Leading expert and passionate advocate of modern British architecture
Elain Harwood gives the best overview of British architecture from 1938
to 1963 - mid-century buildings.
Growing in popularity and with an increasing understanding of their
importance as a background to our lives, the buildings range from the
Royal Festival Hall, Newcastle City Hall and to Deal Pier and Douglas
ferry terminal, from prefabs and ice cream parlours to Coventry
Cathedral and the Golden Lane Estate. The author writes in
non-technical, layman's language about the design, architecture and also
the influence of these buildings on the lives of our towns and cities.
The author has arranged the huge variety of buildings into: Houses and
Flats: Churches and Public Buildings; Offices; Shops; Showrooms and
Cafes; Hotels and Public Houses; Cinemas, Theatres and Concert Halls;
Industrial Buildings and Transport. There is an insightful introduction
that places these buildings in the context of 20th-century architecture
generally and globally. All fantastically photographed to make this a
must have for anyone interested in our built heritage.
Postwar Britain architects often saw architecture as a powerful means to
improve the quality of our lives after the shadow of war. This is the
fascinating story of what they built to meet that challenge.
Cover illustration by Paul Catherall
