Archigram: The Book
2nd Edition
Published on 1. February 2025
Book
Hardback
302 pages
978-1-911422-49-5 (ISBN)
Description
Archigram comprised Warren Chalk (1927-88), Peter Cook (1936-), Dennis Crompton (1935-), David Greene (1937-), Ron Herron (1930-94), and Michael Webb (1937-). Together they envisioned the future of architecture in ways that enthralled a generation. In an era defined by the space race, they developed a 'high-tech', lightweight, infra-structural approach that stretched far beyond known technologies or contemporary realities. They devised autonomous dwellings and focused on survival technology; they experimented with megastructures and modular construction systems; they explored mobility through the environment, and the use of portable living capsules: all through the medium of an incredible series of drawings and models. Archigram's influence has been profound and enduring. They gave the high-tech movement its impetus; they inspired architects such as Renzo Piano and Norman Foster; and they laid the ground for the design of buildings such as the Pompidou Centre. Edited and designed by Archigram member Dennis Crompton, this book catalogues Archigram's activities over fourteen years, together with commentaries by the architects and critics writing then and now.
More details
Edition
2nd New edition
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Target group
Professional and scholarly
College/higher education
Edition type
New edition
Illustrations
50 Illustrations, black and white; 500 Illustrations, color
Dimensions
Height: 304 mm
Width: 239 mm
Thickness: 32 mm
Weight
1980 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-911422-49-5 (9781911422495)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Warren Chalk, Peter Cook, Dennis Crompton, Ron Herron, David Greene and Michael Webb are the founder members of Archigram. Their theoretical work began in the 1960s as a cry against 'the crap then going up in London'. Although they never built a building together, their influence over a generation of architects continues to be felt today. The group was awarded the RIBA Gold Medal in 2002. Reyner Banham was one of the leading architectural commentators in the decades when Archigram was active, and the author of Megastucture (1976), which featured their work. Martin Pawley documented the architectural scene in London from the 1970s onwards from the perspective of a restless insider. His writing about Archigram is incisive and colourful. Michael Sorkin was an architect and urbanist whose practice spanned design, planning, criticism, and teaching. His books include Exquisite Corpse: Writing on Buildings (1991).
Content
6 NEEDS NO INTRODUCTION, Michael Sorkin
8 ARCHIGRAM THE MAGAZINE, Peter Cook
10 ARCHIGRAM 1
12 Mosque, David Greene
13 Piccadilly Circus Competition, Peter Cook + Gordon Sainsbury
14 Furniture Manufacturers Building, Michael Webb
18 ARCHIGRAM 2
26 Gas House, Peter Cook + David Greene
27 Metal Cabin Housing, Peter Cook
Spray Plastic House, David Greene
28 Lillington Street Housing, Warren Chalk + Dennis Crompton + Ron Herron
30 Sin Centre, Michael Webb
34 Seaside Entertainment Building, David Greene
35 South Bank Development, Warren Chalk + Ron Herron + Dennis Crompton
36 ARCHIGRAM 3
40 Nottingham Shopping Viaduct, Peter Cook + David Greene
42 Living City Exhibition, Whole Archigram Group
58 City Interchange, Warren Chalk + Ron Herron
60 Come-Go Project, Peter Cook
62 City Synthesiser, Dennis Crompton
64 Dream City, David Greene + Michael Webb
68 ARCHIGRAM 4
78 Entertainments Tower, Warren Chalk + Peter Cook + Ron Herron
80 Montreal Tower, Peter Cook
84 House Project, David Greene
86 Plug-In City, Peter Cook
92 Capsule Homes, Warren Chalk
94 THE PLUG-IN CITY, Priscilla Chapman
96 ARCHIGRAM 5
103 Underwater City, Warren Chalk
104 City Mound, Peter Cook
107 Auto-Environment, Michael Webb
112 Computer City, Dennis Crompton
114 Walking City, Ron Herron
122 ARCHIGRAM 6
136 Cardiff Air House, Ron Herron
138 Plug-In University, Peter Cook
142 A CLIP-ON ARCHITECTURE, Reyner Banham
146 ARCHIGRAM 7
158 Living Pod, David Greene
166 Paddington East, Peter Cook
172 Freetime Node, Ron Herron
174 Archigram 1967
180 ARCHIGRAM 8
193 We Offer Ten Prefabricated Sets, David Greene
194 Milanogram, Peter Cook + Dennis Crompton + Ron Herron
198 Control and Choice, Peter Cook
201 Weekend Telegraph 1990 House,
Warren Chalk + Peter Cook + Dennis Crompton + Ron Herron
202 Cushicle and Suitaloon, Michael Webb
204 Ideas Circus, Peter Cook
206 Oasis, Ron Herron
207 Instant Village, Peter Cook
208 ARCHIGRAM 9
216 Instant City Children's Primer, David Greene
