70

JosephBedford 3 InFrontofLivesThatLeaveNothingBehind

JesúsVassallo 19 Doll’sHouses

AndrewLeach 24 LetterfromtheGoldCoast

Jean-LouisCohen 28 Protezione

SusanHolden 33 PossiblePompidous

EnriqueWalker 46 InConversationwithRenzoPiano&RichardRogers

DietrichNeumann&JuergenSchulz 60 Johnson’sGrid

GoswinSchwendinger 70 ParadiseRegained

GavinStamp 76 Anti-UglyAction

SamJacob 89 BodyBuilding

DavidJenkins 92 Kaplický’sCoexistence

PaulVermeulen&DiegoInglezdeSouza 98 BabelBrasileira

IrinaDavidovici 103 TheDepthoftheStreet

MarkSwenarton&ThomasWeaver 124 InConversationwithJohnMiller

WillMcLean 138 AtmosphericIndustries

AndrewHiggott 144 EricdeMaréinSearchoftheFunctionalTradition

NicolasGrospierre 152 TheOvalOffices

DianeGhirardo 159 TheBlueofAldoRossi’sSky

PaulMason 173 AReturntotheIdealCity

176 Contributors

70

Anti-Ugly ActionAn Episode

in the History of British Modernism

Gavin Stamp

Toprow:auaOperationFouroutside23CromwellRoad,againstKensingtonPublicLibrary,4February1959,MichaelKullmanforeground;PaulineBotyinterviewedintheDailyExpress,16March1959Middlerow:JanetAllenlayingawreathonthesiteofthenewBarclaysBankheadquarters,15January1959;auademo,HydeParkCorner,23March1960Bottomrow:auademoagainstEmmanuelCollege,Cambridge,28February1959CambridgeDailyNews,2March1959;AngelaHeskettasdestitute‘Integrity’,auademoagainsttheRiba,3November1959

Toprow:auademoagainstEmmanuelCollege,Cambridge,CambridgeDailyNews,2March1959;auaOperationOne,againstCaltexHouse,10December1958,Tribune,19December1958Middlerow:Finalauademo,passingtheBritishMuseum,23March1960;PaulineBotyscattersrosepetalsonacoffinoutsidethenewBarclaysBanksite,15January1959;KenBaynesandAngelaHeskett,HydeParkCorner,EveningStandard,23March1960Bottomrow:Anti-UglySealofDisapprovalvotingcard,NewArchitectureGroup,1962;auaOperationThree,JanetAllenleadingtheprocessiondownLombardStreet,15January1959

Toprow:BarryKirk,RonFullerandBrianNewmanmakingauaplacardsattheRca;auafuneralprocession,Cambridge,28February1959,Varsity,7March1959Bottomrow:auaOperationFour,outsideKensingtonTownHall,4February1959;KenBaynesinbathchair;JohnFurnivalbentdouble;WilliamWilkins,pressofficer,facingBarryKirkastowncrier;BrianNewmanholdingmegaphone;RichardBawdenrightforeground©RoyalBoroughofKensington&Chelsea

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KensingtonPublicLibraryisalateworkbythedoyenofcivicarchitecture,EVincentHarris.On4February1959,whenthenewlibrarywasnearingcompletion,itwasthetargetofanunusualandhostilepublicdemonstration.AgroupofstudentsfromtheRoyalCollegeofArtmarchedfirsttoKensingtonTownHallandthentothebuildingsite.AccompaniedbyaDixielandband,theypushedabathchaircontainingabeardedfigure‘representingthearchitectoftheseventeenthcentury’whoworeopaquespectacles,atricornhatandkneebreechesandbrandishedaplacardthatread‘300yearsandstillgoingstrong’.Otherbannersproclaimed‘RenaissanceMeansRebirthNotRehash’,‘ClassicVeneerDeservesaSneer’,‘WestEndScandal:£500,000Forgery’and‘ScytheitDown!!’OutsidetheoldpubliclibraryinKensingtonHighStreetanotherstudent,dressedasatown-crier,readoutsentencesfromanapologiaforthenewbuildingbyitsarchitect:‘Oyez,oyez,oyez…Thelibraryshouldbeabuildingofgoodmanners,hesaid.It’sanoutrage,roaredthecohorts.ItisinmodernEnglishRenaissancestyleinkeepingwiththeRoyalborough.It’sanoutrage.Itwillbeamanlytypeofbuildingandanexampleofdignifiedarchitecture.It’sanoutrage.’1

Suchwasthefourth‘Operation’organisedbyanewprotestgroup,Anti-UglyAction(aua),whichinitsshortbutspectacularlifeencour-ageddebateaboutthestyleandqualityofnewarchitectureinBritain.Thankstotheirunorthodoxandentertainingformsofprotest,theAnti-Ugliessucceededingeneratingagreatdealofpublicity.JohnBetjemanwasdelightedbytheiractivities,writingthat‘Ithinkitisahealthysignthatthesethingsarehappening.Artiscomingintoitsownagainaftertheworshipofscienceandeconomics.Whatismoreimportant,theartofarchitectureisatlastcominginforthenoticeitdeserves.’TheartcriticDouglasCooperthoughtaua‘thebestthingthathashappenedinstudentmovementsin30years’,andeven‘Astragal’intheArchitects’Journalapplaudedthedemonstrations,asthey‘mightdomorethanalltheworthyspeechesandpassionatewritingstoshatterthemon-strouscomplacencyofsomeclientsandsomearchitects’.2‘Wearetryingtochangetheclimateofopinion’,aua’spressofficerinsisted,andinKensingtontheymaywellhavehelpeddojustthat.Forwhenitcametothecompletionoftheciviccentreofwhichthelibrarywasintendedtobethefirstphase,VincentHarris’sdesignwasabandonedand,in1965,BasilSpencewasaskedtoprepareanewscheme.

AftertheKensingtondemonstrationWilliamWilkins,actingasaua’spressofficeronthisoccasion,explainedthat‘Althoughtheprotestislight-heartedinspirit,weareprotest-ingagainstsomethingthatisinitselfaveryseriousmatter.Thatbuildingslikethisshould

bebuiltisanoutrage.Theyare300yearsbehindthetimes.Justaswedon’twearseventeenth-centurycostumetoday,soweshouldn’tbuildseventeenth-centurybuildings.’VincentHarris,however,wasunimpressedbythedemonstra-torsandbytheirarguments.Arguingthathisdesignforthelibrarywasinthe‘contemporarytraditional’stylehecountered,‘Iftheywanttolookstupid,thenletthem.Theyarequiteirresponsible.Asamatteroffact,thesestudentshavehadnotrainingatall.Justbecausetheyhavepassedafewexams,theythinktheyarefullyfledgedarchitects.’3

Infact,theelderlyHarris(1876–1971)waswronginsupposingthathiscriticswerearchitects.AlthoughstudentsfromtheArchitec-turalAssociation,theRegentStreetPolytechnic,theBartlettandotherarchitecturalschoolsjoinedtheKensingtonOperation,Anti-UglyActionhadbeenfoundedinOctober1958inthestainedglassdepartmentattheRoyalCollegeofArt,whereWilkinswasastudentalongwithKennethBaynes(themaninthebathchair),BrianNewmanandPaulineBoty(whoalsodressedupfortheoccasion),whileBarryKirk(thetown-crier),RonaldFullerandJanetAllenwereintheschoolofgraphicdesign.WithLawrenceLee,theheadofthedepartment,andKeithNew,atutorinvolvedinworkonthewindowsforCoventryCathedral,itwasnaturalthatthestudentsshouldhavebeeninterestedinarchitecture,aninterestencouragedbyDonaldInsall,thenvisitinglecturerinarchitec-tureattheinvitationofLee.

ThecatalystforAnti-UglyActionwas,however,thephilosopherMichaelKullman,thecollege’snewlyappointedtutorinGeneralStudies,whocoulddiscourseatlengthaboutthedismalstateofBritisharchitecture.Afurtherinfluence–asthechantof‘It’sanoutrage!’suggests–wasthewriterIanNairn,authorofthecelebrated‘Outrage’editionofTheArchitecturalReviewofJune1955attackingthebanal‘subtopia’ofBritain’stownscape,andlaterco-founder,withGordonCullen,oftheaRoffshoot,the‘Counter-AttackBureau’,towhichthepubliccouldreport‘outrages’andbegivenfreeadviceandpublicity.AnditwasNairnwhowasinvitedtogiveaninauguralAnti-UglylectureonthesubjectoftheFutureofLondon(thiswason19OctoberinKensing-tonTownHall;Bayneshadthejobofconduct-inghimtherefromthecollegeandrecallsthathischargeinsistedonstoppingattwopubsontheway).4

AccordingtoRobinDarwin,principaloftheRca,thefoundationofAnti-UglyActionsignalled‘anewventureinarchitecturalcriticism…thediscussionofrecentbuildingssuddenlytooktothestreets.PerhapsforthefirsttimeinEnglishhistory,buildingswerecat-called,booedandapplaudedasthoughtheywereafirstnight.’Andthereweremanyrecent

buildingstocriticise.Therelaxationofbuildingcontrolsintheearlierhalfofthedecadehadpavedthewayforabuildingboom,principallyincommercialproperty,undertheConservativegovernmentofHaroldMacmillan.‘SincethewarBritainistheonlycountryintheworldtohavehadapropertyboomchannellingwealthintothehandsofindividualsonsuchalargescale’,OliverMarriott,authorofThePropertyBoom(1967),wouldlaternote.5

