Sir Robert Matthew (1906–1975) was a Scottish architect and a leading proponent of modernism. Born and raised in Edinburgh, he studied at Edinburgh College of Art and in 1945 became chief architect and planning officer of the Department of Health for Scotland. From 1946 to 1953 he held the same post at the London County Council, in charge of post-war rebuilding, housing such as the Roehampton estate, and the Festival of Britain. He then became the first professor of architecture at the University of Edinburgh and in 1956 founded RMJM with Stirrat Johnson-Marshall. He was president of the RIBA from 1962 to 1964 and received its Royal Gold Medal in 1970.
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As the LCC's chief architect he led the Royal Festival Hall project in London (1951), gathering a young team in which Leslie Martin came to lead the design. Central Hall, University of York (1968), a brutalist hall designed by John Speight of RMJM, is listed Grade II. The Royal Commonwealth Pool in Edinburgh (1970), by RMJM with Ove Arup & Partners, was built for the aquatic events of the 1970 Commonwealth Games and is listed Category A.
