which is shown in detailed fashion, by itself, a coloured pencil drawing of a one story building; with no surrounding buildings and sparse vegetation, and the alphabet; each letter drawn to fit on framed piece of square paper. These small drawings were most likely exercises for Hopkins during his early years at Robert Gordon College. Hopkins has also completed a program for a dance, or other type of public gathering through five drawings. Three of these drawings are in different colours; two are just outlines, one of them on tracing paper. They include small cartoon characters, and list songs and events that are to take place. Solid Geometry is most likely another exercise for young student architects. The drawing shows outlines of various geometric shapes. A more complex work, City of Aberdeen proposed Domestic Basement Shelter at 175 1/2 Gallowgate, gives detailed plans of a space, which includes measurements of exist spaces and construction details. Another undated piece in the collection is Scottish Details. Here, Hopkins has drawn a collection of exterior structural features including arches, towers, and spires. These were drawn in ink, on tracing paper. A collection done by Ivor Hopkins entitled “Mechanic’s Sheets” includes watercolours of different building components and their uses, such as Rivets and Riveting, Steel Stanchions with Beam Connections, Steel Sections, and Screw threads and Bolts. An exercise in making these drawings may have given the student architect a greater understanding for simple building materials, while also letting them demonstrate and develop their drawing skill. Brickwork, which gives different views of an angular brick wall, and Stone Arches, in which Hopkins has drawn different styles of arches; gothic, semicircular, etc., may have been for the same purpose as Mechanic’s Sheets; to allow for a better understanding of structures and materials that architects are likely to come in contact with, while at the same time honing their artistic abilities. Another group of undated works from Hopkins fall under the group title of Architectural Design Studies. This group of drawings consists of many different designs for items that might fall under the category of “everyday objects.” Hopkins has done sketches for public street decorations, silverware and furniture, human and animal faces, and various other implements that one might find throughout the course of the day.

Administrative History Ivor Llewellyn Bowman Hopkins, born in 1916, was a practicing architect from the middle of the 20th century, and a student at Robert Gordon College from 1933 until 1939. Hopkins’s early training started with an apprenticeship position under Aberdeen architect Edwin L. Williamson, whom he served for three years while attending night classes. The following three years Hopkins attended Robert Gordon College as a full time student. In the summer of 1939 Hopkins passed his RIBA professional exam and took a position working in the office of architect and notable landscape designer John Alexander Ogg Allan. Hopkins left Allan’s office and joined in a partnership to create the firm of Forest & Hopkins around 1950. Sometime in the 1970’s, that partnership ceased to be, and Hopkins joined the well established architectural practice of Jenkins & Marr as partner. During Hopkins’s time at Jenkins & Marr, the productive practice was responsible for at least ten buildings sporadically located throughout Aberdeenshire, Dunbartonshire, Caithness, and West Lothian. He worked at the storied practice until his resignation in 1982, ten years before he died in 1992.

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