David Smart (1824 – 13 October 1914) was a Scottish architect, prominent in the second half of the 19th century.David Smart - Dictionary of Scottish Architects His design genre varied between municipal buildings, schools and churches, but he worked almost exclusively in
Perthshire
Perthshire (locally: ; gd, Siorrachd Pheairt), officially the County of Perth, is a historic county and registration county in central Scotland. Geographically it extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, ...
.
Early life
Smart was born in
Alyth
Alyth () ( gd, Ailt) is a town in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, northeast of Blairgowrie and about northwest of Dundee. In 2016 the town had an estimated population of 2,400.
First mentioned by name in a 12th-century royal charter of Willia ...
,
Perth and Kinross
Perth and Kinross ( sco, Pairth an Kinross; gd, Peairt agus Ceann Rois) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland and a Lieutenancy Area. It borders onto the Aberdeenshire, Angus, Argyll and Bute, Clackmannanshire, Dundee, Fife, Highland and S ...
, in 1824.
Career
Although it is not known with whom he first apprenticed, he worked for many years in the office of David Bryce. It is rumoured that a disagreement in that office resulted in Smart leaving to take over the practice of William Macdonald Mackenzie from his widow in 1858. The quarrel was settled amicably.
By the late 1870s, Smart was worked with a relative, James Smart, who was his partner from around 1887. Their firm was D & J Smart. The partnership was dissolved shortly before the turn of the century, possibly due to the readmission of James Smart's son, John (born 1872), to the practice.
David retained the office at 42 Tay Street in Perth, while James opened his at 28 York Place as James Smart & Son.
In 1907, David Smart began a partnership with his senior assistant
Donald Alexander Stewart
Donald Alexander Stewart Royal Institute of British Architects, FRIBA (6 July 1876 – 16 January 1940) was a Scottish architect, prominent in the first half of the 20th century.Battleby, near
Luncarty
Luncarty (; pronounced ''Lung''-cur-tay) ) is a village in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, approximately north of Perth. It lies between the A9 to the west, and the River Tay to the east.
Etymology
The name ''Luncarty'', recorded in 1250 as ''Lum ...
(1862)
*
Balhousie Castle
Balhousie Castle, located in Perth, Scotland (on Hay Street, originally a few hundred metres north of the medieval town), was built in the 17th century.
History
The castle was built in 1631, although its origins are believed to go back a furthe ...
(1862) – restoration and enlargement
*
54 Tay Street
54 Tay Street is an historic building in Perth, Scotland. Designed by local architect David Smart, the building is Category B listed, dating to 1866. Standing on Tay Street, also with an entrance on South Street, the building was originally the ...
(1866)
* Perth Sheriff Court and County Buildings, Perth (1866) – rebuilding of courtroom section of Sir Robert Smirke's building on square plan; internal remodelling and new buildings on South Street
*Station Hotel, Perth (1866) – not the same building as today's
Station Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. Facilities provided inside a hotel room may range from a modest-quality mattress in a small room to large suites with bigger, higher-quality beds, a dresser, a ref ...
, but was on the same street
* Perth Royal Infirmary (original location; 1867) – relocated and reconstructed William Mackenzie's lodge in a different form
*Brand's Building, South Street, Perth (1899)
Personal life
Smart was married to Margaret Morrison, with whom he had three daughters. One of his daughters was Jane Greig Smart, who died in 1952.
Smart's nephew, James, also became a noted architect.
Death
Smart died on 13 October 1914, aged 90, while living at Rockbank in Kinnoull.