About Buildings + Cities

Dive into a thought-provoking exploration of three iconic dystopian cities. The hosts dissect the glass transparency of Zamyatin's 'We' and its chilling efficiency. Huxley's 'Brave New World' unveils a consumer-driven society with eerie class divides and engineered pleasures. Orwell's '1984' paints a bleak world steeped in surveillance and despair. They explore themes of control, the symbolism of architecture, and how these visions of the future resonate today. Each narrative offers a chilling reflection on the balance of society, power, and humanity.

Explore Horace Walpole's eccentric Gothic villa at Strawberry Hill with readings from 'The Castle of Otranto', medieval music, and George's singing. Discover the unique architectural design, decorative effects, and downfall of the historical figure. Delve into William Beckford's Font Hill Abbey and the surreal decor of an empty house.

The first episode of a new podcast! Luke and George read Hermann Muthesius's early 20th c. epic 'The English House'. Learn about the English, their famed love of nature, damp, draughty buildings and burnt meat. Discover how these strange proclivities shape the homes they build and inhabit. With digressions on inglenooks, William Morris, and how to become 'safe for the drawing room'. The edition we read was this one: Hermann Muthesius, Dennis Sharp (ed) ‘The English House’ (Rizzoli, 1979) https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=0CdUAAAAMAAJ&dq=editions:ISBN0847802191 Music: Ukrainska Orchestra Pawla Humeniuka ‘Kozak-Trepak’ From the Free Music Archive at freemusicarchive.org Look at images of the projects on our Google+ page: https://plus.google.com/u/0/104384327113725304822