Back to photostream

"Westminster Regained" - illustrations by Gordon Cullen, c1949 - visual settings

These are a series of illustrations from a c1949 article on the potential for redeveloping the area around the Palace of Westminster and Parliament Square. They're very much of the time - post-WW2 planning and style, with a hint of what is known as 'Festival of Britain' (this was to be staged in 1951) and I suppose, to our eyes today, the proposed architecture could look a little weak but - I'd say given the horror that is still Parliament Square at least someone gave the place a thought and looked to see what might make it more open, accessible and contextual. I say horror as only last week as I attempted to navigate at street level around the traffic ridden roundabout that forms the setting to the 'Mother of all Parliaments' I realised why I so rarely venture there. Various, and more recent, schemes for change have failed due to various factors - involving both local and national politics. Shame.

 

Gordon Cullen (1914 - 1994) was an influential architect and designer of the period and many books and periodicals carry his illustration which I rather like.

 

This suggest the relocation of statues to form a pervious barrier.

6,596 views
10 faves
1 comment
Uploaded on July 3, 2014
Taken on July 2, 2014