Dominic Bradbury traces the history of London's South Bank as a dazzling microcosm of culture and British architecture.
The Hayward Gallery, photo: Rachael Smith
Art galleries, theatres, cinemas... The South Bank on the south bank of the Thames between Lambeth Bridge and Blackfriars Bridge is the epicentre of culture in the British capital and today one of the most popular districts of all. With the Festival of Britian in 1951, the enclave on the Thames, opposite the Houses of Parliament, has become a cultural centre. Individual milestones of Brutalist architecture were created here, which was geared towards community: from the Royal Festival Hall to the Hayward Gallery, the Queen Elisabeth Hall, the National Film Theatre and the National Theatre or the Purcell Room. The architects of the South Bank are a who's who of British mid-century design: Robert Matthes and Leslie Martin were among them, as well as Peter Moro and the designers Robin Day and Ernest Race.
Queen Elizabeth Hall main foyer, photo: Rachael Smith
In his book, published by Bratsford Books, Dominic Bradbury traces the history of the South Bank in individual chapters. He focuses on individual buildings, which are illustrated with photos by Rachael Smith, and looks at the urban context and the history of the South Bank. The entertainment mile on the south bank of the Thames was not always as popular as it is today - for many, the South Bank is a veritable cult. But there were also times when nobody wanted to pay attention to the sprawling terraces of the large concrete buildings. Good thing those days are over!
Dominic Bradbury, “South Bank. Architecture & Design”, photographed by Rachael Smith, Batsford, London 2024, ISBN 9781849948074
