AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

Pick of the bunch in architecture

27th February 1982
Page 29
Page 29, 27th February 1982 — Pick of the bunch in architecture
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

LONDON will long be in debt to the legendary Frank Pick, who became vice-chairman and chief executive of the London Passenger Transport Board in 1933; for some splendid functional architecture. True, he was not the designer, but it was he who brought in Charles Holden to produce "a new architectural idiom." Between them they evolved the characteristic London Transport house style, which, in my view, has seldom been excelled elsewhere.

Bus garage design has not been neglected and visually dramatic forms have been adopted. Anyone who appreciates good architecture will enjoy an exhibition, "Building a Reputation," which is open daily at the London Transport Museum at Covent Garden until May 31.

Frank Pick was spoken of with reverence by Fiona MacCarthy in an address to the Royal Society of Arts last October. She described him as "the greatest of the patrons (of industrial designers) of the Thirties." She added: "He was ... a superb and ruthless organiser; but he was also, more surprisingly, a visionary, a man of fervent feeling."

One wonders how he would have responded to interference from County Hall and whether his inspired touch could have -prevented the Golden era of London Transport from turning to lead.


comments powered by Disqus