Anti-UglyActionwasinpartareactiontothesheermediocrityofmuchofthisspeculativebuilding,theworkofasmallgroupofpropertydevelopers.Itwasalso,inevitably,anexpressionofawidersea-changeinarchitecturalattitudes.AstheselectionofthenewKensingtonLibraryandotherarchitecturalvictimssuggests,theorganiserswerenotsomuchanti-uglyasanti-traditional(althoughtheydenied‘attempt-ingtoimposeanaestheticdictatorshipofarchitecturalstyle’).6Duringthe1950s,archi-tectsandcriticscommittedtotheideasofthemodernmovementinarchitecturewereincreasinglyexasperatedbythefactthatolderarchitectsperceivedasreactionary–Harris,AlbertRichardson,VictorHealandothers–continuedtodesignandbuildinaconserva-tiveclassicalstyle.ThisexasperationisevidentinNikolausPevsner’scommentsonmodernarchitectureinhisBuildingsofEnglandvolumes;forinstance,therevisededitionofLondonIdescribesAgricultureHouse,theKnightsbridgeheadquartersoftheFarmers’Union,as‘reactionarybeyondbelief…HowinscrutabletoavisitorfromabroadtheworkingofEnglishdiehardconservatismmustbe!’7In1952JMRichardshadpublishedaninfluentialarticleon‘RecentBuildinginOxfordandCambridge’inwhichhelamentedthattheolderuniversitiesdidnotdemonstrate‘anyawarenessofwhatishappeningintheartsinthecontemporaryworld…andonlyreflecttheartisticbarrennessandtimidityofacademictaste’.8Thiswasfollowedin1956byanarticleon‘ThePseudo-mania’inVarsity,theCambridgeundergraduatenewspaper,whichcriticisedrecentnewbuildingsintheuniversity.Thatsameyear,legendhasitthatastudent‘GroupforArchitec-tureandPlanning’expressedtheirdisapprovalofStephenDykesBower’straditionaldesignforanewbuildingatQueens’CollegebythrowingthemodelofitintotheriverCam(DykesBowerthenresigned,tobereplacedby,again,BasilSpence).9

SuchdirectactionmaywellbeaprecedentforAnti-UglyAction,buttheimmediateinspirationwassurelythefirst‘BantheBomb’marchfromLondontoAldermastonsupportedbythenewlyformedCampaignforNuclearDisarmament(cnD).ThistookplaceoverEaster1958.TherewascertainlyanoverlapbetweenthecnDandaua,andnotonlybecause,inthepublicmind,bothwereidentifiedwithnoisy

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protestmarchesbyduffle-coatedstudents.OneunidentifiednewspapercuttingpastedinthescrapbookintheAnti-UglyActionarchivemakesthatclear:‘“Ijoinedamarchtheotherday”,saidagirlinCambridge.“IthoughtitwasagainsttheH-bomb,onlyitturnedouttobeagainstuglybuildings.NevermindImarched.”Whichsoundssilly,butmakessense.Whetheryourprotestisagainst“prestige”bombsor“prestige”officeblocks,you’reinrevoltagainstthedated,tiredthinkingthatreplacesgreatnessbybignessandvisionbycomplacency.’Christo-pherLoguerecalledfirstmeetingPaulineBotyatacnDmarchwhenshewashandingoutaualeaflets.AccordingtoKenBaynes,someoftherootsofAnti-UglyActionalsolayintheactivitiesoftheIndependentGroupintheearly1950sattheInstituteofContemporaryArts.10

ThefirstAnti-Uglyeventwasplannedfor10December1958.BrianNewmandrummedupsupportintheRcastudentNewsheet:

Ouraimistowakeuppublicinterestinarchitecture.Impossible?Youmaywellsayso,butourviewisthatifyoubelievethesituationisbadyourviewhasnovalueunlessitisexpressed.Inourattemptstowakepublicopinionweshallbearinmindthatbusinesshascapitalandcapitalbuilds.Soweproposetodirectourawakeningatthem.aCTION.Themethodsweproposetousearethosewhichgiveusthemostpublicity.TheimmediateintentionistolaunchrepeateddemonstrationsagainstrecentexamplesofarchitecturalstodgeinLondon.11

Thetargetswere,first,CaltexHouseintheBromptonRoad,anungainlysemi-moderndevelopmentof1955–57byStoneToms&Partners,dubiouslyenhancedbyFrantaBelsky’ssculpturesofhorses,andthemonu-mentalneo-GeorgianAgricultureHouseinKnightsbridgeof1956byRonaldWard&Partners.Accompaniedbyadrummerandabugler,50orsostudentsmarchedalongKnightsbridge,carryingbanners(one24feetlong)thatproclaimed‘UglyBuildingsAreaSin’and‘MustBadBuildingsSpeakforBritain?’,amongotherthings.Whentheycametotheoffendingnewbuildingsthechantswentup–‘PullitDown!’‘WhataMonstrosity!’and‘Outrage,Outrage,Outrage!’–andsloganswerechalkedonthepavementsoutside.InfrontofAgricultureHousetheyobservedaminute’ssilencewithheadsbowed.MichaelKullman,whoaccompaniedthestudentstoseethattheydidnotgetintotrouble(andhadhisnametakenbythepolice),explainedtothepressthattheFarmers’Unionheadquartersrepresented‘Stalinisminbuilding.Stalinwouldhavelikedit.Thereisacompletemisuseofclassicornament’,whileCaltexHousewasjust‘chaotic’andtheonlysuitableplaceforitsthreehorseswouldbe‘outsideanItalianrailwaystation’.BetweenthetwoarchitecturaloutrageswasBowaterHouse,andasthedemonstration

passedthisdominatingbutmoreacceptableexpressionofcommercialmodernism(byGuyMorgan&Partners,1956–58)thestudentsgave‘threeheartycheers’ofapproval.12

OperationTwoofauafollowedsoonafter.On16December1958apartyofstudentsinvadedthatbastionofconservatismand‘fortressofugliness’,theCityofLondon.Theobjectivewas‘themessatthebackofStPaul’s’followingwartimebombingandreconstruc-tion.Thatmeanttwocommercialblocksthennearingcompletion:thelargenewbuildingatthenearendofCheapsidebyVictorHeal,intendedfortheBankofEngland(Pevsnerindependentlyfoundit‘almostbeyondcomprehensionhowadesignthatwouldhavebeenreactionary20yearsbeforecouldhavebeenputintoexecutioninthe1950s’)andBrackenHouse,arathermoreresourcefuladaptationoftheclassicaltraditiondesignedbyAlbertRichardsonfortheFinancialTimes.‘BantheBuildingBadly’and‘MoreArchitecture–LessstODGe’saidsomeoftheplacardsandbannerscarriedbythestudents.Confrontedwiththisspectacle,thepolicedecidedthatthepresenceofadrummercontravenedaby-lawprohibitingmusicintheCitywithoutapermit,butallowedthestudents‘toretireingoodordertoLudgateCircusprovidedtheykeptfiveyardsapart’.MichaelKullmanagainaccompa-niedthedemonstrationandexplainedtoareporterfromTribunethatnoarchitectshadtakenpart.‘“Troublewiththeircollegeauthori-ties?”No,thereasonwasanxietyabouttheirfuturecareers.’13

OperationThreereturnedtotheCityandwasamorecarefullystage-managedevent,althoughorganisedatshortnotice.Anti-UglyActionhadlearnedthaton15January1959thefoundationstoneforthenewheadquartersofBarclaysBankonthecornerofLombardandGracechurchStreetswastobelaidbythebank’schairman,MrAnthonyTuke.ThearchitectsofthePortlandstone-cladclassicalbuildingwereATScottandVernonHelbing,successorstothelateHerbertBaker(whoseoriginaldesignforthissitehadrequiredthescandalousdemoli-tionofWren’schurchofAllHallowsLombardStreetjustbeforetheSecondWorldWar).14Tocoincidewiththisceremony,some40students,soberlydressedandwearingblackarmbands,slowlywalkeddownLombardStreetcarryingacardboardcoffinlabelled‘RiPHereLyethBritishArchitecture’.Theprocessionwasledbyafemalestudent,JanetAllen,whocarriedawreathencirclingaphotographofthemodelofthenewbank.Otherscarriedplacardsproclaim-ing‘ThisisArchitecturalBankruptcy’and‘TheCityisUglyEnoughAlready’.Atthesite,thedepositionofthecoffinonthepavementandthelightingofcandlesarounditprovidedaphotoopportunityforthepressasAllenandanotherglamorousRcastainedglassstudent,

the‘WimbledonBardot’PaulineBoty,scatteredrosepetalsoverit.

WilkinswasonhandtoexplainthattheythoughttheproposedBarclaysbuilding‘abysmallyugly,littlebetterthanastoneslabinamortuary’,andBaynesdeclaredit‘justanotherunimaginativeneo-Georgianedificethatwillkeepthisstreetadarkcavern’.TheDailyTelegraphagreed,its‘Peterborough’writingthat‘ThebesttobesaidofitisthatitwillbenoworsethanmuchofthesadstufftheCityhasputupsincethewar’,whiletheArchitects’Journalthoughtit‘abuildingwhichmakesnonsenseofanytalkofreplanningtheCity’.Eventhebank’sownMrTukeconfessed‘I’monthesideoftherebels.’BywearingasmartsuitratherthanadufflecoatandbeingaBarclays’shareholder,Wilkinsalsomanagedtoinfiltratethestone-layingceremonyitself,whichwasheldinamuslin-drapedmarquee,andJohnSmithlaterobservedthat‘TheorganisationandconductofthisdemonstrationwereadmirableandinthefinesttraditionsofEalingcomedy.’15

OperationFourwasthedemonstrationinKensington.ItsetofffromNo23CromwellRoad–Anti-UglyHQ,asithousedtheRca’sstainedglassdepartmentaswellasGeneralStudies,thelibraryandtheofficesofaRK,thecollege’sjournal.ItwasBarryKirk’sideathatsomeofthedemonstratorsshouldwearperioddresstomakethepointthatVincentHarris’sdesignforthenewlibrarywasreprehensibly‘oldfashioned’.AlongwithKenBaynes,theChristopherWrenfigureinthebathchair,andPaulineBoty,dressedasaGeorgianshepherd-ess,Kirkhimselfperformedacrucialpart:

