George Clarke (Architekt)
George Clarke (born 27 May 1974) is a British architect, television presenter, lecturer and writer, best known for his work on the Channel 4 series The Home Show and The Restoration Man.
Early life
Clarke was born in Sunderland and brought up in Washington, Tyne and Wear. His mother, Anne, taught at Oxclose Comprehensive School, where Clarke was a pupil. His father died when he was six, and his mother later remarried.[1] By his own admission, Clarke was a popular but very shy child.[2]
Both Clarke's grandfathers were builders and, after spending school holidays in and around building sites, he decided he wanted to be an architect from the age of 12:
There was nothing else I ever wanted to do. When most of the kids were playing with building blocks and pieces of Lego, I was actually on building sites.[1]
Clarke left school at 16 and found a job with a local firm of architects, David W Johnson. He studied for a BTEC in Building and Construction at Wearside College, Sunderland, before gaining a First Class BA Honours in Architectural Studies and a Certificate in Architectural Practice from Newcastle University, followed by a post-graduate diploma from London's Bartlett School of Architecture.[3] Whilst he was a student, Clarke supported himself financially by renovating people's homes in his spare time. This is how he came to meet his wife.[4]
Career
Architecture
After graduating in 1995, Clarke trained and worked with FaulknerBrowns in Newcastle upon Tyne, before joining world famous architect Sir Terry Farrell, working in both London and Hong Kong. He formed his own company in 1998, clark:desai, with partner Bobby Desai; clients included Simon Fuller and Jamie Oliver.[5]
In 2011 Clarke left clarke:desai and set up a new company George Clarke + Partners. At the time Clarke commented:
I’ve had a fantastic time at clarke:desai and I’m proud of all the projects we have completed over the years’, but, as you can imagine, my media work has taken me in a different direction and I now want to start a new company that isn’t just about architecture, but also covers all aspects of the design, build and property development business.[5]
Between 2001-2003, Clarke was a visiting lecturer at Newcastle University. He is currently a visiting lecturer at Nottingham University’s School for the Built Environment.[5]
Television
Clarke's television career came about by chance. He'd approached a literary agent after being asked to write a book about architecture, not realising the agency also represented television presenters. He was subsequently asked to screen test for a new Channel 5 programme called Build A New Life in the Country, which had been struggling to find a suitably charismatic building professional to front the show.[6]
Clarke was offered the job, and then went on to present two more property shows for Five before being commissioned to make The Restoration Man for Channel 4.
Since 2004 he has been the main presenter for the following programmes:
Property Dreams (2004), Dream Home Abroad (2005) and Build A New Life in the Country (2005-2007), all for Five. The Home Show (2008- ), The Restoration Man (2010- ), The Great British Property Scandal (2011), The Great British Property Scandal: Every Empty Counts (2012) and George Clarke's Amazing Spaces (2012) for Channel 4.
Books
Clarke is also the author of several successful books, including: Home Bible (Orion), and Build a New Life: by Creating Your New Home.[7][8]
Personal life
Clarke lives in Notting Hill, West London, with his wife Catriona and his three children: Georgie, Emilio and Iona. George has completely renovated their 1910 house, transforming the interior into a modern, slick home, while restoring the exterior to its original appearance.[9]
Clarke was on the judging panel of the Affordable Home Ownership Housing Awards in 2007.[10]
In April 2012 Clarke was appointed as an independent adviser to the Government to help bring thousands of empty properties back into use for families in need of stable, secure homes.[11]
In July 2012 he carried the Olympic torch through Camden after his brother-in-law Swiggy Drummond, who was the original candidate for the honour, tragically died from cancer.[12]
Clarke is a Patron of the Civic Trust Awards scheme.[13] He is an ambassador for the housing and homeless charity Shelter, as well as a Building Community ambassador for the Prince's Foundation. He is also a passionate supporter of Sunderland FC.[4]
He still has family in Blackfell, Washington, and visits the area at least two or three times a year.[1]
References
External links
- ↑ a b c Karen Wilson: Fans go nuts for TV architect George Clarke In: The Journal, 3 April 2010. Abgerufen im 10 September 2012
- ↑ Vorlage:Cite new Referenzfehler: Ungültiger Parameter „big“ in
<ref>. Die unterstützten Parameter sind: dir, follow, group, name. - ↑ A Reputation For Restoration. ncl, 3. April 2010, abgerufen am 10. September 2012.
- ↑ a b Building a Star. The Northern Echo, 12. Mai 2005, abgerufen am 27. Oktober 2013.
- ↑ a b c Merlin Fulcher: TV celebrity architect George Clarke splits from partner, The Architect's Journal, 9 September 2011. Abgerufen im 10 September 2012 Referenzfehler: Ungültiger Parameter „journal“ in
<ref>. Die unterstützten Parameter sind: dir, follow, group, name. - ↑ George Clarke: Do Housewives Try it On? The Daily Mirror, 3. Mai 2013, abgerufen am 27. Oktober 2013.
- ↑ 'Home Bible' by George Clarke. Orien, abgerufen am 27. Oktober 2013.
- ↑ 'Built a New Life by Creating Your New Home' by George Clarke. Orien, abgerufen am 27. Oktober 2013.
- ↑ 'My Space' by George Clarke, architect. The Daily Telegraph, 3. Mai 2013, abgerufen am 27. Oktober 2013.
- ↑ http://www.biogs.com/broadcasters/clarke.html
- ↑ http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/corporate/2128281 5 11-Apr-2012
- ↑ George Carries the Flame for Brother-in-law as Olympic Torchbearer. georgeclarke.com, 13. Juni 2012, abgerufen am 27. Oktober 2013.
- ↑ http://georgeclarke.com/about-george/georges-charity/