No More Giants: J. M. Richards, Modernism and the Architectural Review

Architecture is a multi-faceted profession that involves many people beyond just architects and builders. This book explores the career of critic J. M. Richards and his belief that modernism was closely linked to vernacular architecture, expressing the spirit of a time and place. By examining Richards' ideas over time, it challenges the traditional narrative of architectural history and encourages a reevaluation of who is studied and how they are researched.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 13 December 2022
Publisher: Manchester University Press

Architecture extends far beyond the realm of buildings and architects. It encompasses a diverse array of professionals, including photographers, writers, advertisers, broadcasters, and the individuals who finance and inhabit these structures. Through the lens of the critic J. M. Richards, this book offers a fresh perspective on modern architecture. Richards served as the editor of The Architectural Review from 1937 to 1971, during which he tirelessly advocated for the integration of modernism with vernacular architecture. Rather than relying on stylistic similarities, he believed that modernism's connection to vernacular architecture lay in its ability to be an anonymous expression of a specific time and public spirit. By examining the consistent ideas expressed by Richards throughout his career, this book challenges the existing canon of architectural history, which has traditionally focused on abrupt changes attributed to individual "pioneers." It encourages us to reevaluate who is studied in architectural history and how these individuals are researched.

Dimension: 240 x 170 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781526143754