Writing Worth Reading
Writing Worth Reading
A very paternalistic interpretation of history, as though the whole history of architecture was leading up to the creation of Modern architecture in 1926. We’re a bit more broad-minded nowadays, but his argument is very persuasive and the book was beautifully designed by Pelican when they were at their height. It’s a fabulously persuasive package.
First, tell me about the Pevsner book.
Well, all these books are things I read at school in my teens 40 years ago and, like girls and beer and learning to drive, they’ve stuck with me. Nothing I’ve read since has made such a great impression on me. I grew up in Liverpool looking at the architecture. You can’t not notice the architecture in Liverpool, for good or for bad. Even Jung wrote about it without even going there. I picked this book up from the bookstore I used to haunt on a Saturday afternoon and I’d always loved Modern architecture but this book explained to me why. Nowadays people think his view is somewhat skewed; I think his view is somewhat skewed.
What is his view?
Well, it’s a very paternalistic interpretation of history as though the whole history of architecture was leading up to the creation of Modern architecture in 1926. We’re a bit more broad-minded nowadays, but his argument is very persuasive and the book is beautifully designed by Pelican when they were at their height. It’s a fabulously persuasive package. I used to carry it around like a Bible.
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Stephen Bayley is one of the world’s best-known authorities on design, architecture and popular culture. Author, critic, columnist, curator, broadcaster and consultant, he was the founding director of London’s Design Museum.
