Description
Deriving a distinctive design language from revealed structure and highly modelled surfaces, HKPA developed a rich, allusive and extrovert architecture. Although a mastery of pre-cast concrete and a preference for raw finishes earned them an early reputation as Brutalists, their sensitivity to context, refined sense of light and materials and eye for the qualities of historic buildings transcends any single style.
Geraint Franklin has combined interviews with archival research to tell the story of the individuals, collaborations and aspirations behind the built and unrealised projects. Lavishly illustrated with new photography by James O. Davies and images from the practice archive, this book is a must for architects, students and enthusiasts wanting to discover this key practice in British post-war architecture.
About the Author
Geraint Franklin is an architectural historian with Historic England.
Reviews
This terrific set of books, masterminded by the Twentieth Century Society, is blasting apart lazy assumptions about the architecture of the period as being subsumed into dreariness by modernist dogma. Instead post-war Britain is seen as a country that blended a rich range of flavours, of which HKPA must surely be one of the more piquant. ... The quality that shines out most clearly from this excellent survey is the joyful pleasure the quartet took in the business of architecture. ... succinct, richly illustrated, and elegantly constructed survey.
Otto Saumarez, The RIBA Journal
...Franklin's incisive and sympathetic analysis of one of the most important architectural practices of the 20th century has been worth waiting for.
Peter de Figueiredo, Context
Book Information
ISBN 9781848022751
Author Geraint Franklin
Format Paperback
Page Count 228
Imprint Historic England
Publisher Historic England