Iwascapableofagoodloudshoutinthosedays…havingdonemyshareofbellowingduringNationalService,soIplayedthepartoftown-crier.Somebodymadefakesilverbucklesformyshoes,foundmeatunicthatcouldbetweakedtolookmoreorlessright,andabell.Iworeablacktricornhatmadeofstiffpaper,withpapercurlsdanglingdowntolookvaguelylikeaneighteenth-centurywig.Ihadapaperscroll,tintedandmarkedtolooklikeanancientparchment.Thusaccoutred,andsurroundedbyfellowstudentsfromthecollege,IyelledmymessagealongKensingtonHighStreetandmadeanuisanceofmyself.16

Foritsnextoperation,againonthefunerealtheme,Anti-UglyActiondecidedtogooutsideLondonforthefirsttime.OnSaturday28February1959theytravelledincoachestoCambridgetojoinforceswith‘localanti-subto-pians’protestingatthenewSecondHallatEmmanuelCollege,designedbytheScottisharchitectRobertHurd.Itmaynowseempuzzlingthatthisbuildingwassingledoutfordisapproval.AsNicholasTaylorwroteinCambridgeNewArchitecturejustafewyearslater,‘ThereareinfactworsenewbuildingsinCambridge(pacetheAnti-Uglies)thanthislittleScottishcottage,paradoxicallyexoticinitsvery

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dourness.’However,spurredonbyaCambridgeReviewcampaignagainsteGnb–‘Emma’sGhastlyNewBuilding’–severalhundredstudentsmarchedfromMagdalenBridgeasa200-yard-longprocessiontobesiegethecollege,someshouting‘Burnit,burnit!’andcarryingtwocoffinsaswellasbannerssuchas‘Doll’sHouseforDons’and‘SmallWindows.SmallMinds’.Theywereledby‘fourpall-bear-ers,lookingsomewhatliketeddyboysintheir“mourningweeds”’andwereaccompaniedbytwo‘ghosts’aswellasbytheeditoroftheCambridgeReviewandalsobyNoelAnnan,theprovostofKing’s,everanxioustopostureonthesideofyouth.17Ontopofoneofthecoffins,theAnti-Ugliesthenerectedaneight-foot-highmemorial‘stone’which‘mournedthedeathofBritisharchitecture“suffocatedininfancy”anddisplayedphotographsofbuildingsthatarebeingerectedinSheffieldUniversityasexamplesofmoreenlighteneddesign’.Butinthisoperation,thedemonstratorsmetwithresistance:portersandtheproctorsguardedallthelockedgatesandmembersofthecollegeretaliatedwithflourbombs,tomatoesandeggs;thememorial‘waspulleddownandsmashedandonlypoliceinterventionpreventedanuglyscene’.ThepoliceeventuallypersuadedthedemonstratorstomoveontoParker’sPiecewiththeircoffins.SomethenreturnedtoLondon;others‘drownedtheirsorrowswith25gallonsofbeerattheGrantaInn’.‘“Asuccessfulevent”,commentedWilliamWilkinsofAnti-Ugly,“Butitisthefirsttimewehaveencounteredanyopposition”.’18

Thiseventwasrapidlyfollowed,on2March1959,byanotherdemonstrationintheCityofLondon,apparentlyledbyPaulineBoty.ThetargetwasBrackenHouse,whichhadopenedthepreviousweek.Acrowdofsome50studentsholdingbannersprotestingatthequalityofnewbuildingsintheCitywerefilmedandinter-viewedbyAssociatedRediffusionforLookIn.ThearchitectofBrackenHouse,AlbertRichard-son,wasalsoinvitedtodefendhisworkontheprogrammebutdeclinedtodoso,claiming‘animportantappointmentinanotherpartofEnglandonthatday.Notimetobotherwiththesefools.’19Bynow,studentsfromtheseveralschoolsofarchitectureinLondonwerejoiningthedemonstrations,somebecomingmuchinvolvedwithAnti-UglyAction,notablyRodneyMacefromtheRegentStreetPolytechnic,JulianMustoefromtheArchitecturalAssociationandAdrianCavefromtheNorthernPoly.

Injustthreemonths,Anti-UglyActionhadbecomeverynewsworthy.‘Notsomanyyearsagoarchitecturewasvirtuallyignoredbythegeneralpress;thesubjectwasthoughttohavenopopularappeal’,TheBuildernoted.‘Nowhardlyadaygoesbywithoutsomenoticeofitinthenewspapers.’Onthedayafterthefirst‘operation’–11December1958–KenBaynes,

WilliamWilkins,RoderickMaude-RoxbyandPaulineBotywereinterviewedbyAlanWhickeronthebbc’sTonightprogramme.MorebbcinterviewsfollowedaftertheKensingtonoperationandinMarch.PaulineBoty,‘veryprettyindeed’,wasinevitablytheauamemberwhoattractedthemostpressinterest.‘Ofallthingssheisthesecretaryoftheanti-uGlies!’wastheheadlineofaninterviewintheDailyExpress(infact,shewasn’t).‘IthinktheAirMinistrybuildingisarealstinker’,shetoldthepaper,‘withtheFarmers’UnionHQ,theBankofEngland,andtheFinancialTimesasrunners-up’.20

Botywasalsoconcernedthat‘we’vehadsomereallyworryingcomplaintsaboutthewayourmembersdress.Theiroldcordsanddufflecoatsareadisgracetotheorganisation,somearesaying.Ihavetokeeppointingoutthattheyare,afterall,onlystudentsintheirworkinggarb.’Certainlynewspaperswerekeentopandertotheprejudicesofreaders.TheDailyTelegraphnoted‘dufflecoatsandponytails,thetwinbadgesofAnti-UglyAction’,whileTheTimescouldn’thelpbutnoticethatdemon-stratorswore‘theusualmotleyoflumpcoats,bluejeans,hatsliketufts,ofgorse,and,inoneinstance,greenboots’.Inhissympatheticreviewofaua’sachievementspublishedinApril1959,JohnSmithdealtwiththese‘sartorialproblems’andobservedthat‘anelegantlysuitedtVinterviewer[thiswasthepatronisingmisogynistWhicker]mayasktheAnti-Uglieswhy,iftheyaresoconcernedwithlackofbeautyinbuilding,dotheythemselveswearsuch(pause,foranervouslaugh)uglyclothes.Thisoldchestnutcanbeignored,butwhenitdoesappearitisacertainsignthatamove-mentisgettingsomewhere,andisworthyofcloserexamination.’21

Itreceivedit.InMarchPunchcarriedaninterview,conductedinthestainedglassdepartmentoftheRca,withthe‘executive’ofAnti-UglyAction–thatis,withBrianNewman,KenBaynesandWilliamWilkins(whoseemtohavetakenitinturnstocallthemselveschairman,secretary,presidentorpressofficer).Itwasclearthatalthoughnoarchitectswereamongtheoriginalmembers(theRcathenhadnoarchitecturaldepartment)theseartstudentshadbynowabsorbedthebasicrhetoricofmodernistdiscourse.Architecture‘isn’tamatterofbeingabletoreciteIonicsandDorics.It’samatteroffundamentalaesthetictheory,thebasicsystemofproportionandharmony.Amatteroflinkagetoo.Weunani-mouslyfeelthereisnoroomforarchitecturalorotherartisticexpressionthatisnotofourtime.“Whyareyousoinlovewithourtime?What’ssohotaboutit?”“Wedon’tnecessarilyapproveofourtime,butwemustexpressit.”“Why?”“Wehavenochoice”.’Theunconvincedauthor,CharlesReid,thentookthemoffinataxitosee

buildingswhichtheAnti-Ugliesadmired:theHallfieldEstateinPaddington–‘“Thosebalconies”,saidWilkins,“arebalconies,notlittleplatformswithrailings.Lookatthesculpturesquequalitiesofthefacades.GivesmealifteverytimeIseethem”’–andtheGoldenLaneestateintheCity.TheyalsovisitedoneoftheAnti-Uglies’bêtesnoires:VictorHeal’sblockfortheBankofEnglandbehindStPaul’s.‘Watchedwithhard-eyeddetachmentbyportersindust-pinkcutawaycoatsandgold-braidedtophats,Newman,BaynesandWilkinsstoodandhated…Newman:“MosthideousfacadeIeversaw.Thosebitsofsculpturedottedaboutareabsolutelyfeeble.Theydon’tadduptoanything.Theydon’tachieveanything.”’22

Similarsentimentshadbeenexpressedelsewhere.WilkinstoldDonCameronoftheStarthat‘Weaskforbeauty.Andwedemandthatnewbuildingsbeintunewiththeexpres-sionsoftheirage…Moderntechnicaldevelop-ments,especiallyinferro-concrete,makepossiblemorespatialexcitementthanwehaveseensincethegothicperiod.’AndwhatweretheworstnewbuildingsinLondon?

Thegovernmentisthebiggestcriminal.TheAirMinistry,withitsblockoffWhitehall,seemstobeincompetitionwiththepeoplewhoaredevelopingtheareabehindStPaul’sastowhocanmakeLondonmoreghastly…Thesortofthingwehateisthecompletelossofscaleandproportion:theattitudewhichthinks‘Beauty?Ah,Corinthiancolumns–stickthemon,itdoesn’tmatterwhere.’Suchbuildingsareonlymortuaries,embellishedwithoutofdateeffects.

