Joseph Emberton (23 December 1889 – 20 November 1956) was an English architect of the early modernist period. He was born 23 December 1889 in Audley, Staffordshire and was educated at the Royal College of Art.[1] He first worked for the London architects Trehearne and Norman between 1913 and 1914, before serving as a gunner in the Honourable Artillery Company during the First World War.
In 1923 he designed Olympia National, then known as the New Hall. This sat alongside Olympia Grand at the Kensington event venue. 1932 saw the construction of his second addition to Olympia – Olympia Central (initially named the Empire Hall). These halls, along with other event spaces, all make up one of London's largest event venues – Olympia London.
His 1931 design of the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club at Burnham-on-Crouch represented Britain at the influential International Exhibition of Modern Architecture held at Museum of Modern Art in New York City in 1932.[2] He went on to design the Simpsons of Piccadilly department store in 1936 with the interior designed by László Moholy-Nagy,[3] and the Casino Building at Blackpool Pleasure Beach in 1939. Emberton was responsible for the design of The H.M.V. store at 393 Oxford Street, London.He had to do it twice as the original 1936 burnt down and was replaced in 1939 by another of his design. [4] [5] Emberton's archive is located at the University of Brighton Design Archives.[6]
Emberton married Kathleen Marie (née Chantrey; b. 1906/7), who was the daughter of the chartered accountant, William Herbert Chantrey. The couple had two daughters.[1]
He died in London on 20 November 1956.[1]
