Justin Blanco White facts for kids

Margaret Justin Blanco White (born December 11, 1911 – died November 1, 2001) was a talented Scottish architect. She was also known as Justin Blanco White. She received an OBE award for her important work. This award is a special honor given by the British King or Queen.

Early Life and Learning

Justin Blanco White was born in London, England. Her birthday was December 11, 1911. Her father was George Rivers Blanco White, a well-known lawyer. Her mother was Amber Reeves, a writer. Justin also had a brother named Thomas. He was a lawyer too, focusing on intellectual property.

Justin went to St Paul's Girls' School in London. She studied there from 1926 to 1929.

Becoming an Architect

After school, Justin decided to become an architect. She trained at the Architectural Association School of Architecture. This was a famous school for architects. She started there in 1929.

At the school, she became good friends with other students. These included Judith Ledeboer, Jessica Albery, and Mary Crowley. They all cared a lot about making better homes for people. They also wanted to help solve social problems. These ideas greatly influenced their careers later on.

Her Career in Architecture

Justin Blanco White designed many buildings. She was especially interested in creating homes that were affordable. She also designed places for older people and hospitals.

Notable Buildings and Projects

One of her famous designs is a house called Shawms. It is in Cambridge, England. She designed it in 1938. Shawms is built in a modern style. It uses wood as a main material. This building is now a protected historical site.

Justin also worked for the Scottish Office. This is a government department in Scotland. She was the Superintending Architect there. This meant she oversaw many important building projects. She focused on housing that didn't cost too much. She also worked on homes for the elderly and hospitals.

Another building she helped design was 12 Landsdowne in Cambridge. She worked on this project with David Croghan. It was built between 1961 and 1968. Sadly, this building was taken down in 2003.

Special Recognition

In 1973, Justin Blanco White received a special award. She was appointed an OBE. This honor was given to her for all her hard work. It recognized her important contributions to architecture.

Her Family Life

In 1936, Justin Blanco White married Conrad Hal Waddington. He was a biologist, a scientist who studies living things.

They had two daughters together. Their first daughter was Caroline, born in 1943. She grew up to become an anthropologist. This means she studies human societies and cultures. Their second daughter was Dusa, born in 1945. She became a mathematician, a person who studies numbers and shapes.