Sir basil spence book

By the session 19601, the union had expanded into almost the whole of this building, and by 1967, the new students union building was completed as part of architect basil spences masterplan, offering indoor sports. Acclaimed by architects and modernists, the flats became riddled with damp and infestations, which could not be cured. Buildings and projects combines critical essays with a chronological framework to paint a vivid picture of the architect and his time. As one of britains most celebrated architects, basil spences beautiful and varied oeuvre has until now defied proper analysis in the wider twentieth century cultural context. Sir basil urwin spence, om, obe, ra august 1907 19 november 1976 wis a scots airchitect, maist associatit wi coventry cathedral in ingland an the beehive in new zealand, but an aa responsible for numerous ither biggins in the modernistbrutalist style. Presentation drawing showing canongate flats, edinburgh1965.

Warwick academic launches new book on celebrated coventry. Buildings and projects is a landmark event in the literature of architectural history. He worked in the office of lutyens 3 for a brief period. Documentary about queen elizabeth square, sir basil spences block of brutalist style flats built to replace the gorbals tenements in glasgow. Sir basil spence, architect best known for the new coventry cathedral, built to replace the cathedral that had been gutted during a world war ii bombing raid.

Lavishly illustrated with photos and drawings from the archive, many published for the first time, the book reveals the virtuoso draftsmanship that lies behind spences groundbreaking architectural vision. As one of britains most celebrated architects, basil spences beautiful and varied oeuvre. Elegantly designed and packed with superb period photography and drawings, sir basil spence. Tower blocks in the gorbals, glasgow, architect sir basil spence. Sir basil spence, the architect of coventrys new st. The west building dated back to the 1940s and was built in red brick style. Celebrating the life and work of coventry cathedral architect sir basil spence. Find this book and others about the architect online description. Basil spence, 19071976 by brian edwards book new buildings in old cities. British architect, born in india 1 and educated in scotland 2 and london. This unique archive is made up of elements from sir basils personal life, his student days in edinburgh, and his entire professional career. Twentieth century society calls for listing of sir basil. Hutchesontown c was a comprehensive development area cda of an area of hutchesontown, a district in the city of glasgow, scotland.

Buildings and projects combines critical essays with a chronological framework to paint a vivid picture of the architect and his times. Basil was born on february 5 1800, in east yell, shi, sct. He was an architect who produced many buildings in the uk and. Clair committed suicide at the age of 22, after having been assigned to the island of. High rise and fall, glasgow, gorbals documentary 1993. A new book about sir basil spence was released earlier this year. Its centrepiece were two brutalist 20storey slab blocks at 1632 queen elizabeth square, designed by sir basil spence and containing 400 homes. Phoenix at coventry by sir basil spence and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.

In the 1950s and 1960s, basil spence architect of coventry cathedral and of sussex university was britains bestknown architect. This expertise was developed during the design process for their first such job, the university of edinburghs main library, which received a riba award. Second world war reconstruction and the welfare state, no single architect loomed larger in public consciousness than sir basil spence 190776. Sir basil spence university of southampton special. Throughout his life he maintained a strong link with scotland and remained true to the ethos of his training at edinburgh college of art, namely that the practice of architecture was essentially an art and a craft. As coventry cathedral, the most popular building of its era, celebrates the. Sir basil urwin spence, om, obe, ra was a scottish architect, most notably associated with coventry cathedral in england and the beehive in new zealand, but also responsible for numerous other buildings in the modernist style. He was educated at the schools of architecture of london and edinburgh universities and worked in sir edwin lutyens office on drawings for.

