ABSTRACT
The new system, redefined the building process in a way that put the architect in a vulnerable position. In some respects the author shared Hansom's vision of a building community united in a common cause, but illness prevented him from developing his views. In 1836 he won the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)'s first silver medal with an essay on concrete, a performance uniting a history of the material with up-to-the-minute advice on its composition and use. The easiest way to appreciate Godwin's editorial style is to select any issue from his period and examine its contents from beginning to end. The foundation of The Builder in 1842 looks at first glance as if it was a journalistic ploy to exploit the buoyant, architectural developments of the time. The Institute of British Architects had been founded in 1834, apparently signifying that the profession had come of age and ready to accept the collective discipline and responsibilities expected of it.
