Cute memes, south London modernism and frank reflections on life and work all caught readers’ attention this year, along with bio-based materials in all forms
#1: Opinion - modern architecture in Blackheath and Greenwich
A local focus proved to have broad appeal for this year’s best-read Culture story: author Ana Francisco Sutherland’s reflections on modern architecture in the neighbouring south London districts of Greenwich and Blackheath. Why, she asks, has this area proved such fertile territory? There’s the particular (hilly) topography and wealth of existing architecture, but also a network effect, with outstanding architects attracted by the presence of others. Readers similarly drawn to the neighbourhood can learn more from Francisco Sutherland’s analysis.
#2: Review – CUTE at Somerset House
Many architects with a highly refined aesthetic sense must also have a (secret?) weakness for the twee, the whimsical, the saccharine. Second place on our Culture leaderboard goes to Pamela Buxton’s review of CUTE, a Somerset House exhibition examining the lighter and darker sides of a phenomenon ‘supercharged by the internet’. Missed the AOC-designed show? Catch up on plushies, kawaii and the Hello Kitty disco here.
#3: Obituary – Charley Brentnall
March brought the sad news that timber pioneer Charley Brentnall had died, and many readers turned to our obituary written by his friend and colleague, architect Piers Taylor, to learn more about his life and career. Whether teaching AA students or working with practices like Feilden Clegg Bradley, Brentnall relished the ‘joy’ of collaboration. ‘He came to every project without judgment of other participants,’ wrote Taylor, ‘happy to hover at the edges as they developed their own autonomy but ready to take the helm if needed. When the time came for a big lift, he’d lead with the calm and focus of a zen master.’ Learn more about a dedicated craftsman who continues to inspire architects.
#4: Profile - architect-turned-carpenter Alex Thomas
Timber continues to trend, with fourth place in the Culture charts going to Eleanor Young’s profile of architect-turned-carpenter Alex Thomas. His company, Timber Workshop, now works with practices such as Feilden Fowles and de Matos Ryan on beautiful, bespoke timber frames. ‘The speed of architecture is slow,’ said Thomas of his jump from drawing to making. ‘This had the speed of making with noise, machines, people talking – and not just a person on the phone. [In architectural practice] you get that 3pm slump … I don’t have that now.’ Read the profile to learn how Thomas transitioned from London studios to a Devon workshop via WOMAD and a sojourn in a Cotswolds treehouse.
#5: Hindsight – Kathryn Gustafson
Kathryn Gustafson is another designer whose career took an unusual turn. After a start in fashion, she rebooted as a landscape architect, going on to co-found Gustafson Porter + Bowman and deliver major projects such as the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain. Reflecting on her working life for our Hindsight series, she dropped pearls of wisdom: don’t get mad about recessions, but act fast and keep cash aside; don’t publish until you are ready; and SLAT – the motto tattooed on her wrist – which stands for ‘Stop, Look, And Think’ or ‘Stop Learn Allow Time’. Catch up now on a long career making the outdoors great.
Evergreen Culture story – the popular article from our archive that kept readers coming back in 2024
Paloma Gormley Profile: making bio-based materials mainstream
Published: 11 April 2022
Readers returned in numbers to our 2022 profile of Paloma Gormley, co-founder of Practice Architecture and Material Cultures and a trailblazer in hemp-based construction. Flat House in Cambridgeshire tested self-developed cladding panels of hemp and sugar resin. The material is now being deployed at larger scale in the Phoenix project, an urban extension to Lewes. With an exhibition showcasing Material Cultures’ work with bark, pine needles and natural glues now on show at the V&A, the practice continues to put bio-based construction in the spotlight. Revisit our piece for more on regenerative forestry, agri-architectural supply chains and valuable waste.