Diverse Modernities

Abstract

At one time, architectural scholarship was dominated by a teleological narrative of the emergence and evolution of modernism. Recent years, however, have seen growing recognition that modern Britain has been home to a range of rich and significant architectural approaches, existing in a complex and often creative relationship with canonical modernism. There is renewed interest in architects from beyond the London mainstream like Dewi-Prys Thomas and Ian Begg, in advocates of the terraced street like Elizabeth Denby and Trystan Edwards, and in architects who creatively reinterpreted older design vocabularies like Elisabeth Scott and Albert Richardson. This approach embraces a rich variety of modern design that responded to the diverse aspirations and attachments of the British people.

In the inter-war period, the vast majority of the building stock was non-modernist, encompassing a huge range of buildings both developing and departing from the architectural traditions of Edwardian Britain. These approaches continued on a reduced scale in the post-war decades, and many were renewed from the 1980s onwards. Throughout this period, British architecture was enriched by traditions from across the world, from the Armenian church of St Sarkis in 1923, to the Serbian Orthodox Church of the Holy Prince Lazar in 1968, the Neasden Temple in 1995, and the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies in 2017. Alongside these architect-designed buildings, Britain also saw millions of homes built in modern vernaculars based on the Tudor Revival, Neo-Georgian, and the Arts and Crafts Movement.

This conference will look at these ‘diverse modernities’ in British architecture from 1918 to the present day. It will examine their relevance to contemporary priorities for the built environment, like respect for the street, sensitivity to context, openness to varied historical memories, and the creative interaction of tradition and modernity. It will also look at whether there is scope for the listings system to give greater protection to such buildings, a question highlighted by lively public debates about the demolition of Celanese House, Orchard House, Drages Department Store, and Chronicle House on Fleet Street.

Participants will primarily be historians, but contributions will be incorporated from architects whose work forms part of this history. Professionals working in heritage organisations will also be invited to examine the management and protection of these buildings today. The event aims to be a milestone in the understanding and appreciation of these rich strands of Britain’s modern architecture.

Programme

Downing College, University of Cambridge

9:00 - Registration in Grace Howard Room, Downing College (ground floor)

9:10 - Introduction in the Howard Theatre (first floor)

Frank Salmon (CSCA, University of Cambridge)

Nicholas Boys Smith (Create Streets)

Opening address

9:20 - Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay (Department of Culture, Media and Sport)

Q&A with Nicholas Boys Smith

PANEL 1 – Historical Contexts for Architecture

Chair: Elizabeth Deans (CSCA, University of Cambridge)

9:40 – 'The Classical tradition in twentieth-century Britain', William Whyte (University of Oxford)

10"00 - 'Seeking a non-binary view of architecture', Alan Powers (University of Kent; C20 Society)

10:20 – 'Ye olde Modernist style; or confessions of a confused Modernist', Julian Holder (University of Oxford)

10:40 – Q&A

11:00 - Coffee Break

PANEL 2 – Typological Case Studies

Chair: Max Sternberg (University of Cambridge; SAHGB)

11:20 – 'The Neasden Temple: Ancient Indian architecture in modern Britain', Tilak Parekh (University of Cambridge)

11:40 – 'Properly built, conveniently planned and dignified in design’: Church Building in a Secular Century', Clare Price (University of Oxford; C20 Society)

12:00 – 'Classicising skins and structure: architectural expression in England’s interwar speculative offices', Jonathan Clarke (Independent Scholar)

12:20 - Q&A

12:40 Lunch break

PANEL 3 – Heritage Perspectives

Chair: David Lewis (University of Oxford)

13:40 – 'Non-Modernism in the Buildings of England', Charles O’Brien (Pevsner Architectural Guides)

14:00 – 'Challenges and opportunities in listing twentieth-century buildings', Debbie Mays (Historic England)

14:20 – ‘This Was Tomorrow’: considering modernity and longevity', Harriet Wennberg (INTBAU)

14:40 – Q&A

15:00 – Tea break

PANEL 4 – Architects’ Perspectives

Chair: Ike Ijeh (London Architecture Walks)

15:20 – 'The Forgotten Modern: invention in the classical tradition', Robert Adam (Robert Adam Architectural Consultancy Ltd)

15:40 – 'Practising classicism – personal reflections', Joanna Wachowiak (John Simpson Architects)

16:00 – 'Working with conservation officers', Cany Ash (Ash Sakula Architects)

16:20 – Q&A

Closing remarks

16:40 – 'The RIBA perspective', Ben Derbyshire (Historic England)

Q&A with Samuel Hughes (Create Streets)

17:00 – Drinks reception in the Grace Howard Room