Shaping the Surface: Materiality and the History of British Architecture 1840-2000

Shaping the Surface explores the history of modern British architecture through the lens of surface, materiality, and decoration, tracing the continuing sensibility to surface and materiality from the middle of the 19th century to the turn of the 21st century. It examines the history of British architecture through a selection of key cultural moments and movements, including Romanticism, the Arts and Crafts, Brutalism, High-Tech, Post-Modernism, Neo-Vernacular, and the New Materiality, and questions whether such national characters can exist in architecture.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 15 December 2022
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

Shaping the Surface delves into the rich tapestry of modern British architecture, unraveling its historical evolution through the lens of surface, materiality, and decoration. Building upon the observation made by art historian Nikolaus Pevsner, this book makes a significant contribution to architectural history and visual culture by meticulously examining the intricate surfaces of British architecture from the mid-19th century to the dawn of the 21st century. Tracing this enduring fascination with surface throughout the ages, it explores the profound influence of surface and materiality in contemporary architectural traditions, delving into the historical backdrop of British architecture through a selection of pivotal cultural moments and movements, including Romanticism, the Arts and Crafts movement, Brutalism, High-Tech, Post-Modernism, Neo-Vernacular, and the New Materiality. Within the narrative, the question arises whether national characters can truly manifest in architecture, and to what extent a distinct British architectural consciousness can be discerned within a tradition characterized by its relentless embrace of theories, ideas, materials, and people from across the globe. Shaping the Surface offers a profound critique and contemplation on the significance of surface and materiality for architects, designers, and historians alike, both in Britain and beyond. Moreover, it serves as a thematic introduction to modern British architectural history, providing in-depth readings of the works of numerous influential British architects, artists, and critics, ranging from the likes of Ruskin and William Morris to Alison and Peter Smithson, Eduardo Paolozzi, Richard Rogers, and Caruso St John.

Weight: 754g
Dimension: 158 x 234 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781350320659