#english architecture

[ancientsstudies]

Chatsworth House by dariashew.

[arc-hus]

Southwark Brick House, London - Satish Jassal

[the-cricket-chirps]

J.M.W. Turner, Old London Bridge, 1794

[autumncottageattic]

sophiegardner

[anglocatholicboyo]

Lichfield Cathedral, February 15th 2023. truly a veritable feast for the eye.

[syninmystik]

From @inigo.house on IG

[germanpostwarmodern]

For almost four decades Elain Harwood (*1958) has been researching and writing about British postwar architecture, greatly contributing to their protection and creating awareness of their quality. Her magnum opus „Space, Hope and Brutalism: English Architecture 1945-1975“, published by Yale University Press in 2015, is a 700+ page tome in which she recounts the better and lesser-known currents of English postwar architecture. Although prominent figures like Peter & Alison Smithson, Denys Lasdun or Basil Spence naturally receive the space they deserve based on their importance Harwood sheds particular light on the unsung architects working in local authority offices, e.g. Rosemary Stjernsted, who designed a broad range of buildings and structures for their local areas of responsibility. 

Against the background of a generally bad reputation of postwar architecture and urbanism in Britain Harwood also discusses the conflicts within planning processes: flaws have often been associated with a dogmatic omnipotence infused with Corbusian thoughts, an assumption that is very much unsustainable as architects and planners operated in a complex context of underfunding, last-minute alterations and lack of materials. The often young architects responsible for the execution of these lackluster plans themselves regularly quarreled with their position within the system and the high hopes they initially had. Accordingly the circumstances for the realization of ambitious plans couldn’t have been worse.

The architectural quality of those buildings and plans still existing is nonetheless striking and ranges from sleek Scandinavian-influenced early postwar modernism to Brutalism and early High-Tech, an immense degree of breadth that leaves the reader indeed astonished.

In view of the incredible richness of the book’s information it is a publication to frequently return to in order to read about a certain time period rather than something to consume in one go, a circumstance that in no way diminishes the enjoyable reading experience.

[atlasandacamera]

Newstead Abbey, Nottinghamshire

[aplaceforherheadtorest]

Herefordshire, England

[nicholask-la]

From October, 2022

[ancientsstudies]

Haddon Hall by sparrowinlondon.

[arc-hus]

James-Simon-Galerie, Berlin - David Chipperfield

[patricoredimezzestate]

And do you hear that tick tack? 🕚

Sometimes I feel like time is too fast for me, its hands moving on my body and mind relentlessly.

Despite of all this sad reflection, take a walk to Big Ben is always my favourite task ever.

I can't do it often because I don't live in London, but it doesn't matter.

That few times in my life are enough.

Above all, the magic of this place is unbelievable: at sunset and at night that magnificent clock it's hypnotic- his hands capture your sight as London's traffic doesn't exist anymore.

I feel in front of him as in front of my life's time, right there I'm capable to reflect about what I'm really doing in my life and my choices.

[autumncottageattic]

happiness_behind_the_lens

[angelmoon1111]

[photosofsuburbia]

Gonalston, Nottinghamshire