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In his lecture for RIBA’s Annual Discourse series, Charles Jencks traces the evolution of architecture and its broader cultural context in the 20th century.

This is a recording of an in-person lecture by Charles Jencks on 3 October 2000. The event was held at 66 Portland Place, London and was hosted by architect Mohsen Mostafavi. In the recording, Jencks references visual slides which are not part of the RIBA Collections.

Please note: at 00:47:08, there is a drop in audio, this is due to the tape being turned over.

Charles Jencks (1939-2019) was an American architectural historian, cultural theorist and landscape designer.

Jencks begins his lecture by laying down the foundations of what 'modernism' means and how its definition has changed over time. He also discusses how modernism takes it forms, in architecture, technology and media as well as Le Corbusier's thoughts on 'superficial modernism'.

He then introduces the iconic architecture of 20th century modernism and its 'rivals' like the Arts and Crafts movement and National Romanticism. Jencks then explores modernism in its many forms throughout the decades and its relationship to classism and socio-economic contexts such as the Second World War.

Referencing famous architectural texts throughout the lecture, Jencks concludes with discussion of biological and sustainability-focused green architecture with references from new urbanism, post-modernism and High Tech. He then highlights the direction this green architecture is headed and what it means for 'critical modernism,' in particular when integrating events of the past into the design.

Learn more about Charles Jencks and The RIBA Charles Jencks Award: https://www.architecture.com/awards-and-competitions-landing-page/awards/riba-charles-jencks-award

The RIBA Charles Jencks Award was established with prize money awarded to Charles Jencks from the Nara Gold Medal, which he received in 1992. Charles Jencks graciously donated this prize money to RIBA to set up an endowment fund, the interest from which was initially used for an exchange programme between British and Japanese architects.

In 2003, the investment purpose of the fund was changed to create an annual award with a remit that has remained untouched since then: to reward an individual (or practice) that has recently made a major contribution simultaneously to the theory and practice of architecture. In addition to prize money, the winner delivers a lecture at RIBA.

From 18 to 26 November 2021, our annual Inclusion Festival took the form of a dedicated radio station, broadcast live from the bookshop at the RIBA's HQ in London.

Marsha Ramroop, former BBC journalist and the RIBA's Director of Inclusion & Diversity, hosted a lively mixture of music, live and pre-recorded interviews, discussions and debate - featuring over 90 special guests from across the worlds of architecture, design, arts, culture, and sport, as well as key leaders from the worlds of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

In this panel discussion, RIBA Radio looks at the broader context - assessing what the next steps for the profession are. Marsha Ramroop, Director of Inclusion & Diversity at the RIBA; Jack Pringle, Chair of the RIBA; Sarah Akigbogun, Board Architect and filmmaker; Sarah Akigbogun, Studio Aki; Rebecca Roberts-Hughes, Director of Policy and Communications at ARB; and Alan Vallance, CEO of the RIBA conclude the seven days of broadcasting by reaffirming that in order to effectively design for the future, architecture must be representative of the society it serves.

From 18 to 26 November 2021, our annual Inclusion Festival took the form of a dedicated radio station, broadcast live from the bookshop at the RIBA's HQ in London.

Marsha Ramroop, former BBC journalist and the RIBA's Director of Inclusion & Diversity, hosted a lively mixture of music, live and pre-recorded interviews, discussions and debate - featuring over 90 special guests from across the worlds of architecture, design, arts, culture, and sport, as well as key leaders from the worlds of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

Hikaru Nissanke, Director at OMMX architects, and AJ 40 under 40; Arthur Mamou-Mani, Architect and Managing Director of Mamou-Mani; and Mark Nagle, Operations Director at urban explore how inclusion has impacted architecture practice in terms of innovation, better outcomes, maximised effectiveness, and better creative ideas. They discuss the importance of going beyond fundraising to help underrepresented groups get a footing in the industry by supporting sustainable training structures, the architecture recruitment chain, and tracking progression – so that the profession can be truly accountable around inclusion and diversity.

From 18 to 26 November 2021, our annual Inclusion Festival took the form of a dedicated radio station, broadcast live from the bookshop at the RIBA's HQ in London.

Marsha Ramroop, former BBC journalist and the RIBA's Director of Inclusion & Diversity, hosted a lively mixture of music, live and pre-recorded interviews, discussions and debate - featuring over 90 special guests from across the worlds of architecture, design, arts, culture, and sport, as well as key leaders from the worlds of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

Understanding how specific tools can amplify the voices of the underrepresented and support them to progress is a vital part of making the profession more inclusive and diverse. A panel discussion featuring Rebecca Lovelace, founder and Chief Dot-Joiner at Building People; Neil Onions, CIC founder and CEO at Beyond The Box Consultants; and Deborah Williams, founder of The Women’s Association share ways in which they support underrepresented groups. From facilitating the navigation of support services, creating projects with communities, and creating strategies to fund support groups that drive forward diversity and inclusion, they discuss their roles in shaping solutions to improve the architecture profession. In a pre-recorded interview, Danna Walker, Architect and founder of Built By Us, discusses how Built By Us prioritises bringing diverse voices to the table to achieve better outcomes in the built environment, and is led by the ideal that a world built by all, is for all.

From 18 to 26 November 2021, our annual Inclusion Festival took the form of a dedicated radio station, broadcast live from the bookshop at the RIBA's HQ in London.

Marsha Ramroop, former BBC journalist and the RIBA's Director of Inclusion & Diversity, hosted a lively mixture of music, live and pre-recorded interviews, discussions and debate - featuring over 90 special guests from across the worlds of architecture, design, arts, culture, and sport, as well as key leaders from the worlds of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).

Siraaj Mitha, Head of Accelerate at Open City; Amy Francis-Smith, Architect and inclusive accessible design specialist; Annette Fisher, FA Global Chair of Let’s Build Expert on Africa; and Caitriona Jackman, Professor at DIAS, and professional planetary scientist discuss projects and schemes that are adapting current ways of working to open the profession to people from communities which are currently underrepresented. The panel emphasis how adjustments such as embedding flexible working, ensuring that a diversity of voices with different lived experiences are platformed, and supporting young people across the profession, can help retain talent in workplaces, and increase the quality of life of employees.

From 18 to 26 November 2021, our annual Inclusion Festival took the form of a dedicated radio station, broadcast live from the bookshop at the RIBA's HQ in London.

Marsha Ramroop, former BBC journalist and the RIBA's Director of Inclusion & Diversity, hosted a lively mixture of music, live and pre-recorded interviews, discussions and debate - featuring over 90 special guests from across the worlds of architecture, design, arts, culture, and sport, as well as key leaders from the worlds of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI).