15) The Brits who Built the Modern World, BBC4

With a reputation of being cautious, wary of the new and conservative in taste, it is interesting to see how outraged the British public were at the outset of Modernism, as opposed to their acceptation of the style in later periods. The architects of the 1970’s daring and innovative ideas of how architecture could change the world, took a while to accepted.

The first project, Lloyds of London, was quite an extravagant and ambitious start. With a very industrial approach and heavy use of steel, giving the impression of a working machine with the finished product being an object displaying how the structure was assembled. It was a huge contrast to the surrounding medieval buildings, although they argued that when approaching the building only small glimpses of the bank could be seen, it was an imposing design and could have perhaps benefited with mixing at least some of the existing contextual elements in with the modern approach. I do however like the inside out principles, how they have the lifts with the view of the exterior so that the movement becomes a joy of life not simply a function and the maintenance staff do not disturb the rhythm of work within, as toilets, pipes etc. are also located on the exterior.

The National Gallery contest in 1983 again was a project that was perhaps too futuristic for such a conservative culture and should possibly have “cherry picked” the best of past and present technology to fit in with the surroundings, as well as embedding the past. Prince Charles was very much against the design, saying that the “architecture shouts at you with an absence of decoration”. However the Modernists responded with the fact that modern forms meet modern needs.

I really like Terry Farrell’s TV AM building. Although sticking slightly to the beliefs that form follows function and the need for expression of materials, he makes a comprise and takes into account the context of the site and responds to the surrounding canal by using similar colours of the boats on the facades.

The HSBC building in Hong Kong seems to be the point of real accreditation for the Foster and the whole Modernism movement as a whole. Perhaps is due to context and the fact that other countries approved of Modernism before Britain. There was a very vigorous process of design for this building with every decision having strong reasoning. This is something that can be applied to my work, the practice of exhaustive design process, remembering that every element needs to be solved extensively. They also looked beyond European ideas to the rest of the world and used ideas from many different countries. The removal of the central support structure is a great innovative idea and creates a beautiful interior space to work within, really focusing on the end user.

Nicholas Hopkins’ research centre begins to experiment with advances in technology and material, with the use of PTVE glass which self cleans and has durable qualities.

One of the best modern buildings has to be Hopkins’ cricket ground. Here he enveloped the historical features of the existing structure with advances in technology giving way for new engineering. With extended Victorian walls and modern engineering structure above, this is a great arrangement of uniting historical features with a modern era of design.

With these modern architects once being radical outsiders, then slowly edging into establishment, it emphasises that we nee these enthusiastic designers who are not afraid to be criticised to progress as a nation.