New Collection Celebrates Reyner Banham's Writings on Architecture and Design

A new book compiles essays by the influential critic Peter Reyner Banham, known for his work on Pop aesthetics, consumer culture, Brutalist architecture, and early environmentalism. Edited by Ludovico Centis and published by AA Publications, the volume emerged from a 2022 conference at London's Architectural Association honoring Banham's centenary. Each of Banham's writings is prefaced by contemporary commentators offering personal or updated perspectives, though some introductions are deemed unnecessary given the enduring clarity of his prose. Banham, who wrote for ArtReview from the late 1940s to mid-1950s, blended scholarly insight with a playful, mischievous tone, described by design historian Penny Sparke as 'breathless enthusiasm.' His distinctive personal style, recalled by photographer Tim Street-Porter, featured a beard, cowboy hats, bolo ties, a Norfolk accent, and a folding Moulton bicycle. The critic's essays often connected diverse topics, such as linking modernist architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe to figures like Hugh Hefner, modelmaking, space travel, and toilets, while challenging traditional views like those of John Ruskin and William Morris on industrial work. Banham argued that architecture was integral to general culture, emphasizing common sense alongside academic knowledge. The softcover book is priced at £15 and was featured in the Summer 2025 issue of ArtReview.