29
November 2024

The Brilliance of British Architecture

Welcome to The Arts Society Brighton & Hove
Friday, November 29, 2024 - 10:00
The Brighthelm Centre
North Road Brighton BN1 1YD
Online Event

This study day explores old and new, examining the very best of British architects from Christopher Wren to the present day. 

1. The Gleaming Spires of London from 1066 to 2066. 

London boasts a remarkable range of architecture, and this talk reveals the evolution of the capital through its great buildings.  Starting with a romp through history we then examine the finest of the buildings around today, and peek into the future development plans. 

2. The Classical Re-invented – the legacy of Sir Christopher Wren

We wind the clock back to the seventeenth century and enjoy an armchair tour of some of Wren’s magnificent but lesser-known structures including City Churches, grand houses, as well as his greatest masterpiece, St Paul’s Cathedral.  Wren was primarily a mathematician and astronomer, and we’ll see how these disciplines are harnessed in his work.

3. Thomas Heatherwick – a Modern Leonardo

We now move into modern times and see how an extremely talented designer has challenged the convention of building design around the world. Heatherwick came to the public’s attention with his acclaimed Olympic cauldron in 2012 and his new London bus. He uses curiosity and experimentation to produce a vast range of innovative solutions to design challenges in the UK and abroad. 

THE ARTS SOCIETY ACCREDITED LECTURER

Mr Ian Swankie

A Londoner with a passion for art and architecture, Ian is an official guide at Tate Modern, Tate Britain, Guildhall Art Gallery and St Paul’s Cathedral, and gives tours around each venue. He is also a qualified and active freelance London guide and leads regular tours for various corporations and organisations. Since 2012 he has led a popular weekly independent art lecture group in his home town of Richmond in West London. He is a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Art Scholars, one of the City livery companies.