Paul Hamilton (1924–2004) was a British architect of Austrian origin.

Early life

Paul Hamilton was born Paul Albert Herschan in Vienna, Austria. He attended the Gymnasium Kundmanngasse in 1935 in

Vienna Vienna ( ; ; ) is the capital city, capital, List of largest cities in Austria, most populous city, and one of Federal states of Austria, nine federal states of Austria. It is Austria's primate city, with just over two million inhabitants. ...

. Paul was expelled along with 49 other Jewish pupils in Apr 1938. His parents left Vienna for Brno, Czech Republic, while he stayed with an Aunt in Vienna and then came as a child refugee to Britain via the ''

Kindertransport The ''Kindertransport'' (German for "children's transport") was an organised rescue effort of children from Nazi Nazism (), formally named National Socialism (NS; , ), is the far-right politics, far-right Totalitarianism, total ...

'' in May 1939. His sponsor was the eminent Psychiatrist Dr Hugh Crichton-Miller and the Crichton-Millers became his foster family; Paul was sent to board at Taunton School, Somerset. His father Max and Camilla Herschan were murdered at

Terezín concentration camp Theresienstadt Ghetto was established by the Schutzstaffel, SS during World War II in the fortress town of Terezín, in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia (German occupation of Czechoslovakia, German-occupied Czechoslovakia). Theresiensta ...

in January 1942.

Military service

Paul Herschan joined the British Army in 1943, changing his surname to Hamilton. He served in the 12th Battalion The Parachute Regiment, taking part in the D Day landings as a Pathfinder; he was badly wounded. On returning to fitness he was promoted to Sergeant, and took part in the Rhine Crossing Operation Varsity. The unit then moved to the Far East, taking part in Operation Tiderace, and actions in Singapore and Java. He was demobbed in Sep 1947 in London and formally became a British subject. His military career and experiences of D Day is mentioned in Helen Fry's Book "The King's Most Loyal Enemy Aliens."

Education

He trained at the Architectural Association in London, starting in 1948. His fellow student was John Bicknell with whom he later went into architectural partnership

Work

Paul Hamilton often collaborated with John Bicknell; starting at the AA and later at British Rail, they formed the two partner architectural practice of Bicknell & Hamilton. His notable works include: * The Tallac House which featured in the 1992 film, The Bodyguard, with

Whitney Houston Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer, actress, film producer, model, and philanthropist. Commonly referred to as "Honorific nicknames in popular music, the Voice", she is List of awards and no ...

and

Kevin Costner Kevin Michael Costner (born January 18, 1955) is an American actor and filmmaker. He has received List of awards and nominations received by Kevin Costner, various accolades, including two Academy Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and a Primeti ...

Harlow Town railway station Harlow Town railway station is on the West Anglia Main Line serving the town of Harlow in Essex, England. It is down the line from Liverpool Street station, London Liverpool Street and is situated between and stations. Its three-letter stati ...

*Paddington Maintenance Depot: Lorry workshops, offices and boiler house (1968) at

London Paddington station Paddington, also known as London Paddington, is a London station group, London railway station and London Underground station complex, located on Praed Street in the Paddington area. The site has been the London terminus of services provided by ...

; known as the Battleship Building. Adjacent is The Rotunda, since 2003 offices of Nissan Design Europe. *Signal box at

Birmingham New Street railway station Birmingham New Street, also known as New Street station, is the largest and busiest of the Birmingham station group, three main railway stations in Birmingham city centre, England, and a central hub of the Rail transport in Great Britain, Brit ...

* Jordleys, Goring on Thames. House for private client. Later bought and lived in by the Bicknell family * Helen House, Oxford, 1982. Worlds first children hospice

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hamilton, Paul Austrian emigrants to the United Kingdom 20th-century British architects 1924 births 2004 deaths