Sir Hugh (Maxwell) Casson

Architect, born in London, UK. He studied at Cambridge, and was professor of interior design at the Royal College of Art (1953–75). He directed the architecture of the Festival of Britain (1951), and was president of the Royal Academy (1976–84). He was knighted in 1952.

Sir Hugh Maxwell Casson RA (23 May 1910 – 15 August 1999) was a British architect, interior designer, artist, and influential writer and broadcaster on 20th century design.

Hugh Casson was appointed to his role as director of the Festival in 1948 at the age of 38 and set out to celebrate peace and modernity through the appointment of other young architects.

After the war, and alongside his Festival work, Casson went into partnership with young architect Neville Conder. Their projects included various corporate headquarters buildings, university campuses, the Elephant House at London Zoo, a building for the Royal College of Art (where Casson was Professor of Interior Design from 1955 to 1975), and the masterplanning and design of the Sidgwick Avenue arts faculty buildings for the University of Cambridge.

As a leading light in the fine arts, Casson also served as Provost of the Royal College of Art and, after being elected in 1970, was President of the Royal Academy (1976-1984).