Again,theAnti-Ugliesalsotriedtobepositivebyidentifyingexamplesofthecorollaryoftheirtitle:beauty.Wilkinsexpressedadmirationfortheusualsuspects:newbuildingsinBrazil,theGuggenheim,theSeagrambuildinginNewYork,LakeShoreDriveinChicagoandtheworkofLeCorbusier.‘InLondonweadmirethenewflatsatRoe-hampton.AndthePeterJonesstoreinSloaneSquarehasaconcavecurvebeautifultolookat.’AsfortheAnti-Uglymarches,‘Wearenotoutforlaughs.Wearedeadlyserious.’23

Atsomepoint,probablyinMarch1959,Anti-UglyActionproducedasortofmanifesto.Thisdocument,muchinfluencedbythewritingsofIanNairn,detailedwhatthemovementsoughttocombatandtoencourage,andalsooutlineditsplansforthefuture.Theseincludeda‘moveableexhibition’onhousingtobeshowninLondon’sparks,withtheaimofgetting‘ordinarypeople’talking.Itwasalsoproposedtohaveastudygrouplookatthestructureofeducationinartandarchitecturefromitsfoundations.AsBrianNewmanexplained,‘Wewanttodiguptheevilatitsroots.’24Moredemonstrationswerealsoplanned;possibletargetsincludedtheAirMinistryinWhitehall(VincentHarrisagain).

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ThewinningdesignforIpswichCivicCentrewasattackedandapetitionlaunchedagainstthedesignoftheproposednewpubliclibraryinGuildford,Surrey.InMayauasupportedacampaigntostoptwopetrolstationsbeingconstructedinFinsburySquare.Andon2JunetheAnti-UgliesagainforayedoutsideLondon.ThetargetwasPeacehaven,theunplannedbungalowvillageinSussexthathadlongbeennotoriousas‘arashonthecountryside’.PeterWhiteofauaexplained‘Weobjecttothismeaninglessseasidesprawl.WecametoPeacehavenbecauseitisaboutthebestexampleoftheworsttypeofuncontrolleddevelopment.’IanNairnhimselfcameonthisjaunt,asdidabbctelevisioncrew.

Lookingback,however,BarryKirkwas‘notsurethatthisprotestwasaparticularlygoodtactic…asthegoodburghersofPeacehavenweresimplybaffledandinfuriatedbytheinfluxofyoungpeopledemonstratingagainsttheirhomes’and,asKenBaynesreportedsoonafter,‘LocalresidentsweremuchincensedbythedemonstrationwhichwassympatheticallyreceivedbytheBrightonpress.Pressurewaslaterbroughttobearbylocalmembersofparliament,andthebbcwasforcedtowithdrawitsproposedprogrammeonthesubject.’25Meanwhile,Anti-UglyActionbegantoinspireimitation,asatleasteight‘branches’ofthesocietywereformedinotherartandarchitec-turalschools.InSwanseaon20MarchasmallgroupofstudentsfromtheCollegeofArtandUniversityCollegecarriedbannersthroughtherebuilttowncentreinprotestat‘thoughtlessandirresponsiblearchitecture’andheldaminute’ssilenceoutsidea‘Tudor-styledblockofshops’.Anti-UglyActioninLondonsentatelegramcongratulatingthem.AndinMayagroupofstudentsheldamockfuneralproces-sioninYorkinprotestatthestyleofbuildingtobeusedintheredevelopmentofSpurriergate.26TherewasevenaNewYorkAnti-Uglygroup.

Itwas,however,becomingcleartotheorganisersofAnti-UglyActionthat,whiletheyprovokedusefulpublicity,demonstrationswerenotenough,andtheywouldhavetoengagewiththeissuesoftownplanning,patronageandthenatureofthearchitecturalprofessionifBritisharchitecturewastobeimproved.InMarch1959apublicmeetingwasorganisedatKensingtonTownHalltoexplaintheattitudeofauatothenewKensingtonPublicLibrary;thespeakerswereJMRichards,IanNairnandthearchitectChristopherGotch.InAprilmembersattendedtheconferenceoftheBritishArchitecturalStudents’Association,asmuchtolearnastoparticipate.‘Insteadofaconferenceaboutthearchitectandsociety’,BarryKirklatercomplainedinthereporthewroteforaua:

wehadaconferenceaboutthearchitectandhisclient.Itseems,fromallthatweheard,thatthepeoplewhoareleastcapableofdiscussing

architectureinitswiderimplicationsarethearchitectsthemselves;andifthisissoitmeansthatthearchitectsnolongerknowwhatarchitectureisallabout.Noamountoftalkofprofessionaldignity,noamountofusefulinformationaboutdealingwithclients,noamountofmutualbackslappingwillrevivearchitectureifarchitectureisalreadydead.27

ItbecameapparenttoauathatpartoftheproblemwastheprofessionofarchitectureitselfandtheRoyalInstituteofBritishArchi-tectsinparticular,especiallywhen,inOctober1959,thepublicunveilingoftheschemetorebuildPiccadillyCircusexposedthecosybehind-the-scenesrelationsbetweendevelop-ers,architects,theLondonCountyCouncilandtheRoyalFineArtCommission.Aflyerwasproducedwhichasked:

TheRiba;guiltyornotguilty?IfalliswellwitharchitectureinBritain,whydoesanti-uGlYexist?WhyOutRaGe,whysPuR,whyeventheciVictRust–whyisWembleythesameuninspiringsuburbasSidcup,whywerethefarmerssoafraidofthepresentthatforAgricultureHousetheycopiedanarchitecturalstylefromthepast,whyhavethebombedsitesofthecity–boughtwithblood–beensoldouttoacommercialarchitecture,anarchitecturebankruptinimagination?AllisnotwellwithBritisharchitecture,thereforeitisnecessarytoaskwhatistheRoyalInstituteofBritishArchitectsdoingaboutit?

Thenfollowedaseriesofstatementsandcriticisms,followedbythequestion:whatwastheRibadoingaboutit?Themostdamningwasthelastparagraph:

TheRibaisrunbyaclique.TheRibagivesjobsfortheboys.TheRibagivesmedalsanddiplomastomediocrity.TheRibaisoutoftouchwitharchitects.TheRibaisignoredbyyoungarchitects.TheRibaismoreconcernedwithpompthanarchitecture.TheRibaonlyconsidersbutneverDOes.tRueORfalse?tHePublicwanttOknOw,HaVeaRiGHttOknOw!28

Inconjunctionwiththis‘outspokendocument’,whichtheArchitects’Journalthoughtwas‘publishedalittlelateintheday’,auadecidedto‘returntotheirregularpropagandamethods’andtodemonstrateoutsidetheRiba’shead-quarters.Ontheeveningof3November1959longyellowsignswerefixedtolamppostsin

PortlandPlaceandaprocessiontookplace;‘Thetheme,appropriateenoughonadarknight,was“theblindleadingtheblind”.Artstudentsdisguisedasarchitects,rangingfromconservativeartytobowler-hatspivvy,wereshownleadingthebusinessmenwhointurnwereleadingthepublicinchains.’AngelaHeskett,astudentmuchinvolvedwithaua,satonthestepsofthebuildingdressedas‘DestituteIntegrity…beggingforalms’while‘anEstablishment-lookinggent,representingtheRiba,madeEstablishment-likeremarksaboutgoodtaste.’Thetargetwasthepresidentoftheinstitute,BasilSpence,who,thatveryevening,wasgivinghispresidentialaddressandpresentingtheRoyalGoldMedaltoDavidduRAberdeen,architectoftheTradesUnionCongressheadquarters.Thisdemonstrationwasnotasuccess,however,partlybecause‘rainwasonthesideoftheEstablishment’butalsobecauseitwasmisconceived,fornotonlywasthetucheadquartersanotablyfinemodernistbuildingbutSpencewassympathetictothestudents’causeand,aspresident,wouldmakeeffortstoreformandbringunitytotheinstitute.Inhisaddress,helamented‘thepresentlackofunity.Theoldergenerationlookingwithmistrustattheyounger,withtheplainknowl-edgethattheyounggenerationofarchitectsisrevolting…remarkableinmanyways,thoughtful,hardworking…misunderstood,completelylackinginrespectfortheirelders’.29

RobinDarwin,asprincipaloftheRca,wasfuriousaboutthisdemonstration.Baynesgotatellingoffthefollowingday:

youhaveshownyourselvesonthisoccasiontobeguiltynotonlyofgreatineptitudebutgrossillmanners.IthinkyouwerewronginanycasetodemonstrateagainsttheRIBa,butifyouweredeterminedtodosoIthinkyouwereextremelyfoolishtochooseanoccasionwhensuchademon-strationwouldnecessarilybetakenasaninsulttothepresidentinhisownpersonandalsotoaparticulararchitectofsomequality.MrBasilSpenceisthemostlivelyandadvancedpresidentoftheinstituteforanumberofyearsandhehascommissionedfromstudentsandothersconnectedwiththecollegemoreworkthananyotherindividualinthecountry,afactofwhichasamemberofthedepartmentofstainedglass,youcanhardlybeignorant…IthinkonthisparticularoccasionyoubehavedinasingularlymaladroitandjuvenilefashionandhavereflectednocreditontheRoyalCollegeofArt.

DarwinhadwarnedhisfriendSpenceinadvanceabouttheproposeddemonstration,sendinghimaletter:

toapologisetoyoupersonally&totheRIBathatthisshouldbehappening.Iamashamedofit.Ingeneral,IsupporttheAnti-Uglies;theydonotdoanyharmandsometimestheydodrawattention,asatPeacehaven,toterriblethings,andsecurealotofpublicity…Thisdemonstrationagainstthe

auamanifesto,March1959

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RIBaissomethingquitedifferent.Theyareinvolvingthemselvesinthepoliticsofaprofessionofwhichtheyknownothinganddemonstratingagainstanidearatherthanabuilding.

