The Twentieth Century Society (full disclosure: I am a member) has the unenviable task of defending 20th century architecture. I mean unenviable in two senses: thankless, and often fruitless. Witness Gateshead Car Park or the Tricorn Centre in Portsmouth.
It is a wonderful organisation that has a more sympathetic ear from the new architecture minister, John Penrose, than ever it did from his predecessor, Margaret Hodge, who loathed much of Britain’s post-war architecture.
The society campaigns with integrity, expertise and grace. Here’s an excellent example of its work, on a deeply contested cause celebre. See if you agree with me.
maybe it was inevitable, but now the car park has gone, tescos is arguably the most recognisable landmark in gateshead town centre….