Author Archives: Aventinus

Doctor, Doctor!

At a degree congregation held at the University of Sheffield in December, Debabardhan Upadhyaya was presented with a Doctorate for his thesis entitled “Changing Paradigms in Evolving City Centres” supervised by Eamonn Canniffe. Among other places the thesis explored the … Continue reading

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What is it about traditional spaces which is so adaptable to cutting-edge software?

Could it be that the lessons such piazze contain present an exemplary type of public space which demonstrates that variety, flexibility, historical memory and contemporary aspiration, the most everyday events and the most sacred spaces might be layered into each … Continue reading

Posted in Aventinus, CiA, Italy, Venice | 1 Comment

City, Architecture, Fashion – undercover

OMA’s Prada store features in the following samizdat report by the hardened fashionistas of Manchester School of Architecture Year 3…

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Space, Time and Architecture: Horologium Augusti in Rome

While Roman pragmatism found uses for the magnificent monumental areas constructed by numerous emperors, there was also the use of space itself as a display of power, no more amply expressed than in the complex of the Horologium Augusti, or … Continue reading

Posted in Aventinus, CiA, Italy, Publications, Research, Rome | 2 Comments

Strong Language

CiA recommends the following new book: When Buildings Speak: Architecture as Language in the Habsburg Empire and Its Aftermath, 1867-1933 by Anthony Alofsin (The University of Chicago Press 2006). This well illustrated book surveys the architectural experimentation which defined mitteleuropa … Continue reading

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Supercasino: From this filthy sewer pure gold flows revisited

Alexis de Tocqueville’s assessment of the topography of industrialisation seems all the more prophetic as Manchester celebrates another success in its bid to become the centre of ‘trickledown urbanism’. The proposed supercasino presents itself with all the anodyne allure of … Continue reading

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Ex-changing Squares

As long ago as the early nineteenth century Joseph Aston observed in “The Manchester Guide” that the town had no civic spaces of any merit and it would appear that fine tradition continues.The Manchester Evening News reports that two recent … Continue reading

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Festschrift for John Archer

Thursday 11 January saw Continuity in Architecture attending a celebration for the eightieth birthday of the architectural historian John Archer. John is a former lecturer at the University of Manchester School of Architecture, and the event was hosted by the … Continue reading

Posted in Aventinus, CiA, Edgar Wood Vigilantes, Friends & Acquaintances, Manchester, Publications | 2 Comments

? The question we’ve all been asking. Not.

What mysterious fate awaits this curious piece of unoccupied land in central Manchester? Is the area formerly known as Gaythorn, between the former British Council HQ (the square gasometer) and the Hacienda apartments (on the site formerly occupied by Fac … Continue reading

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Separated at birth?

We have been surprised to note the similarity between the recently completed housing by FAT in New Islington, Manchester and the Golden Nugget in the resort of Morecambe. Eschewing the attractions of this hitherto unresearched area of the Lancastrian vernacular, … Continue reading

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Christmas Continuity…

Continuity in Architecture pays a Mancunian homage to the tradition of the Neapolitan nativity scene with this footage of last year’s construction. Happy Christmas.

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Fifth Floor Shop Window 3

As Jack Frost nips at the gangrenous toes of 2006 the Fifth Floor window dressers turn to thoughts of Christmas presents…

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