ButtheeversmoothanddiplomaticSpencerepliedthathedidnotmind:

Actuallyyourboysandgirlsdidn’tmakeanuisanceofthemselves.I’mcertainthatifIhadn’thadtwoministersandSirVincentTewsonandvariousotherofficialguests,Iwouldhaveinvitedthemallinandgiventhemsomethingtowarmthemupastheylookedreallywetandbedraggled.Ireadtheirmanifestowithinterest–itisexactlywhatwearetryingtodoattheRIBa.

Andaweeklater,membersoftheAnti-UglycommitteemetSpenceandthesecretaryoftheRibaand‘Frankdiscussionclearedupquitealargenumberofpoints,butleftoneortwounresolved.Shortlyafterwards,however,alldifferenceswereunitedinangeragainsttheMonicositedevelopment.’30

Anti-UglyActionwasyoungandhadneverbeengreatrespectersofpersons,butoverPiccadillyCircusitbehavedwithmaturityandwasdecidedlyeffective.In1954thepropertydeveloperJackCottonhadboughtthebuildingsonthenorthsideoftheCircuscontainingtheCaféMonico,includingtheonefamouslycoveredwithlargeilluminatedneonadvertise-ments.Overthenextfiveyearsheattemptedtoredevelopthissite,enteringintoprotractednegotiationswiththeLondonCountyCouncil:thelcchadacquiredtheneighbouringTrocaderoandLondonPavilionbuildingsanditsarchitect,HubertBennett,wasanxioustoproduceacomprehensiveplanforreorderingthewholeofPiccadillyCircus.Theresultwasaschemewithnewbuildingsonthenorthandeastsidesofalarger,rectangular‘circus’whichwastobecrossedbyhigh-levelwalkways.On26October1959thelccwasreadytograntfinaldetailedplanningpermissionfortheMonicositetoIsland(Piccadilly)DevelopmentLtd,subjecttotheresolutionofatechnicalmatter.Thefollowingday,Cottonheldapressconfer-enceatwhichheproudlybutunwiselyunveiledthedesignforhischunkof‘thehubofthefirstcityoftheBritishCommonwealth’.

Cotton’sarchitectswereCotton,Barrard&Blow,buthisconsultantwasthelaternotoriousJohnPoulson.Poulson’sactualdesignerwasthearchitectFrankBooth,whohappenedtobeHubertBennett’sbrother-in-law,whileBennetthimselfwouldsubsequentlyadmittobeingthe‘fatherofthedesign’.AmodelandacrudeperspectivedrawingfortheproposednewMonicobuildingwereproduced:itwastobe13storeyshigh,withavastilluminatedadver-tisementpanelrisingtenstoreys–‘Snap’,‘PlomforVigour’and‘WatzeTime’weretheslogansdepictedonthedrawing.WhenfirstreleasedinMarch1959Cotton’sschemehadprovokedlittlereaction,butnowitwasgreetedwithhorror.

Thedesignwasrapidlycondemnedbythepress,MPs,theCivicTrustand,afteranembarrassingandmuchcriticisedvolte-face,bytheRoyalFineArtCommissionwhichhadearliergivengeneralapprovaltothescheme.‘Monicobecameanationalissue.Andtheissue,obscuredbyemotionatthestartoftherow,crystallisedintoabasicandrelativelynewproblemofplanning.Shouldtheinterestofaprivatedeveloperoverruletheinterestofthecommunityatlarge?’Anti-UglyActionimmediatelyjoinedthischorusofdisapproval,BrianNewmancommentingthat‘Forsomeoddreason,theprospectofanuglyofficeblockinPiccadillyarousedmorefeelingthanalltherestofthemonstersinLondonputtogether.Thehuboftheempireandallthat.auamadeeffortstoorganisethisfeeling.’31

AdemandforactionovertheMonicositewaspartoftheAnti-Uglies’criticismoftheRiba:

tHePiccaDillYciRcusscHeMeisMOnstROus.tHePiccaDillYciRcusscHeMeisasPeculatiVebuilDinG.tHePiccaDillYciRcusscHeMeiscOnDeMneDOnallsiDes.tHelccHaDascHeMetHatwasGOOD.tHeRibawasfORMeDtOPROtecttHePublic.letitPROtecttHeMnOw.

Anti-UglyActionnowaddeditsvoicetothedemandsforapublicenquiry,eventhoughdemolitionbehindthePiccadillyCircusfrontshadalreadybegun.Itissuedastatementabout‘ThePiccadillyCircusScheme’whichcom-plainedthatthefirmincontrolhadnot‘realisedtheresponsibilitytowardssocietybornebyallthoseinanywayconnectedwithbuilding’,butinsteadwasinvolvedinan‘ingeniouschaseofapatentlyhideouscraneforjugglingwithneonadvertisements’:

Ourappealonthismatterisnotbasedmerelyonthebadnessofthebuildinginitself.Webelievethataseriousconclusiontotheplanningandaestheticproblemsinvolvedisvital,notonlybecauselackofthoughtatthisjuncturewilljeopardisefutureanswerstothetrafficflow,andpedestriansafety,butbecausesuchaprominentexampleofsuchbad‘modernstyle’architecturecoulddoimmeasurableharmtoitscausealloverthecountry.Afterall,thisbuildingistobeplacedonauniquecentralareaofthecapitalcity.32

Anti-UglyActionthensentoutover80lettersandcopiesofitsprotesttoMPsandmembersoftheHouseofLordsaskingforsupport,andorganisedameetingattheHouseofCommonsbetweensome35MPsandothercriticsofthescheme,RobertFurneaux-Jordan,JMRichardsandBasilTaylor.Afterthis,on20November,adeputationofthreeMPswenttoseethe

MinisterofHousing&LocalGovernment,HenryBrooke,toaskforapublicenquiryandalsotocomplainthatimportantplanningdecisionswerebeingmadebehindcloseddoors.AftertheaffairwasdebatedintheCommons,theMinister‘capitulated’withinthreedaysandannouncedapublicenquiryintotheMonicoproposals,whichopenedattheCountyHallon16December1959.33

Anti-UglyActiontookanactivepartinthisenquiry,withKenBaynes,whocross-examinedwitnesses,immediatelycomplainingthattheplanspresentedwerenotinfactthosecalledinbytheminister(counselforthedeveloperthenexplainedthat‘improvements’hadbeenmadetomeetthewishesofthelcc).JaneDrew,thepartnerofMaxwellFry,respectedmodern-istsboth,gaveauaadviceandgaveevidenceasanexpertwitness(asdidJMRichardsandothers,onbehalfoftheCivicTrust).WilliamWilkinsalsogaveevidence,offeringadetailedanddevastatingaestheticcriticismofBooth’sdesign.Ratherthanfollowingmodernmove-mentorthodoxy,whichdownplayedaestheticsinfavouroffunction:

weproposetoarguethecasefromoneaspectonly,anaspectofprimaryimportance:appear-ance,forhoweverimportantaretownplanninganditsattendanttrafficflow,plotratioandcarparkingregulations,therecanbenodoubtthatitwastheappearanceofthisbuildingthatprimarilybroughtittotheattentionoftheminister…Tosumup,wepleadthatthisbuildingistoopoorineveryarchitecturalquality,fortheapplicationtobegranted.Tolackisnotnecessarilytobevulgar,norforvitalityisitnecessarytobevulgar,anditisvitalitythatweneed,hereandeverywhere.Perhapsitisirrelevanttosuggestthattheminister,afterreachinghisdecision,shouldrecommendthataninternationalcompetitionbeheldforabuildingtobeerectedonthissitebutitisveryrelevanttosaythatinviewofitsappearancetheerectionofthisbuildingcannotbejustified.

Asfarasauawasconcerned,BrianNewmanwroteaftertheenquiryhadclosed:

Thereisonlyonereasonableconclusionthatcanbereachedwithregardtotheproposeddevelopment.Acompletelynewdesignmustbeprepared.Onthefaceofitthisisratherunlikelythoughthisisthedecisionwemusthopetheministerwillreach.Iftheresultisunfavourable,Anti-Uglywillorganisethebiggestdemonstrationever.Wewantatleasta1,000todemonstrate.Soifyoucare,beprepared.

Butamassprotestwasnotnecessary.On20May1960theministerturneddownCotton’sproposalsandreleasedthereportbythepresidinginspector(whowasCDBuchanan,oflaterTrafficinTownsfame),whichsupportedtheobjectors.TheArchitects’Journal’s‘Astragal’notedthat‘HaditnotbeenfortheCivicTrust,theenquirywouldhavebeenacompletecarve-up,withthedevelopersandthelcc

Rogue’s Gallery

RobertHurd&Partners,SecondHall,EmmanuelCollege,Cambridge,1957–59,photo2015;StoneToms&Partners,CaltexHouse,BromptonRoad,1955–57,photo1958;EVincentHarris,KensingtonCentralLibrary,1955–60,photo2015

VictorHeal,NewChangeBuildings,1953–60(demolished),photo2006;ATScott&VHelbing,BarclaysBankheadquarters,LombardStreet,1959(demolished);GuyMorgan&Partners,BowaterHouse,Knightsbridge,1956–58(demolished),photo1958

EVincentHarris,AirMinistry,Whitehall,1939–59,photo2015;Richardson&Houfe,BrackenHouse,FridayStreet,1954–59,photoc1986;RonaldWard&Partners,AgricultureHouse,Knightsbridge,1956(demolished),photoc1956

FitzroyRobinson&PartnerswithHowardRobertson,LondonPressExchange,StMartin’sPlace,1958–62;Cotton,Barrard&BlowwithJohnPoulsonandothers,Monicositebuilding,PiccadillyCircus,1959;LondonCountyCouncil,PiccadillyCircus,1959

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singingtheirhappysongsofpraiseinharmony.’34ButhaditnotbeenforAnti-UglyActiontheremightnothavebeenapublicenquiryinthefirstplace,andJackCotton’splanswouldhavebecomeadreadfulreality.

