Malcolm Keith Draffin

Keith Draffin was born in Auckland and educated at Auckland Grammar School. His architectural apprenticeship began in 1906 with J.W. Walker and in 1910 he joined the practice of Edward Bartley. He became a full partner in 1914 when the firm became known as Edward Bartley and Son and M.K. Draffin. He served with the N.Z. Field Engineers in World War I and following the war he travelled in Europe and attended the Architectural Association School in London. 

On his return to New Zealand he became sole partner in the firm of Edward Bartley and Son and M.K. Draffin. In 1922 he formed a partnership with Hugh Cresswell Grierson (1886-1953) and Kenneth Walter Aimer (1891-1960). Grierson, Aimer and Draffin were an influential Auckland practice that is best known for their winning entries in the Wellington Citizen’s War Memorial (Cenotaph) and Auckland War Memorial Museum design competitions. The practice dissolved in 1932 and Draffin went on to design the Wellington branch of the South British Insurance Company (1936). He was president of the New Zealand Institute of Architects in 1951-2.

Image: "Malcolm Keith Draffin in uniform." Auckland War Memorial Museum Tamaki Paenga Hira. PH-2005-1-1.

Sources:

“Glossary of Architects, Engineers and Designers,” NZHPT, Wellington, 1990

“Grierson, Aimer, and Draffin – Architectural Partnership”, NZHPT Professional Biographies (c.2013)

Kelly, Michael.  “Report for the WCC Sunset Review Committee,” 1998

Salmond, J. “Auckland War Memorial Conservation Plan,” Salmond Architects, Auckland (1996)