RMS Orion & RMS Orcades II: Modern Liners

Described in the Architectural Review as “a landmark in the evolution of the modern liner”, Orion (1934) and her sister ship Orcades II (1937) were built for the Orient Line. Orion’s design was a departure from the more usual period styles to a simpler, contemporary style. With modern interiors designed by Brian O’Rorke this was the first time that an architect had carried out the entire decoration of a ship. Designed primarily for tropical conditions they featured air conditioning in all public rooms and a more flexible, informal, open air layout.

Both ships were converted to troopships in the Second World War. Sadly in 1942 Orcades was sunk with the loss of 45 lives south west of Cape Town after a battle with a German U-boat in which she was hit by 6 torpedoes.

RMS Orion

Launched: Barrow-in-Furness, 1934

Disposal: scrapped, 1963

Tonnage: 23,696 tons

Length: 665 feet or 203 metres

Maximum speed: 21 knots

RMS Orcades II

Launched: Barrow-in-Furness, 1937

Disposal: sunk, 1942

Tonnage: 23,456 tons

Length: 639 feet or 195 metres

Maximum speed: 21 knots

Also see: Ocean Liners, SS Normandie, SS Oriana.

Poster collection

108600 items

Student halls of residence, Keble College, Oxford: the Blackhall Road elevation RIBA116997

RIBA116997Student halls of residence, Keble College, Oxford: the Blackhall Road elevation

Student halls of residence, Keble College, Oxford: the Blackhall Road elevation with Keble College Chapel behind RIBA116998

RIBA116998Student halls of residence, Keble College, Oxford: the Blackhall Road elevation with Keble College Chapel behind

Student halls of residence, Keble College, Oxford: view along Blackhall Road RIBA116999

RIBA116999Student halls of residence, Keble College, Oxford: view along Blackhall Road

Student halls of residence, Keble College, Oxford RIBA117000

RIBA117000Student halls of residence, Keble College, Oxford

Student halls of residence, Keble College, Oxford RIBA117001

RIBA117001Student halls of residence, Keble College, Oxford

Student halls of residence, Keble College, Oxford: the courtyard RIBA117002

RIBA117002Student halls of residence, Keble College, Oxford: the courtyard

Student halls of residence, Keble College, Oxford RIBA117003

RIBA117003Student halls of residence, Keble College, Oxford

Student halls of residence, Keble College, Oxford: the Blackhall Road elevation RIBA117004

RIBA117004Student halls of residence, Keble College, Oxford: the Blackhall Road elevation

Albert Dock, Liverpool RIBA117022

RIBA117022Albert Dock, Liverpool

Renault parts distribution centre, Swindon, Wiltshire: detail of the cable fixing RIBA117190

RIBA117190Renault parts distribution centre, Swindon, Wiltshire: detail of the cable fixing

Derngate Centre, Northampton: the main hall laid out for a boxing match RIBA117426

RIBA117426Derngate Centre, Northampton: the main hall laid out for a boxing match

192 Wine Bar Restaurant, Kensington Park Road, London RIBA117517

RIBA117517192 Wine Bar Restaurant, Kensington Park Road, London

192 Wine Bar Restaurant, Kensington Park Road, London: the bar counter RIBA117518

RIBA117518192 Wine Bar Restaurant, Kensington Park Road, London: the bar counter

192 Wine Bar Restaurant, Kensington Park Road, London: table within an alcove RIBA117519

RIBA117519192 Wine Bar Restaurant, Kensington Park Road, London: table within an alcove

192 Wine Bar Restaurant, Kensington Park Road, London: the staircase RIBA117520

RIBA117520192 Wine Bar Restaurant, Kensington Park Road, London: the staircase

192 Wine Bar Restaurant, Kensington Park Road, London RIBA117521

RIBA117521192 Wine Bar Restaurant, Kensington Park Road, London

192 Wine Bar Restaurant, Kensington Park Road, London RIBA117522

RIBA117522192 Wine Bar Restaurant, Kensington Park Road, London

192 Wine Bar Restaurant, Kensington Park Road, London RIBA117523

RIBA117523192 Wine Bar Restaurant, Kensington Park Road, London

192 Wine Bar Restaurant, Kensington Park Road, London: the staircase RIBA117524

RIBA117524192 Wine Bar Restaurant, Kensington Park Road, London: the staircase

Bowland Yard, Kinnerton Street, Belgravia, London RIBA117525

RIBA117525Bowland Yard, Kinnerton Street, Belgravia, London

Bowland Yard, Kinnerton Street, Belgravia, London RIBA117526

RIBA117526Bowland Yard, Kinnerton Street, Belgravia, London

Bowland Yard, Kinnerton Street, Belgravia, London RIBA117527

RIBA117527Bowland Yard, Kinnerton Street, Belgravia, London

Bowland Yard, Kinnerton Street, Belgravia, London RIBA117528

RIBA117528Bowland Yard, Kinnerton Street, Belgravia, London

Bowland Yard, Kinnerton Street, Belgravia, London: a living room RIBA117529

RIBA117529Bowland Yard, Kinnerton Street, Belgravia, London: a living room

Bowland Yard, Kinnerton Street, Belgravia, London: a bedroom RIBA117530

RIBA117530Bowland Yard, Kinnerton Street, Belgravia, London: a bedroom

Bowland Yard, Kinnerton Street, Belgravia, London: a kitchen RIBA117531

RIBA117531Bowland Yard, Kinnerton Street, Belgravia, London: a kitchen

Bowland Yard, Kinnerton Street, Belgravia, London RIBA117532

RIBA117532Bowland Yard, Kinnerton Street, Belgravia, London

Bowland Yard, Kinnerton Street, Belgravia, London RIBA117533

RIBA117533Bowland Yard, Kinnerton Street, Belgravia, London

Bowland Yard, Kinnerton Street, Belgravia, London RIBA117534

RIBA117534Bowland Yard, Kinnerton Street, Belgravia, London

Bowland Yard, Kinnerton Street, Belgravia, London RIBA117535

RIBA117535Bowland Yard, Kinnerton Street, Belgravia, London

Bowland Yard, Kinnerton Street, Belgravia, London RIBA117536

RIBA117536Bowland Yard, Kinnerton Street, Belgravia, London

Bowland Yard, Kinnerton Street, Belgravia, London: a living room RIBA117537

RIBA117537Bowland Yard, Kinnerton Street, Belgravia, London: a living room

Bowland Yard, Kinnerton Street, Belgravia, London: a bedroom RIBA117538

RIBA117538Bowland Yard, Kinnerton Street, Belgravia, London: a bedroom

Bowland Yard, Kinnerton Street, Belgravia, London: a kitchen RIBA117539

RIBA117539Bowland Yard, Kinnerton Street, Belgravia, London: a kitchen

Bowland Yard, Kinnerton Street, Belgravia, London RIBA117540

RIBA117540Bowland Yard, Kinnerton Street, Belgravia, London

Bredon Barn, Bredon, Worcestershire: the restored barn from the south-east RIBA117886

RIBA117886Bredon Barn, Bredon, Worcestershire: the restored barn from the south-east