ABSTRACT

In architecture, the second half of the twentieth century spawned a prolific number of “isms”. The architectural scholar was at pains to explain differences and similarities between Postmodernism, Structuralism, New Brutalism, Regionalism, Metabolism, Deconstructivism and several others. Architects of the period could find themselves placed in several groups, probably much to their own surprise. However, the practical impact of the isms was brought to bear mainly on corporate and municipal architecture. The house-buying public was undoubtedly ignorant of the isms, and if confronted with them would most likely have echoed the sentiments of the Victorian gentleman who told his architect (Kerr 1871):

THE WILDERNESS YEARS 1965-1995

When discussing domestic architecture in Britain in the nal two or three decades of the twentieth century, the “wilderness” years is perhaps an unduly strong judgment to use, as shown by the exceptional, council-led examples discussed below. Taking a broad view of what was being oered the middle classes in terms of new-built housing, it has to be conceded, however, that the picture is muddled and the aesthetic quality of the housing over this period is in general disappointing.