218 Instant City, Peter Cook + Dennis Crompton + Ron Herron
226 Oslogram, Peter Cook + Dennis Crompton
227 Cheek By Jowl, Peter Cook
228 Dreams Come True, Michael Webb
230 L.A.W.U.N. Project Number 1, David Greene
234 Room of 1000 Delights, Peter Cook
236 Enviro-Pill + Holographic Scene Setter, Ron Herron
238 Osaka, Peter Cook + Dennis Crompton
240 Tuned Suburb, Ron Herron
242 Bathamatic, Warren Chalk
244 Features: Monte Carlo,
Peter Cook + Dennis Crompton + David Greene + Ron Herron
254 Manzak, Ron Herron
256 Info-Gonks, Peter Cook
257 Bruennhilde's Magic Ring of Fire, Michael Webb
258 ARCHIGRAM OPERA
262 DEATH BY ARCHITECTURE, Martin Pawley
264 It's A..., Ron Herron
265 Addhox, Peter Cook
266 Bournemouth Steps, Peter Cook + Dennis Crompton + Ron Herron
270 Sporting d'Ete - Chameleon, Peter Cook
272 Sporting d'Ete - Palm Tree, Warren Chalk + Dennis Crompton + Ron Herron
276 ARCHIGRAM 91/2
279 Expro, Peter Cook + Dennis Crompton + Ron Herron
280 Tuning London, Ron Herron
282 Prepared Landscape, Peter Cook
284 Calverton End, Dennis Crompton + Ron Herron
285 Cranbourne Court, Dennis Crompton + Ron Herron
286 Suburban Sets, Ron Herron
288 Malaysia Exhibition, Dennis Crompton + Ron Herron
290 House of the Seven Veils, Peter Cook
292 Bumps and Lumps, Peter Cook
293 IN MEMORIAM ARCHIGRAM Peter Cook
295 Archigram Projects
299 Index
300 Acknowledgments
8 ARCHIGRAM THE MAGAZINE, Peter Cook
10 ARCHIGRAM 1
12 Mosque, David Greene
13 Piccadilly Circus Competition, Peter Cook + Gordon Sainsbury
14 Furniture Manufacturers Building, Michael Webb
18 ARCHIGRAM 2
26 Gas House, Peter Cook + David Greene
27 Metal Cabin Housing, Peter Cook
Spray Plastic House, David Greene
28 Lillington Street Housing, Warren Chalk + Dennis Crompton + Ron Herron
30 Sin Centre, Michael Webb
34 Seaside Entertainment Building, David Greene
35 South Bank Development, Warren Chalk + Ron Herron + Dennis Crompton
36 ARCHIGRAM 3
40 Nottingham Shopping Viaduct, Peter Cook + David Greene
42 Living City Exhibition, Whole Archigram Group
58 City Interchange, Warren Chalk + Ron Herron
60 Come-Go Project, Peter Cook
62 City Synthesiser, Dennis Crompton
64 Dream City, David Greene + Michael Webb
68 ARCHIGRAM 4
78 Entertainments Tower, Warren Chalk + Peter Cook + Ron Herron
80 Montreal Tower, Peter Cook
84 House Project, David Greene
86 Plug-In City, Peter Cook
92 Capsule Homes, Warren Chalk
94 THE PLUG-IN CITY, Priscilla Chapman
96 ARCHIGRAM 5
103 Underwater City, Warren Chalk
104 City Mound, Peter Cook
107 Auto-Environment, Michael Webb
112 Computer City, Dennis Crompton
114 Walking City, Ron Herron
122 ARCHIGRAM 6
136 Cardiff Air House, Ron Herron
138 Plug-In University, Peter Cook
142 A CLIP-ON ARCHITECTURE, Reyner Banham
146 ARCHIGRAM 7
158 Living Pod, David Greene
166 Paddington East, Peter Cook
172 Freetime Node, Ron Herron
174 Archigram 1967
180 ARCHIGRAM 8
193 We Offer Ten Prefabricated Sets, David Greene
194 Milanogram, Peter Cook + Dennis Crompton + Ron Herron
198 Control and Choice, Peter Cook
201 Weekend Telegraph 1990 House,
Warren Chalk + Peter Cook + Dennis Crompton + Ron Herron
202 Cushicle and Suitaloon, Michael Webb
204 Ideas Circus, Peter Cook
206 Oasis, Ron Herron
207 Instant Village, Peter Cook
208 ARCHIGRAM 9
216 Instant City Children's Primer, David Greene
218 Instant City, Peter Cook + Dennis Crompton + Ron Herron
226 Oslogram, Peter Cook + Dennis Crompton
227 Cheek By Jowl, Peter Cook
228 Dreams Come True, Michael Webb
230 L.A.W.U.N. Project Number 1, David Greene
234 Room of 1000 Delights, Peter Cook
236 Enviro-Pill + Holographic Scene Setter, Ron Herron
238 Osaka, Peter Cook + Dennis Crompton
240 Tuned Suburb, Ron Herron
242 Bathamatic, Warren Chalk
244 Features: Monte Carlo,
Peter Cook + Dennis Crompton + David Greene + Ron Herron
254 Manzak, Ron Herron
256 Info-Gonks, Peter Cook
257 Bruennhilde's Magic Ring of Fire, Michael Webb
258 ARCHIGRAM OPERA
262 DEATH BY ARCHITECTURE, Martin Pawley
264 It's A..., Ron Herron
265 Addhox, Peter Cook
266 Bournemouth Steps, Peter Cook + Dennis Crompton + Ron Herron
270 Sporting d'Ete - Chameleon, Peter Cook
272 Sporting d'Ete - Palm Tree, Warren Chalk + Dennis Crompton + Ron Herron
276 ARCHIGRAM 91/2
279 Expro, Peter Cook + Dennis Crompton + Ron Herron
280 Tuning London, Ron Herron
282 Prepared Landscape, Peter Cook
284 Calverton End, Dennis Crompton + Ron Herron
285 Cranbourne Court, Dennis Crompton + Ron Herron
286 Suburban Sets, Ron Herron
288 Malaysia Exhibition, Dennis Crompton + Ron Herron
290 House of the Seven Veils, Peter Cook
292 Bumps and Lumps, Peter Cook
293 IN MEMORIAM ARCHIGRAM Peter Cook
295 Archigram Projects
299 Index
300 Acknowledgments