Barry Dierks (1899 – February 20, 1960) was an American architect of the Modernist movement. He was active in France, principally on the French Riviera from 1925 to the 1950s.
Biography Son of W. C. Dierks, managing director of C. C. Mellor pianos, Barry Dierks studied architecture at Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh, from which he obtained his diploma in 1921. He continued his studies at the École des beaux-arts in Paris in the studio of Léon Jaussely. François Fray, conservateur du patrimoine, « La clientèle de l’architecte Barry Dierks sur la Côte d’Azur », In Situ, revue des patrimoines, n°4, ministère de la Culture, March 2004, read on line (page consulted on April 29, 2011)
The need to guarantee his stay in France led him to accept a job at the Bank Choillet. Here, he made the acquaintance of the bank's director, Colonel Eric Sawyer, former officer in the British Army, who became his lover and lifelong companion. Marie-Sandrine Sgherri, « Les archi folies de la Côte d'Azur », Le Point, June 8, 2004, read on line (page consulted April 30, 2011) In 1925, the two decided to leave and establish themselves in the south of France. This carefully considered decision was based on Dierks' profession and the growing demand for country houses in a region where wealthy clients – many of whom were British – built.
At Théoule-sur-Mer, in the Alpes-Maritimes, he discovered a isolated site on a private peninsula on the Pointe de l’Esquillon with an inaccessible cove and a private beach where they built their house, the villa Le Trident. This first effort was noticed by Eric's friends and became the emblem of Dierks’ savoir-faire.
Between 1925 and 1960, the year of Dierks’ death, more than 100 commissions – designs as well as remodeling and enlargements of existing villas – have been tallied. His client base, made up of aristocrats, artists, and business leaders, seemed to have been built by word of mouth. Dierks and his partner were active participants in the social life of the French Riviera.
Dierks' wealthy clientele found his work appealing for its restrained modernity. The architect set out to design elegant and functional buildings, where the views and the light of the Mediterranean were highlighted.
During the Second World War, Barry Dierks conducted humanitarian operations before leaving the regions, and Eric Sawyer joined the Resistance. In 1946, General Georges Catroux noted his consideration, in this respect, in a eulogistic note in the guestbook of the villa Le Trident.
In 1956, Dierks' leg was amputated following an illness. He died on February 20, 1960, with Eric Sawyer surviving him until 1985.
Riviera Dreaming, the authorised biography of Barry Dierks by Maureen Emerson was published in 2018. LB Tauris Ltd
Achievements
According to a study published in 2004, 102 construction sites led by Dierks have been reported. Among these commissions, 66 were for British clients and 25 were for French clients. Nearly one-quarter of the villas built were for aristocrats.Récolement des permis de construire des villes d'Antibes et de Cannes, Fonds Andrau, Archives communales de Cannes.
The following table presents a partial list of works by Barry Dierks
DateNameClientAddressIGPC1925Villa Le TridentBarry Dierks8, impasse Renoir, Théoule-sur-Mer1927Villa La MauresqueSomerset Maugham52, boulevard du Gal-de-Gaulle, Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferratn° IA060009811928Villa La Reine JeannePaul-Louis WeillerHameau de Cabasson, Bormes-les-Mimosas1930Villa Saint-AngeHedwige d’UrselLe Brusc, Six-Fours-les-Plagesn° IA830004351932Château de l'Horizon Archives municipales de la ville de Cannes, cote 10Fi1810 Château de l'Horizon Maxine ElliottRoute du Bord-de-mer, Golfe-Juan, Vallauris1932Domaine de L'OustarounMarquise de Brantes763, chemin des Salles, Vence1932Villa Les AspresMarquise de GanayGrasse1933Manoir Eden RocMarquess of CholmondeleyGolfe-Juan1936Villa LilliputAmiral-comte Antoine Sala40, boulevard James-Wyllie, Antibesn° IA060011011937Villa Lou VieïHerman Rogers 10 bis, ancien chemin de Vallauris, Cannesn° IA060005611937Villa ZéroMrs. Grant Milnes416, chemin de la Mosquée, Antibesn° IA060011651937Villa Sous le VentMrs. Sidney Allenimpasse Félix, Antibesn° IA060011661937Mas de TerrafialFrederick Price3, avenue Ziem, Cannesn° IA060003641937Villa Tanah MerahGeorge Benjamin Edward Keun64, avenue des Pins, Antibesn° IA060012451937Villa Le BeaurevoirDiarmid Campbell-Johnson450, avenue Mrs.-L.-D.-Beaumont, Antibesn° IA060011741938Pavillon de bainsPavillon “for the use of showers and dressing rooms” (today, the villa Petit Roc), former dependency of the villa Hou Zée.M. and Mme Boissevain365, chemin de la Mosquée, Antibesn° IA060011751938Villa Aujourd'huiMrs. Audrey Chadwick1546, boulevard Maréchal-Juin, Antibesn° IA060011781939Villa Ad AstraGénéral Catroux13, avenue Ziem, Cannesn° IA060003651939Villa La CassineComte Damien de Martel112 bis, boulevard Francis-Meilland, Antibesn° IA060011871940Villa Casa LaurettaGrace MooreMougins1940Villa Casa EstellaMrs. Aubrey Cartwrightimpasse Félix, Antibesn° IA060011641940Villa Aigue-MarineFormerly the villa La Presqu'île de l'Ilette.Howard Wilcox490, chemin de la Mosquée, Antibes n° IA060012361940Villa PatenôtreBuilding destroyed; known through illustrated documents.Raymond Patenôtre 38, boulevard Montfleury, Cannesn° IA060005681940Clos de la GaroupeLord and Lady Norman1311, chemin de la Garoupe, Cap d'Antibesn° IA060012101950Villa Le ClocherLord and Lady Norman1472, chemin de la Garoupe, Antibesn° IA060011541950Cottage d'EilenrocMr. and Mrs. Beaumont 460, avenue Mrs. L-D Beaumont, Antibesn° IA06001161 1951Villa HierAnthony Edgar Somers374, avenue Mrs. L-D Beaumont, Antibesn° IA060011731952Villa La FolieWilloughby Normanchemin de la Croé, Cap d'Antibesn° IA060012111952Cottage de la GaroupeLord and Lady Norman1530, chemin de la Garoupe, Cap d'Antibesn° IA060011531956Villa Piccola BellaMme G.L.P. Woodward122, avenue de Vallauris, Cannesn° IA060006281958Villa MoschettiJoseph Moschetti 18, rue Boucicaut, Cannesn° IA060006201960Villa du Bord de merLord and Lady Norman1472, chemin de la Garoupe, Antibesn° IA06001221
Notes and references
External links La clientèle de Barry Dierks (Direction régionale des affaires culturelles-PACA) Iconographie (L'Officiel de la mode, 1939) Barry Dierks' Villa Tanah Merah, Cap d'Antibes, South of France 'Riviera Dreaming', the authorised biography of Barry Dierks by Maureen Emerson, published in 2018. LB Tauris Ltd