Theory of Architecture

'The New Sympathy: An Exploration of How Emerging Theories in Scientific, Mathematical and Psychological Understanding of the Natural World are Affecting the State of Ornament in Architecture'.

Dr Eleanor Ratcliffe is a Lecturer in Environmental Psychology at the University of Surrey, specialising in restorative environments, place attachment, soundscapes, connectedness to nature, aesthetics, consumer behaviour, user experience and designing for wellbeing.

Dame Laura Lee is CEO of Maggie's, a charity providing drop-in support centres for cancer patients, each designed by a different architect.

Dr Rosemary Hill is a writer, historian, independent scholar and author of 'God’s Architect', a biography of the Gothic Revival architect, A.W.N. Pugin and 'Stonehenge', a history of one of Britain’s greatest and least understood monuments. In this episode we cover Pugin, Stonehenge and clothes.

This is an article all about beauty entitled 'What do people like about old architectural styles and how can they be incorporated into contemporary designs?'

Phineas Harper is Director of Open City, the organisation which runs the annual Open House weekend. He also curated the 2019 Oslo Architecture Triennale and has previously worked for the Architecture Foundation and the Architectural Review.

In this article I talk about why the planning system needs to undergo radical digitisation and suggest some policies that might help in that process. And please vote in the RIBA Elections!: www.architecture.com/elections

This is an article I wrote back in 2016 entitled 'Public Engagement in Architectural Awards' which is still very relevant.

Nicholas Ray is co-author of the book 'Philosophy of Architecture' and is an architect in practice in Cambridge where he taught before joining the University of Liverpool. His theoretical pre-occupations over a period of more than 40 years have resulted in publications on Alvar Aalto, Rafael Moneo, Cambridge contemporary architecture and architecture's ethical dilemmas.

My third architectural book recommendation is 'The Sympathy of Things' by Lars Spuybroek. Here I talk in more detail about this book and what makes it essential reading for all architects and architecture students.