BythistimethepresshadratherlostinterestintheactivitiesoftheAnti-Uglieswhilethegroupitself,perhapsinevitably,hadrunoutofsteamastheoperationsconsumedagreatdealoftimeandeffortonthepartofjustafewindividuals.Wilkinshadforeseentheproblem,writinginOctober1959,atthebeginningofanewacademicyear:

IntheannualacademicdispersalthefoundermemberswillsufferwiththerestandoneislefttoassumethatifAnti-Uglyistocontinuetheremustberefoundermemberseveryyear.Thisseemsunlikelytohappen.Theargumenthasgoodfoundationandthoughtheeffectofthestudentshifthasbeenslightthisyear,inthenextyearitwillprobablybegreat.ThereforeifthemovementistocontinueAnti-Uglyhasthehugeproblemofreplacingthecommonroomsthatproduceditinare-establishmentfarfromthestudentshifts.

Apermanentbasewasneededfromwhich‘thewaragainstarchitecturalsin’couldcontinue.35

KenBayneswassimilarlyapprehensiveinhisreportonthe‘Anti-UglySociety’writtenearlyin1960andpublishedasanappendixtotheRca’sAnnualReportfor1959:

WenowseethatAnti-UglyActionwasanexpressionofafeelingthatwasabroadinmoreplacesthanoneatthetimeofitsinception.Wegotinfirst,andperhapscontributedsomesmallamounttothegrowthofthisfeeling.However,wedidnotcreatethefeelingthatsomethinghadgonewrongwithourenvironment,ratherwewereaconvenientfocusingpointforit.Thereisnodoubtthatthisfeelingfounditshighestexpression,sofar,inthepublicandparliamentaryoutcryovertheMonicositedevelopment.Itisinterestingtonotethathavingcreatedaplatform,bydemonstra-tion,wewereabletoinfluencetheappointmentofanenquirywithouttakingourbannersintothestreets.

Asforthefuture,‘Nodoubttherewillstillbeextremecasesinwhichademonstrationwillbeappropriate,butwehavefound,perhapsinevitably,thatthepowerofthedemonstrationattackhasbeendecreasinginratiowithitsfrequency.Itseemsasifthenextstageshouldbemoreconcernedwithexhibitionsandsoon’.36

Demonstrationscontinued,however.TherewasoneinOxfordinOctober1959,butthismayhavebeenalocalinitiative.SamWebbtookpartinaprotestagainstthethreateneddemolitionoftheDoric‘Arch’atEustonStation;thiswasprobablyin1961andagainmayhavebeenorganisedbyabranchoftheAnti-UgliesatoneoftheLondonarchitecturalschools(shockingly,herecallsthatsomeofthese

Anti-UgliessupportedthedemolitionofStPancras).ButalthoughKenBayneshoped,earlyin1960,that‘wecanbecertainthatAnti-UglyActionwillcontinuehappilywhenthemembersofthepresentcommitteeleavethecollegenextsummer’,thelastproperauademonstrationtookplaceon23Marchthatyear.TheobjectoftheprotestwasthenewcommercialblockcontainingapostofficeproposedfortheeastsideofStMartin’sPlace,closetoJamesGibbs’eponymousbaroquechurch.ThearchitectswereFitzroyRobinson&PartnerswithHowardRobertsonasconsultant(Robertsonwasnowseenasavillain,notsomuchbecauseofhiscontroversialShelltowerbutbecausehewastheonlyarchitecttospeakinfavouroftheMonicoproposalatthepublicenquiry).‘auaisnotopposedtodevelopmentonthesitenorthofStMartin’sintheFields,butbelievesthatabuildingthatistobeerectedinthemiddleofafamousandbeautifulview,mustaddtothatviewandnotdestroyit…anti-uGlYactiOnishorrifiedbythedullandold-fashionedappear-ance’ofthebuildingproposed.37

Attherequestofthepolicethedemonstra-tiondidnotcommenceasfirstplannedoutsidethebbc’sBroadcastingHouse(whoseproposedextensioninPortlandPlacewasalsodesignedbyRobertson)andendinTrafalgarSquare,butbeganinRussellSquareandproceeded,viathebbc,toSpeakers’CorneratHydePark.AnoteinNewsheetpromised‘Band,balloons,coffins’andtheprocessionwasledbyajazzbandwithdrummerandplacardsheldaloftread‘sOsStMartin’s’,‘stOPTheseMen’and‘SaveStMartin’sfromtHeM’.KenBaynes,onthisoccasionactingaspressofficerandwearingadistinctivetophat,wasonhandtoexplainthat‘Wewantalightairybuilding,whichwillactasafoilandnotahammerblowtoStMartin’s.’TheAnti-Uglieshadbeenissuedwithgas-filledballoons,eachofwhichcarriedalabel,addressedtotheMinisterforHousing&LocalGovernment,whichread‘HavingobservedtheeasewithwhichbadandmediocrebuildingcanbefoistedonthepublicasatPiccadillyCircusandStMartin’s,Ishouldliketocallforpublicationofalldesignsbeforeapproval.Yoursfaithfully…’AtSpeakers’Corner,WilliamWilkins‘madeabraveharanguetohisaudi-ence,fromanimpromptuplatform.Heshouted:“IfallourballoonsarereadywewillreleasetheminthehopethattheywillreturntoMrBrooke,whowillunderstandwefeelstrongly”.’Upwentacloudofballoons,butinvain–thebuildingwentupasdesigned.38

TheStMartin’soperationwasAnti-UglyAction’sswansong,assoonafterwardssomeoftheorganiserslefttheRcaanddispersed.Twoyearslater,in1962,anattemptwasmadetorevivetheAnti-Ugliesinconjunctionwithsettinguptheshort-livedNewArchitectureGroup.VeteransofAnti-UglyAction–Wilkins,

Baynes,NewmanandNason–werepresentatmanyofthecommitteemeetings,butthemovingforceseemstohavebeentheeconomistandwriterJohnWood,amemberoftheConservativeParty’sBowGroup.WoodhadusefullysupportedtheoriginalAnti-Ugliesbehindthescenesandhadwrittenarticlesintheinterimwithsuchtitlesas‘MustBritainbeaMess’and‘ArchitectsandUgliness’.39Theaimofthenewgroupwas

toinfluencearchitectureandtownplanninginordertoimprovethelamentablylowstandardofphysicalenvironmentinwhichlifeinBritainislivedtoday.Wewillseektoachievethisbroadobjectivebyinfluencingeducatedpublicopiniongenerallyandbybringingpressuretobearonthosewhotakeorinfluenceplanningandarchitecturaldecisionsandopinion.

WilliamWilkinslaterexplainedtotheSundayTelegraphthat‘OuraimsaresomewhatmoresophisticatedthantheAnti-Uglies…Theoldmovementwasspoiltwhenpresspublicityconcentratedonourdemonstrations,ratherthanonwhatweweredemonstratingagainst.’WoodwasthechairmanofnaG/auandthesecretarywasthefuturelandscapearchitectMichaelEllison.FollowingtheresignationofthearchitectJulianMustoe,thepresswereinformedthat‘Noneofthemembersofthecommitteeisanarchitect.Woodfeelsthatarchitectswouldbeinhibitedintheircriticismontheprinciplethatdogdoesn’teatdog.’

Apostcardorvotingcardwasprintedbearinganew‘symbolicblotmotif’toenablethepublictosendtothesecretary’saddressrecommendationsfor‘theAnti-UglySealofdisapproval’.InNovember1962champagnereceptionswereheldatWood’shouseinChelsea;inviteesincludedRobinDay,AnthonyWedgwood-Benn,MarkGirouardandPaulReillyaswellasarchitectslikeHughCassonandDenysLasdun.Thegroupdevelopedambitiousplansforatravellingexhibition,summerschoolsandtheNairniteideaof‘workcamps’forvoluntarygroupsto‘demolishsucheyesoresasderelictarmycampsthatstillexistupanddownthecountry.Itshouldalsoprovideapracticaloutletforanyone’sdestructiveurges,architecturalorotherwise.’Tensions,however,soondeveloped.Althoughithadbeenagreedthat‘thegroupshouldhaveadualcharacteristicbasedonrespectabilityandMachiavelliantactics’,andhad‘decidedagainstthebannerwavingtacticsofau’,bytheendoftheyearsomecommitteemembersfelt‘theassociationofauwithnaGtobeambiguousonthegroundsthattheybothrepresentedtwoentirelyopposedapproaches’,andthe‘auwouldbeunabletoplayat“EstablishmentBoys”andcouldnotbeexpectedtobewithnaGunlessinvited.’Attendanceatcommitteemeetingsdwindled;WilliamWilkinsresignedinMarch1963andtheNewArchitectureGroupfizzledoutsoonafter.40

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Initsshortbutveryactivelifeofsome18months,theoriginalAnti-UglyActionhadsucceededinitsaimofchangingtheclimateofopinionaboutarchitecture.Drivenbytheenthusiasm,energyandirreverenceofyouth,ithadgeneratedanimpressivecoverageinthepressandprovokeddebateaboutmodernbuildingsandboththemannerandstyleinwhichtheywerebuilt.Itscampaignshadopeneduptheclosedandintrovertedarchitec-turalestablishmentandadvancedthecauseofyoungerarchitectscommittedtomodernism,makingit–forbetterorforworse–lesslikelythatmoretraditionaldesigns–‘stodge’–wouldbechosenformajorpublicbuildings.auahadwonsupportfrommanyarchitects.TheArchitects’Journalcommentedthat

Itwouldbeeasytobrushoffthegroup’seffortsasmerepuerility.Itwouldbeamistaketodoso;manypeople,notonlyarchitects,areprofoundlydisturbedbytheseeminglycynicalattitudeofauthoritytosuchprojectsastheMonicositeredevelopment…‘Anti-Ugly’believes,withAlexanderPope,thatridiculeisasharperweaponthanforce.Wehopethatthegroupwillcontinueinitseffortstodrawpublicattentiontoallarchitec-turalshortcomingswherevertheymaybefound.

