Patrick Sydney Minns was born in the UK in 1944 and educated at Highfield School, Liphook, followed by Harrow School, from 1958-62. Brief study at Earl’s Court Technical College, London, and the Hampstead Atelier of Art, followed from 1962-63. Patrick then enrolled on the five-year Diploma course at the Architectural Association, in September 1965. During time away from his studies, he gained experience with the practice of Bryan & Norman Westwood Piet & Partners. For his final Diploma year (1970-71), Minns elected to study within the AA Department of Development and Tropical Studies. Just prior to this, he had travelled to Lebanon to study Palestinian refugee camps, and this became the subject for his final thesis. Precise details of Minns subsequent career are not yet known to us beyond the facts that he founded his own office, Patrick Minns Associates, in London, which then merged to form Gibberd, Hecks and Minns in 1980. He was a Trustee of the Peel Institute for several decades and was responsible for the design of their premises in Holford Square, Clerkenwell (1995-96), consisting of a community centre, with dining hall, sports hall, meeting room and youth club.

Source:

• Architectural Association Student Register 1945-1972, AA Archives
• Architectural Association Diploma Roll Book, 1964-1975, AA Archives
• Architectural Association Registrar’s Student Records, 1970-71. AA Archives
• 'Percy Circus area', in Survey of London: Volume 47, Northern Clerkenwell and Pentonville. Edited by Philip Temple (London, 2008), British History Online, accessed November 13, 2024, https://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-london/vol47/pp217-238.
• The Peel Institute Company, Annual Report and Financial Statements, 31st March, 2020. Peel Institute website. Accessed 20th Jan. 2026: https://thepeel.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Annual-report-2020.pdf