Coventry: the making of a modern city, 1939-73
Coventry: the making of a modern city, 1939–73, Jeremy and Caroline Gould, Historic England, 2016, 156 pages, 128 colour and black-and-white illustrations, softback.
The Coventry blitz on 14 November 1940 largely destroyed the medieval city on a single night. For the city architect, Donald Gibson, who was already engaged in planning for change, it offered an opportunity to invent the modern city. With the backing of a progressive and socially-minded council, the redevelopment by Gibson and his successors resulted in an intensely urban and civilised centre, which in turn influenced the rebuilding of other shattered city centres and the post-war new town movement. In spite of later changes, both the original vision and the architecture remain substantially intact, even if their value is not always understood. The Goulds’ sensitive analysis of the city within this exemplary book aims to inform the public and decision makers of Coventry’s significance, so that the best of its remarkable post-war heritage can survive.
This article originally appeared in IHBC's Context 162 (Page 58), published by The Institute of Historic Building Conservation in November 2019.
--Institute of Historic Building Conservation
Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- British post-war mass housing.`
- Demolishing Modernism: Britain's lost post-war gems.
- French new towns.
- Garden communities and the historic environment
- Harlow new town.
- IHBC articles.
- New town heritage.
- New towns.
- Post-war new towns in Germany.
- Post-war rebuilding.
- Socialist realism in a post-war Czechoslovak new town.
- The Institute of Historic Building Conservation.
IHBC NewsBlog
Volunteers work to transform 100-year-old ‘hidden’ building into bothy
The building, named Druimnashallag, is located southeast of Oban.
The new ‘Arches for HERs’ Demo site, from the Getty Conservation Institute via HE
It shows how organisations responsible for historic environment records (HER) management can benefit from its powerful features.
ICOMOS-CIF 2024 Symposium celebrates 40th anniversary in Venice
It aims to critically review current practices and theories of conservation of built heritage around the world, and more.
HES establishes new national centre for retrofit of traditional buildings
HES plans to develop the centre follows £1m of funding from UKRI Arts and Humanities Research Council.
High Court rejects oral appeal against tower block decision in historic Bloomsbury
The request was for a full Judicial Review hearing against Camden Council’s approval of a 74m-high tower block in Bloomsbury.
Mayor of London and Government announce bold plans to transform Oxford Street
Plans include turning the road into a traffic-free pedestrianised avenue, creating a beautiful public space.
Crystal Palace Subway, for 160th anniversary
The remarkable Grade II* listed Crystal Palace Subway in South London begins a new era following major restoration.
National Trust brings nature back to an area twice the size of Manchester in less than a decade
The National Trust has achieved its aim of creating or restoring 25,000 hectares of priority habitat on its land by 2025.
18th-century hospital in York to become sustainable homes
A former mental health establishment founded by a Quaker in 1792 is to be converted into 120 energy-efficient homes in York.
Context 180 Released - Where Heritage and Nature Meet
The issue includes life, death, Forests, bats, landscapes and much more.