Elizabeth Darling
@archhistdarling
Architectural historian, lecturer, author, specialising in histories of modernist cultures in Britain, esp 20s/30s; expert on women & architecture 1890s to the present. New book out now:
Thanks to @themodernist.bsky.social x BDP for the invitation to talk about Modernist architects at the BBC this evening. Arrow was originally at Preston Bus Station.
Repeat after me: “a gasometer is as good as a garden, probably better’.
Also at T.B. - a lovely room devoted to Nina Hamnett & one to Prunella Clough.
Very much enjoyed the #JamesMcNeillWhistler show at Tate Britain - some great work on display & pleasingly inclusive approach to his female collaborators & partners in the curation.
Thank you to everyone who came in person or online to my @c20society.bsky.social talk about #PalaceoftheEther yesterday evening & especially to @samiraahmeduk.bsky.social for her brilliant questions which allowed a great discussion. www.lundhumphries.com/products/pal...
Making space for news/talks was a key part of the commission for Broadcasting House; Wells Coates’s News Studios a sublime expression of their importance. So it was a real pleasure to be on R4’s World Tonight talking about my book Palace of the Ether www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... (@ 29 mins)
The mighty Bruce Mitchell at this evening’s “For Vini”. Not going to lie. I got a bit emotional. This was a really special evening. So glad i was there having got the last ticket! @durutticolumn.bsky.social
At the Purcell Rooms to see “For Vini” (and the mushroom columns - homage to the Pioneer Health Centre of course - & the funky doors & other detailing). Quite excited.
Palace of the Ether is out (and about). Thanks to the team @lhartbooks.bsky.social for producing such a lovely artefact & to the many archivists, librarians, colleagues and friends who got me to this point.
The Bloomsbury Global Enclyopaedia was one of the books I featured in my WHM list of books by women architectural historians. On 22nd June, I’ll be on a panel to discuss its publication. Detail here: www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/eve...
Adding to this feature in the new @c20society.bsky.social magazine, that listing is also for social value. Given the current full-blown onslaught against culture/the humanities let’s celebrate SBAC as a vision of state support for culture & architecture. See also. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Palace of the Ether has now taken material form - a few copies are now in the country. Out 16th June & available to order here: www.lundhumphries.com/products/pal...
Went to Letchworth, home (among other things) of the first roundabout in the U.K. (apparently).
Walked past this memorial today at Hyde Park Corner. Charles Wheeler was considered as a sculptor for Briadcasting House but after some internal machinations by those involved on the BBC side, it was Eric Gill who won the commission. More on this in Palace of the Ether, out in June.
Heading home after an entertaining evening hearing Adele Bertei talking about her new memoir of the music scene in NYC.
Getting closer by the day for the proofs to be signed off and Palace of the Ether is sent to be printed! Spent the afternoon checking the newly compiled index. Now off to rest my eyes. Book is out mid-June & can be pre-ordered: www.lundhumphries.com/products/pal...
I have finished working my way through Ngaio Marsh. Who next? I’ve done Christie and Sayers.
Wonderful #WilliamNicholson exhibition at #PallantHouse. Recommend.
Final entry on my #WHM thread. The honours go to Matrix’s germinal 1984 book - so important in the British context. Wrote about it here: womenwritingarchitecture.org/annotation/e...
Penultimate book in my #WHM thread Gillian Darley’s 1990 study of Octavia Hill. Hill being an exemplar of the diverse ways women have historically shaped the built & natural environment.
Another great book from 1997 for today’s #WHM thread & includes Susan Henderson’s germinal work on Grete Schütte Lihotzky
Today I’m highlighting this very recent publication for my #WHM thread. Packed to the gills with entries on architect women & part of a long tradition of not diminishing their work.
Today’s #WHM book is by Louise Campbell & was published in 2019.
#WHM today a different sort of landscape, that of social welfare reform - - wonderful book from 2014
Thankful to @alcs.co.uk for my March distribution. Always interested to see what’s been copied. This time it’s my 2016 chapter on the neo-geo & modernism (in NeoGeo Arch - a Reappraisal, eds Holder & McKellar).Thanks to those who read it & my other work & troubled to ensure ALCS was notified.
A super book from a super project for today’s #WHM thread. @liverpooluni.bsky.social
My attention turns to this excellent 1996 book by Diane Ghirado for today’s #WHM book.