Will Alsop welcomes the most thorough account of the work and thought of Cedric Price
‘Cedric Price Works 1952-2003: A Forward-Minded Retrospective’
Samantha Hardingham
AA Publications, CCA, 912pp and 512pp, £165
‘Cedric Price Works 1952-2003’ has been a long time in the making, and now that it is here, we can see that it has been well worth the wait – and the weight. At 6.2kgs it is heavier than most babies, but will give joy and delight in equal measure. It comes in a slipcase containing two volumes, the larger of which is a chronological exposition of the projects. The smaller is a reprint of Cedric’s articles, lectures and speculations which is also in date-order.
The whole publication is essential for the Cedric Price student and makes an accessible, well-organised reference which complements the archive that is housed in the Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA) in Montreal.
There are fewer books on Price than are merited by his importance, not least because he was a little reluctant to indulge in book publication (the AA’s last collection of his work, from 1984, is well-worth obtaining as it was heavily influenced by Cedric himself). I, and many other Cedricteers, have been eagerly aware for some time that this most extensive study was in preparation, tenderly nurtured and put together by Samantha Hardingham. I was half-concerned that the work might be so comprehensive that there would be nothing left in the Price tank for future scholars, but am pleased to find that – as comprehensive as it undoubtedly is – there are still some pieces of sardine left in the can to stimulate future inquiry.
The timing of this book is wonderful. At a time when architecture has been reduced to style, shape and risk-reduction amongst other horrors, we are presented with the works of a man who applied himself to improving society, largely though not exclusively through architecture. The book celebrates a commitment to the posing of difficult and genuine questions about the condition of society, technology and fashion, generated by a man with a conscience.
“I never saw Price as a theorist. First and foremost he was a pragmatist, who worked in a direct manner to first understand the issues and then explore solutions”
Timing was an important phenomenon to Price, and the circumstances of his birth were formative of the man. Born in 1934, he was a child in the war and a young adult in its aftermath. He witnessed ‘flying boats’ at Southampton, austerity and great potential for change. After the war there was much to do to repair and rebuild a battered nation, and so it was no wonder that the young Price saw the world as a series of problems and the role of the architect as ‘problem solver’.
I never saw Price as a theorist. First and foremost he was a pragmatist, who worked in a direct manner to first understand the issues and then explore solutions. This can clearly be seen in many of his projects, both built and unbuilt. For example, two of his mobile educational projects – the Potteries Thinkbelt (1966) and PolyARK (1973) – recognised that chance meetings and fun were important elements of learning and welfare. In other words the solution to a problem may not necessarily be a building; it could be a network. Famously, Price once advised a married couple who wanted a new house that a new home was not the solution and then advised a divorce.
Cedric did not build many buildings and one can only speculate as to whether he would have liked to build more. But he had a wide circle of friends and contacts, and so did not lack the opportunity. I believe he was completely absorbed by his convictions, which sometimes would lead somewhere other than buildings, although could be just as time-consuming. Much of what he did build has been demolished – a fact he was proud of, because it conformed to his belief that buildings should exist for a limited period of usefulness, after which they could be transformed or removed.
The new anthology is an extraordinary collection of documents, archive material and narratives, a labour of love which Cedric would have adored. For those of you who are interested and love CP, buy it. For those few who were annoyed by him, also buy it and be really angry.
