Twentieth Century Society

Twentieth Century Society. It is a British charitable organization founded in 1979, dedicated to the study, appreciation, and conservation of outstanding architecture and design from the period after 1914. The organization campaigns to protect significant buildings and landscapes from the modern era, acting as a statutory consultee in the UK planning system. Its work encompasses a wide range of styles including Art Deco, Modernism, Brutalist architecture, and post-war reconstruction projects across the nation.

History and founding

The organization was established in 1979 as The Thirties Society, following growing concern over the loss of significant inter-war architecture, notably the threatened demolition of the Daily Express Building in London. Its founding members included the poet John Betjeman, the artist John Piper, and the architect Hugh Casson, all prominent figures in British cultural life. In 1992, recognizing that important post-1945 buildings were also becoming vulnerable, it expanded its remit and was renamed. Key early influences included the work of the Victorian Society, and it has since evolved into the principal guardian of the UK's modern architectural heritage, engaging with bodies like Historic England and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

Mission and objectives

The primary mission is to safeguard the best of twentieth and twenty-first century architecture for future generations through education, advocacy, and direct intervention. A core objective is to secure statutory protection for important buildings by recommending them for listing to Historic England, often leading to designations that cover structures like Park Hill in Sheffield or the Centre Point tower in London. It aims to raise public awareness and appreciation for modern design through events, publications, and media engagement. Furthermore, it provides expert advice and opposition at public inquiries and planning hearings, challenging proposals that threaten significant sites, from Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral to the National Theatre.

Key campaigns and casework

The organization has been involved in numerous high-profile campaigns to protect iconic structures from demolition or unsympathetic alteration. Notable successes include the battle to save the British Library at St Pancras and the successful listing of the Royal Festival Hall within the Southbank Centre. It campaigned vigorously for the preservation of the BT Tower in London and the Glasgow School of Art's Reid Building. Other significant casework has involved the Keeling House in Bethnal Green, the Coventry Cathedral precinct, and the Space House on Kingsway. It frequently contests developments affecting post-war housing estates, such as the Robin Hood Gardens and the Alexandra Road Estate.

Publications and resources

It produces a range of publications that serve as key scholarly and public resources on modern architecture. Its flagship journal, published twice yearly, features in-depth articles on topics from the architecture of Basil Spence to the cinemas of the Odeon circuit. The organization also publishes a series of books, including guides to buildings by Ernő Goldfinger and the architecture of the Festival of Britain. It maintains an extensive photographic archive and provides online resources, including building case studies and a directory of listed buildings it has helped to protect. These materials are frequently cited by academics, journalists, and institutions like the Royal Institute of British Architects.

Organisation and governance

The organization is governed by a board of trustees and a committee of experts, including architects, historians, and conservation professionals. It is led by a Director, a role held since 2004 by architectural historian Catherine Croft. Operational work is carried out by a small staff team based in its London office, supported by a national network of volunteer caseworkers who monitor threats in regions from Cornwall to Scotland. Funding is derived from membership subscriptions, donations, grants from bodies like the Heritage Lottery Fund, and proceeds from its events programme, which includes lectures, tours of buildings like the Barbican Estate, and visits to sites such as Bracken House and the Chichester Cathedral tapestry.

Category:Architectural conservation Category:Organizations based in London Category:Heritage organizations in the United Kingdom