In the period since World War 2, British architecture has undergone remarkable change. Post-war challenges to provide housing, schools and university expansion were taken up by architects like James Stirling, who moved later into building in the Post-Modern architectural style. In the 1980s and 90s the High-Tech approach was led by Norman Foster and Richard Rogers. The London 2012 Olympics provided a showcase for UK architecture and Zaha Hadid led the development of building with the complex curved forms widely used today.
Course aim
The development of architecture in modern Britain, from post-war Modernism, through the Post-Modern style to High-Tech, and on to designing with complex curves and tackling the challenges of working in the context of historic buildings.
Do I need any particular skills or experience?
- You will need your own personal email address so that you’re able to login to the WEA’s digital learning platform: WEA Canvas. You will need to be able to understand how to follow URL links to pages on the internet. If you want to understand more about Canvas please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
- You will need to be able to follow links to join our WEA live video learning platform: WEA Zoom. If you’d like to understand more about our video learning platform, Zoom please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline and http://bit.ly/ZoomSpec
- This is a live lecture delivered by a subject specialist in an online webinar video learning platform. You will need to be able to access the internet on a device with speakers or earphones. There will be opportunities to take part in discussions and chats. If you’d like to know how to use Zoom please visit: http://bit.ly/ZoomSpec
- No skills or experience needed
By the end of the course I should be able to:
- Describe the key periods and styles of British architecture in the post-war period up to present day
- Demonstrate an understanding of how these styles developed over this period
- Relate the successive international influences on the development of this architecture
How will I be taught?
- The WEA’s digital learning platform, Canvas will be used to provide resources or to support lessons, enable assessment, provide learner feedback and for other activities for individuals away from the course. If you want to understand more about our digital learning platform please visit: http://bit.ly/WEAonline
- The WEA tutor will use a range of different teaching and learning methods and encourage you and the group to be actively involved in your learning
- Presentations with projected images and colour notes for each session
What kind of feedback can I expect?
- A range of informal activities will be used by the tutor to see what you are learning which may include quizzes, question and answer, small projects and discussion
- You will have opportunities to discuss your progress with your tutor
What else do I need to know?
- Nothing else is needed
Pre-course work, reading and information sources
- No pre reading or pre course work is required
What can I do next?
- Progress to another WEA course
- Progress to a course with another provider
- Become involved as a volunteer for a WEA partner or another organisation
- Arrange personal visits to see buildings relevant to this course.
Download full course information sheet
Architecture in Modern Britain: the Festival of Britain to the Present Day