He was an architect who produced many buildings in the uk and beyond in the modernistbrutalist style. Full text of the county families of the shetland islands see other formats. A new book on the career of coventry cathedral architect sir basil spence is being launched next week at the celebrated city centre venue. Sir basil urwin spence, om, obe, ra was a scottish architect, most notably associated with coventry cathedral in england and the beeh. The former college became a university in 1952 and significantly expanded in the 1960s with a master plan by sir basil spence. Full text of the county families of the shetland islands. Buildings and projects combines critical essays with a chronological framework to paint a vivid picture o. Anne was born on august 9 1803, in brough, burravoe, south yell, shi, sct. Sir basil urwin spence, om, obe, ra 1907 1976 was a scottish architect, most notably associated with coventry cathedral in england and the beehive in. Lavishly illustrated with photos and drawings from the archive, many published for the first time, the book reveals the virtuoso draftsmanship that lies behind spences groundbreaking. Basil spence was born on month day 1843, at birth place, to basil spence and anne christina winifred spence born leask. Early interior perspective of coventry cathedral, 1951. Sir basil urwin spence, om, obe, ra, august 1907 19 november 1976 was a scottish architect, most notably associated with. Celebrating the life and work of coventry cathedral.

This project examined the work of sir basil spence and his offices in scotland and england, drawing on the extensive archive of drawings, designs, office papers, presscuttings and photographs which spences family bequeathed to the royal commission on the ancient and historical monuments of scotland in edinburgh in 2003. Basil spence, coventry cathedral architect with a trial piece for the coventry tapestry, 1962. Spence definition of spence by the free dictionary. Sir basil spence by louise campbell, 9781859463093, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Baptistery, font and window of coventry cathedral, 1962. Buildings and projects combines critical essays with a chronological framework to paint a. Sir basil urwin spence, om, obe, ra august 1907 19 november 1976 was a scottish architect, most notably associated with coventry cathedral in england and the beehive in new zealand, but also responsible for numerous other buildings in the modernistbrutalist style. Spence, sir basil urwin synonyms, spence, sir basil urwin pronunciation, spence, sir basil urwin translation, english dictionary definition of spence, sir basil urwin.

Critic lewis mumford described coventry cathedral, spence s bestknown building, as a. Matt weaver examines the career of architect sir basil spence. Spence was knighted in 1960 for his work at coventry, while the cathedral was still being built. Clair nevenspence, sir basils son, served in the colonial office following serving in world war ii. He was once considered an architectural genius but, by the end, sir basil spence had become a hate figure. Resources by basil spence 9 new buildings in old cities. Sir basil spence architect 19071976 geograph britain. The career of architect sir basil spence society the. Sir basil was the most publiclycelebrated architect of the postwar era and he has been the focus of a major research project, led by university of warwick academic professor louise campbell. In 2003, the spence family presented rcahms with a collection of over 40,000 items. We have applied for sir basil spences nuffield theatre at southampton university to be listed following the announcement of plans to carry out an extensive refurbishment. A new exhibition celebrates the centenary of the birth of sir basil spence, arguably scotlands most renowned modern architect.

Architect basil spence in malta 249 250 art, architecture and archaeology in his more highpro le international projects it is hard to decipher and appreciate the. He died on november 19, 1976 in eye, sussex, england. Critic lewis mumford described coventry cathedral, spences best. The story of sir basil spence, architect of cov cathedral. Sir basil urwin spence, om, obe, ra august 1907 19 november 1976 was a scottish. Sir basil urwin spence, om, obe, ra, lived from august 1907 to 19 november 1976. The life and work of sir basil spence 190776 university of warwick.

Basil spence was born on august, 1907 in bombay, bombay presidency, india as basil urwin spence. It includes office drawings and sketches, files, photographs, news cuttings, models and personal papers. The architect sir basil spence 19071976 devised the layout for the 1960s redevelopment of george square into a new campus for the faculty of arts and headed the team responsible for the design of the main library building completed 1967. Lavishly illustrated with photos and drawings from the archive. Spence basil abebooks abebooks shop for books, art. He made his name when he won the competition for the rebuilding of coventry cathedral, warwicks. November 2009 looking for people to help me administer and promote this group, any takers if so drop me a line this is an attempt at bringing together pictures of buildings designed by sir basil spence see list below. Jane thomas as one of britains most celebrated architects, basil spences beautiful and varied oeuvre has until now defied proper analysis in the wider 20th century cultural context. This text was written as one of the outputs of the sir basil spence archive project, supported by.