Intheirconcernwiththesocialaspectofarchitecture,aua’sargumentsalsoanticipatedthoseinfavourof‘CommunityArchitecture’twodecadeslater.And,intheirwittyandimaginativeoperations,theyhadconspicuouslycombinedpublicprotestwithperformanceart.Evenpoliticianstooknoticeofthem.TheLabourParty’s1959policystatement,LeisureforLivingobservedthat

Publicindifference,privateavarice,and,insomeplaces,municipalignorancearelargelyresponsibleforthegrowthofwhathasbeennicknamed‘Subtopia’.Valuableworkincounter-attackingtheseevilshasbeendonebyHughCasson,IanNairn,OsbertLancaster,JohnBetjemanandothers;andthe‘anti-ugly’demon-strationsbystudentsarewelcomeatleastasanindicationofawareness.Thetroubleisthat,inevitably,theycometoolate.41

However,itwasboththeirstrengthandtheirweaknessthatnoneoftheprimemoversamongsttheAnti-Uglieswasanarchitect,fortheirarchitecturaljudgements,andtastes,wereinconsistentandarguablyincoherent.Itmayseempuzzlingtodaythat–insearchof‘beauty’–theycouldadmireBowaterHousewhilebeingblindtothesubtlevirtuesofBrackenHouse.Despitebeing,rightly,mostinterestedinappearances,theirtasteswereclearlygovernedbyideology.Itmayalsoseemsurpris-ingthattheywerealsounhappyaboutthedesignoftheproposednewhomeoftheirownRoyalCollegeofArt,adistinguishedmodernbuildingbyHTCadburyBrown,whose‘greatnessandstature’wereadmiredbyIanNairnwhennewlycompleted:

Thisisthe‘angry’stylecompletelyjustified,yetstillangryorratherwhateverwordistheexactoppositeofcomplacent.ThehorizontalandverticalmembersoftheconcreteframeareseparatedasdemonstrablyasthoughtheAnti-Uglies(whowereRCastudents)werestilldemonstrating.NotmanyofLondon’smodernbuildings…willinspireaffectionin50years,butthiswill.

Yet,justafewyearsearlier,WilliamWilkinscouldannouncethat,‘Thebuildingisn’tbadenoughtodeserveacampaignagainstit.Butit’snotwhatitshouldbe.Itoughttobeafine,excitingbuilding,somethingreallysuperb.Wearenotmakinganycommentsofficially.Butindividuallysomeofushatethebuilding.’42Thismayhavebeenoutofrebelliousperversity,butitalsosuggeststhatwhilecommittedtomodernity,theAnti-Ugliesdidnotnecessarilysubscribetomodernmovementorthodoxy.

SomeofthetraditionalistarchitectsattackedbytheAnti-Uglies–HarrisandRichardson–huffedandpuffedwhenpilloried,butabalancedandpertinentcriticismofAnti-UglyActioncameatthetimefromGeorgeWhitby,the‘humanist’or‘rationalist’architectwho,withhispartnerDonaldMcMorran,wasabouttodesigntheWoodStreetpolicestationintheCityofLondonandlater,alone,theOldBaileyextension–twobuildingsmuchadmiredtodayforbeingproductsofanintelligentcompromisebetweentraditionandmodernity.

TheAnti-Ugliesarerighttodemandgoodarchitecture,andIagreewiththemthatnotallthenewbuildinginLondonisgood.Buttheyarecompletelymisguidedinthearchitectstheyattack.Theycompletelyfailtodistinguishbetweenwhatisbadinmodernarchitectureandwhatisgoodinthetraditional.Tothemamodernistbuildingmustbegoodjustbecauseitismodern,whereasagoodtraditionalbuildingliketheKensingtonLibrarymustbebadjustbecauseitistraditional.Theysaytheywantbuildingstoreflectthespiritoftheage.Butwhatisthespiritoftheage?Itisanuncer-tainty,amistrustofthepastandamistrustofthefuture.Dowewanttoreflectthatinourbuildings?Weshouldstrivetodesignbuildingswhichlookforwardtothetimewhenarchitectureisbeyondfashionsandclichés.43

Halfacenturyon,BarryKirkconfessedthat‘theissueswewereprotestingaboutseemratheracademicandnotalittleunfair.Ihavebecomemuchmoretolerantofclassical-stylearchitecture,andperhapsevenlesstoleranttowardsblandoruglydevelopments.’KenBaynesadmitsthatsomeofthebuildingstheyattackedturnedouttobegood;‘Maybeitisthewisdomofhindsight,butIsuspectthatwhatwewereafterwasindeedmodernismbutequallyitwasquality.Weweredismayedbythereallyrottenaveragestandardofnewbuildinginthe1950swhethertheywerefauxmodernorapasticheofpaststyles…OurmainimpulsewastobringBritainkickingandscreamingintothe

modernworld.’AndWilliamWilkinspointsoutthattheattacksonCaltexHouseandtheMonicoproposals‘showthatalthoughprettycallowwereallydidtrytodrawattentiontotheghastlymodernaswellasthelumpen(andnotsolumpen!)traditional.AndIthinktheMonicovictoryissomethingwecanbereallyproudof.’Allthefoundersseemtolookbackonthisphaseoftheirliveswithaffectionandgratitude.BarryKirkhaswritten:‘BecauseoftimeslikethatIremaingratefultotheAnti-Ugliesforcreatingfunwithaseriouspurpose…Iremainconvincedthattherewasreasontobefiercelyconcernedbutbydisbandingbeforethe1960sreallygotunderwaywemissedoutonthemostdeservingtargetsforprotests.’KenBaynesrecallsatimeofchangeleadingtothe1960s,‘excitingtimesforafairlygreenyoungstudentupfromthecountry’,butalso‘asenseoflivinginacountrynottakingpartinwhatwasnew…missingout.’HehasnodoubtthatAnti-UglyActioninflu-encedwhathedidlater.44

AftertheylefttheRcamostoftheoriginalAnti-Ugliesdidnotbecomeseriouslyinvolvedwitharchitectureagain.KenBaynesbecameheadoftheDesignEducationUnitattheRcaandhadacareerasadesigner,educatorandwriter,muchconcernedwithexhibitions.In1961hepublishedtwoentertainingarticlesinaRK,theRca’sjournal,whichexploredtheideasthathadinspiredAnti-UglyAction.BarryKirk–whobecameapainter,andvice-principaloftheCanterburyCollegeofArt–nowthinks‘the1960sweredisastrousforarchitecture’and‘Itwouldbehearteningtoseethestudentsoftodaytakingupplacardsagainsttheuglinessofmodern-dayarchitecture.’45BrianNewmanlatertaughtinanartschoolaswellaspainted.RonFulleralsotaughtbutsoonwasabletoenjoyhimselfmakingwittyandeccentricmechanicaltoysandautomata.GeraldNason,aftereditingaRKandbeinganassistanteditoronTheArchitecturalReview,becameabookartist,painterandsculptor.AngelaHeskettdroppedoutoftheRcabeforefinishingthecourse.AsforMichaelKullman,afterteachingattheWestofEnglandCollegeofArtheseemstohavedisappearedwithouttrace.WilliamWilkins,however,remainedinvolvedwitharchitecturewhilebecomingapainterandteacher.HewaspressofficertotheGreaterLondonCouncil’sArchitects’Departmentand,later,inadditiontorestoringLlanellyHouse,createdtheNationalBotanicGardenofWales,commissioningNormanFostertodesigntheGreatGlasshouse,andwasmadeanhonoraryfellowoftheRiba.ThetragicpartofthestoryisthefateofthecharismaticPaulineBotywho,havingrapidlyestablishedaconsiderablereputationastheonlyprominentfemalePopartist,diedofcancerin1966attheageofonly28.‘Wewereallinlovewithher’,GeraldNasonrecalls,andtodaysheisbyfarthebestknownoftheAnti-Uglies.46

88 aafiles70

IamparticularlygratefultothetwooriginalAnti-Uglies,KenBaynesandWilliamWilkins,forsharingtheirmemoriesofAnti-UglyActionwithme,aswellastootherswhohelpedwithmyresearch:LouiseCampbell,RosemaryHill,AlanPowers,DonaldInsall,GeraldNason,YvonneDNew,AdamSmith,OttoSaumarezSmithandSamWebb,aswellasNeilParkinson,archivistattheRca.ResearchwasmademucheasierbytheexistenceofascrapbookofpresscuttingsretainedbyGeraldNason,whichalongwithotherauadocumentswaslenttomebyWilliamWilkinsbeforebeingdepositedasanarchiveattheBritishArchitecturalLibrary.ParticularthanksarealsoduetoRichardandFrancescaCalvocoressiwho,backin1991,firsttoldmeaboutJohnWoodandtheAnti-UgliesandletmehaveoneoftheNewArchitectureGroup’s‘Anti-UglySealofdisapproval’cards.

1. DailyTelegraph,4&5February1959;TheTimes,5February1959.

2. JohnBetjeman,‘FrustrationsofanArchitect’,TheDailyTelegraph&MorningPost,9March1959;RobertHarling,‘Anti-Uglies’EyesonNottingHill’,TheSundayTimes,5February1959.

3. KensingtonNews,6February1959;Architects’Journal,25December1958,p912.

4. ManchesterGuardian,11June1957. 5. RobinDarwin,RoyalCollegeofArt

AnnualReport1958(London,1959),p32;OliverMarriott,ThePropertyBoom(London:HamishHamilton,1967),ppiX,11.

