Cedric Price : the square book.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Price, Cedric.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Price, Cedric.

Architecture--Great Britain--20th century.

Architecture.

Great Britain.

Physical Description:

115 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm

Other Title:

Square book

Place of Publication:

Chichester, West Sussex : Wiley-Academy, 2003.

Summary:

Cedric Price Architects was established in 1960 and this book features works from its early years -- iconic projects such as The Fun Palace and Potteries Thinkbelt, built projects such as London Zoo's Aviary, and many less well-known schemes and writings. Additional essays are contributed by eminent architectural historians Reyner Banham, Royston Landau and Robin Middleton and colleague/critics such as David Allford, Peter Cook and Warren Chalk. The Square Book is a faithful reprinting of an original book entitled Cedric Price: Works II, published in 1984 by the Architectural Association (AA). Ron Herron and AA Chairman Alvin Boyarsky had invited Price to make the book to coincide with an exhibition of the work of his office at the AA in June the same year. Price complied "as a favour" to his dear friends although he has always been resistant to the crystallisation of his work in book form, being more inclined towards the immediate and ephemeral nature of magazines and journals. Price states that "there is a point reached where if too much time is required to produce something its operational integrity is marred." This remark is central to Price's thesis that Time is the fourth dimension in architecture and that Change is its champion. It is timely that such a book should be reprinted. Its purpose is not to provide material upon which to reflect but to serve as fuel to students and practitioners of architecture -- a profession that continues to institutionally resist change at the beginning of a new millennium. We are reminded, as Peter Cook writes, that "Cedric is our reference. Our conscience".

Contents:

The Creative Iconoclast / David Allford 7

A Philosophy of Enabling / Royston Landau 9

Plus ca change... / Peter Murray 16

Action and inaction 17

Life-Conditioning / C.P. 19

Potteries Thinkbelt 20

Atom 26

Phun City 30

Air Structures/Trucksafe/Airportable 31

Zoo Aviary 32

Time and timing 35

The Case against Conservation / C.P. 37

Non-Plan 38

Clyde Competition 39

McAppy 40

Birmingham & Midland Institute HQ 42

British Airports Authority Office 43

Westminster Pier 44

Pop-Up Parliament 46

He and His 'How?' / Warren Chalk 47

Steel Housing 48

Game-Keeper's Cottage 51

Manor Farm/Selsdon House 52

Uncertainty and delight in the unknown 53

Echoes / C.P. 55

Fun Palace 56

Inter-Action Centre 62

Cedric Price: a Private View / Robin Middleton 64

Oxford Corner House 65

Detroit Thinkgrid 66

South Bank 67

Munich Olympic Village 68

Parc de la Villette 69

National Gallery Extension 70

Beneficial Change and inevitable ageing 71

Expediency / C.P. 73

Southend Roof 74

Hair Tent 76

Abu Dhabi Breakwater/Air Structures Research 77

B-Air 78

Westpen 79

Cedric Price Precisely / Ranulph Glanville 80

Blackpool Restaurant 81

BTDB Computer Centre 82

CP Aviary 84

Two-Tree Island 86

Claverton Dome 88

Free-Space and its operational matrix 89

Public Spaces and Private Spaces / C.P. 91

Generator 92

The Price is Right / Reyner Banham 98

Greenbird 99

DOM Offices 100

Robert Fraser Gallery 102

Worthing Pavilion 103

Castel House 104

On one occasion the white collar was loosened / Peter Cook 106.

Notes:

Originally published: London : Architectural Association, 1984.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 109-111).

ISBN:

0470851465

OCLC:

164411635

Online:

Publisher description