The Banality of Good: Six decades of New Towns, Architects, Money and Politics

Sergi, 25 Mart - 10 Mayıs 2013 tarihleri arasında RIBA'da izlenebilir.

Crimson Architectural Historians is proud to announce the opening of the exhibition The Banality of Good: Six decades of New Towns, Architects, Money and Politics at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London, UK. This special launch forms part of the Spring Last Tuesday late night programme of events.

The Banality of Good at the Royal Institute of British Architects

Special launch on Tuesday 26th March 2013

The exhibition asks: can the design of New Towns again be a subject of collective pride to architects and not of professional shame like it seems to be now? ‘Banality’ is unavoidable when building for the life of millions. But instead of the banality of the icon, the banality of wealth or the banality of fear, like we see in so many new cities presently, can it be the Banality of Good?

The exhibition presents a series of six exemplary cities that were planned in the last six decades. The selected cities are Stevenage (UK), Tema (Ghana), Almere (Netherlands), Alphaville-Tamboré (Brasil), Songjiang (China) and King Abdullah Economic City (Saudi Arabia). The ideals of these cities will be showcased through large allegories on six wooden triptychs that represent both the dreams and the realities of the towns. There are steel and aluminium diagrams that demonstrate the shared DNA of the towns and finally there is an Argument Wall, onto which Crimson has posted her theses on what really matters in New Town planning.

Programme March 26th:
(Please note that places are on a first come basis)

19.45 Talk by Dr. Michelle Provoost, partner at Crimson Architectural Historians and Director of the International New Town Institute

20.15 Opening exhibition with speeches by:
Daphne Thissen, Cultural Attaché at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in London
Kieran Long, Senior Curator of contemporary architecture, design and digital at the V&A, and Architecture Critic for the Evening Standard
‘Brasilia’, an acoustic set by guitarist-singer Mark Ritsema (Nightporter, Polar Twins, Spasmodique) until 21.30: drinks