6. RcaNewsheetnoX,November1958,p6. 7. NikolausPevsner,LondonI:TheCities

ofLondonandWestminster(London:Penguin,1962),pp541–42.

8. JMRichards,‘RecentBuildinginOxfordandCambridge’,TheArchitecturalReview,August1952,pp73–74.

9. SeeLouiseCampbell,‘BuildingontheBacks:BasilSpence,Queens’CollegeCambridgeandUniversityArchitectureatMid-century’,ArchitecturalHistory54,2011,p387

10. UnidentifiedandundatedpresscuttinginauaarchiveprobablyreferringtotheCambridgedemonstrationon28February1959;ChristopherLogue,PrinceCharming:AMemoir(London:

Faber&Faber,1999),p233.LoguestatedthatthismeetingoccurredattheendofthefirstAldermastonmarchandthatBotywashandingoutleafletsadvertisingtheprotestoutsideAgricultureHouse,butthiscannotbecorrectasthemarchtookplaceoverEaster1958;interviewwithKenBaynes,12November2014.

11. RcaNewsheet,opcit;AdamSmith,NowYouSeeHer.PaulineBoty:FirstLadyofBritishPop,PDfprivatelypublishedoncD,2002.

12. DailyTelegraph,11December1958;TheTimes,11December1958.

13. RcaAnnualReport1958,opcit,p32;NikolausPevsner,LondonI,opcit,p205;Tribune,19December1958.

14. SeeGavinStamp,‘HowWeCelebratedtheCoronation:TheFoundationandEarlyYearsoftheGeorgianGroup’inTheGeorgianGroupJournal,XX,2012,pp11–12.

15. TheStar,15January1959;DailyMail,16January1959;ManchesterGuardian,16January1959;DailyTelegraph,17January1959;Architects’Journal,22January1959;EsherNewsandAdvertiser,23January1959;IllustratedLondonNews,24January1959;Architect&BuildingNews,April1959.

16. BarryKirk,‘Comment’,afterGavinStamp,‘Anti-UglyAction’,Blueprint,January2007,p64.

17. CambridgeDailyNews,2March1959.Justafewyearslater,ProvostAnnanwouldencouragethespoilingandmutilationofhisowncollegechapel,oneofthemostremarkableandbeautifulmedievalbuildingsinEurope.

18. SundayTimes,1March1959;Observer,1March1959;TheTimes,2March1959;Architects’Journal,5March1959;Varsity,7March1959;NicholasTaylor,CambridgeNewArchitecture(Cambridge:TrinityHall,1964),p19.

19. CityPress,6March1959;NewsChronicle,10March1959.

20. Builder,13March1959;DailyExpress,16March1959;Logue,opcit,p257:‘Anitemonthetelevisionnewscaughtmyeye.TheAnti-UglieshaddemonstratedoutsidethenewKensingtonLibrary…MissBotywasquestioned.’Loguerecalled,possiblyinaccurately,thatVincentHarrisandasupportiveJohnBetjemanwerealsointerviewedontheprogramme.

21. DailyTelegraph,5February1959;TheTimes,11December1958;Architect&BuildingNews,April1959,theauthorwaspresumablythefutureSirJohnSmith,founderoftheLandmarkTrust(WhickerhadinfuriatedtheAnti-UgliesonthetVprogrammebyaskingBoty,whohadastutter,atrickquestionabouttheirclothes:‘Itwasabasetrickandwewereprettyindignant’,Wilkinsremembers).

22. CharlesReid,‘ArchitectureConsideredasOneoftheFineArts’,Punch,4March1959,pp320–21:BrianNewmanwouldseemtohavebeentheprincipalspokesmaninthisinterview;Architect&BuildingNews,April1959.

23. TheStar,9February1959.24. ManchesterGuardian,1April1959.25. IanNairnandNikolausPevsner,

TheBuildingsofEngland:Sussex(London:Penguin,1965),p578;TheTimes,3June1959;RoyalCollegeofArtAnnualReport1959(London,1960),p76;Blueprint,January2007,p64.

26. ManchesterGuardian,20March1959;TheTimes,21March,1959;YorkEveningPress,14May1959.

27. TypescriptbyRBKirkintheAnti-UglyArchive.

28. LeafletintheAnti-UglyArchive;sPuRwasthenewandshort-livedSocietyforthePromotionofUrbanRenewal;theCivicTrusthadbeenfoundedin1957.

29. ManchesterGuardian,4November1959;Architects’Journal,12November1959,p490;LouiseCampbell,MilesGlendinningandJaneThomas(eds),BasilSpence:BuildingsandProjects(London:Riba,2012),p66.

30. RobinDarwintoKennethBaynes,4November1959,reproducedinGavinStamp,Blueprint,opcit,p62(Spencewas,ofcourse,thearchitectofCanterburyCathedral);RobinDarwintoBasilSpence,3November1959,&SpencetoDarwin(copyletter)5November(RoyalCommissionfortheAncient&HistoricalMonumentsofScotland);RcaAnnualReport1959,opcit,p77.

31. Marriott,ThePropertyBoom,opcit,pp140–43;JMRichards,MemoirsofanUnjustFella(London:Weidenfeld&Nicolson,1980),pp224–46;RcaNewsheet,XV,March1960;Smith,NowYouSeeHer,opcit.

32. JohnWood’spapers(RichardCalvocoressi);typescriptintheAnti-UglyArchive.

33. TheTimes,21November1959;RcaNewsheet,XV,March1960;RcaAnnualReport1959,opcit,p77.

34. ManchesterGuardian,17December1959;WilliamWilkins,StatementofEvidence,typescriptdated3January1960inAnti-UglyArchive;RcaNewsheet,XV,March1960;Architects’Journal,31December1959.

35. UnidentifiednewspapercuttingintheAnti-UglyArchive.

36. RcaAnnualReport1959,opcit,p75.37. SamWebbtotheauthor,email12May

2012;leafletinAnti-UglyArchive.38. RcaNewsheet,xv,March1960;

EveningStandard,23March1960;DailyTelegraph,24March1960.

39. JohnWood,‘MustBritainbeaMess’,TheObserver1960andreprintedasapamphlet;JohnWood,‘ArchitectsandUgliness’,Crossbow:TheBowGroupQuarterly,Summer1961,pp33–40.

40. SundayTelegraph,18November1962;naG/aucommitteeminutes,etcamongJohnWood’spapers(RichardCalvocoressi).TheotheractivecommitteemembersincludedChristopherHewettandMartinForde.

41. Architects’Journal,13November1959;LeisureforLiving(London:LabourParty,1959),p16.

42. IanNairn,ModernBuildingsinLondon(London:LondonTransport,1964),p47;unlabelledandundatedcuttinginAnti-UglyArchive.

43. TheStar,9February1959.44. Blueprint,January2007,p64;Ken

Baynesemailtotheauthor,2October2012;interviewwithKenBaynes,12November2014;WilliamWilkinsemailtotheauthor,24October2007.

45. KennethBaynes,‘AMaDteaparty’(illustratedbyBarryKirk)and‘LondonandtheArcadianDream’,aRK28,Spring1961;BarryKirk,opcit.

46. SeeSueWatlingandDavidAlanMellor,PaulineBoty(1938–1966):TheOnlyBlondeintheWorld(London:aMPublications,1998)andSueTate,PaulineBoty:PopArtistandWoman(Wolverhampton:WolverhamptonArtGallery,2013).

47. NikolausPevsner,TheBuildingsofEngland:Cambridgeshire(London:Penguin,1970),p74;KensingtonNews,6February1959.

Theafter-livesofthebuildingstargetedbyAnti-UglyActionareevenmoreinstructive.Severaldidnotstandforverylong.CaltexHousesurvives,somewhataltered,butAgricultureHousehasgone(demolishedin1993)–ashasBowaterHouse,inexplicablyadmiredbyaua,demolishedin2006tobereplacedbyanoverweeningmodernistdevelopment(bytheRichardRogersPartnership)evenmorearrogantlydiscordantwithitssurroundings.IntheCity,BarclaysBankheadquarterslastedameretwodecadesbeforebeingreplaced.TheformerBankofEnglandbuildinginNewChangehas,unfortunately,alsogone,demol-ishedin2007infavourofabuilding(byJeanNouvel)which,unlikeVictorHeal’s,isalmost

calculatedlyoffensivetoStPaul’sCathedral.ThankstotheMonicopublicenquiryanddespitemanyplansforrebuilding,PiccadillyCircusstilllooksmuchasitdidin1959whilethepostofficeinStMartin’sPlaceisunchanged,andnowseemsunassertiveandwellmannered(althoughHowardRobertson’sextensiontothebbchasgone).InCambridge,RobertHurd’sbuildingatEmmanuelCollegeisstillthere.NikolausPevsnerwroteafewyearsaftertheauaoperationthat‘Ithasbeenviolentlyattacked–wrongly;forthoughitisplayfulandperhapsalittlesilly,itmayonedaybeloved’.Butitisnotloved,andtodayjustlooksunimpressiveanddreary.BackinLondon,VincentHarris’sAirMinistry–that‘realstinker’whichisnowthe

MinistryofDefence–isverymuchstillstand-ing,asishismalignedKensingtonLibrary,ratherjustifyingbyitsexcellentperformanceoverhalfacenturythearchitect’sdefenceagainstauathat‘Youwillfindthatmanymodernbuildingsdevelopdefectssuchasleakingroofsandcrackedwallssoonaftertheyhavebeenbuilt…mostofthosebuildingsthatneedthemaintenancearenewones.’47AsforBrackenHouse,italsosurvives,althoughwithitscentre,theformerprintingworks,rebuilt(byMichaelHopkins&Partners),havingin1987becomethefirstpostwarbuildinginEnglandtoenjoythestatusofbeingstatutorilylistedasofarchitecturalimportance.Albeitposthu-mously,SirAlberthadthelastlaugh.