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1960s Architecture: Icon or Eyesore?


This event is in the past. This is an archive page for reference.

As part of this year’s London Architecture Biennale, Night Waves is staging a debate at Tate Modern in front of an audience exploring the ongoing influence of 1960s architecture on today’s Britain.

The Sixties saw an incredible boom in housing and urban development, the creation of massive new estates and the great coming of the high-rise. Many of these buildings are still with us – some officially preserved and many blighted.

Matthew Sweet and a panel of guests, including architects Rodney Gordon and Quinlan Terry, will explore the quality of the architectural boom of the 60s and the motivation behind it. To what extent were the architects and planners of the day driven by a desire to build a new artistic expression for the masses? Did the building boom damage our sense of community and our appreciation of the built environment and are we still suffering the effects today?

The panel will ask whether we have a responsibility to preserve our sixties architectural heritage, irrespective of whether we consider them iconic or eyesore. Or should they blight our skyline no more?

Rodney Gordon designed the recently demolished Tricorn Centre in Portsmouth. Quinlan Terry is a traditionalist: champion of classical style and scourge of modernism. Joining them on the Tate Modern stage are George Ferguson, former president of the Royal Institute of British Architects, and Catherine Croft who advocates the 1960s as director of the 20th Century Society.

Tickets must be booked via [email protected]

When
  • 12.30pm-3pm
  • FREE booking essential
Where

Tate Modern
Bankside, London, SE1 9TG
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This event is in the past. This is an archive page for reference.
 
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