The shadow institution

• Facsimiles indicating a parent-child relationship within the shadow institution anticipated by Cedric Price.

[edit] FOREWORD

The first thing is the title: 'The shadow institution'.

This term was coined by Norman Fellows in an exchange with Cedric Price:

• NF: "I think it's already here."
• CP: "What is?"
• NF: "The shadow institution."
• CP: [Non-verbal response signifying agreement].
• (Meeting notes, 14 December 1978). [1.1]

Norman Fellows' thinking at the time was based on an assumption, namely:—

• ... that the shadow institution was a collective noun which referred to a group of non-institutions without official status.
• (ib.)

However, there was no precedent for the use of the term—i.e. it was new.

• Pages from an untitled scrapbook showing the CP Bibliography from 1976 (left) and the AA Social Institutions Bibliography 1978 (incomplete, right)

For example, the term was not used in either of the bibliographies noted above. [1.2] [1.3]

Furthermore, it is not used in the definitive collection archived in the Cedric Price fonds at the Canadian Centre for Architecture (CAA) or in the two-volume anthology 'Cedric Price Works 1952–2003: A Forward-Minded Retrospective' co-published in 2016 by the CCA with the Architectural Association (AA).

[edit] INTRODUCTION

This article starts with the unofficial report submitted to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government by Cedric Price in February 1966, namely:—

• "POTTERIES THINK BELT: A plan for the establishment of a major advanced educational industry in North Staffordshire"
• (Cedric Price, 1966) [2]

In his introduction, Cedric Price wrote:—

• "While the selection of press-cuttings included with this Report isolates various shortcomings of the current advanced educational system in this country, the major weakness is considered to be the lack of awareness of both the correct scale and intensity at which such education should occur.
• Present institutions are both too small and too exclusive.
• Through lack of acceptance of advanced education as a prime national industry, the present context is in danger of lacking, on the one hand, recognisable social relevance, and on the other, the capacity to initiate progress rather than attempt to catch up with it.
• This study helps to indicate a valid national and regional distribution of educational institutions.
• In addition, through postulating varied forms of exchange utilising electronic static communication systems and equipment together with mobile and variable physical enclosures, the Study demonstrates the resulting physical organisation and indicates the changing validity of finite location.
• Both the overall planning and detailed architecture of this project suggests the likelihood that education and the need to exchange information can equate to past needs for defence, energy and commerce as a generator of urban location and form: cities caused by learning.
• However, the current analogy between existing universities and ideal town forms is considered both false and dangerous.
• The re-assessment of the contemporary housing requirement in this Study together with an avoidance, at the first development stage, of any “civic design” indicates the order and priorities proposed for urban design method."
• (ib.)

Thus this article proposes two possible outcomes from the Potteries Thinkbelt study, namely:—

1. The shadow institution as an alternative to the University;
2. The shadow institution as a 'housing' service.

[edit] PROPOSITION 1: The shadow institution as an alternative to the University

According to Wikipedians:—

• "In the United Kingdom, the Privy Council is responsible for approving the use of the word university in the name of an institution, under the terms of the Further and Higher Education Act 1992." [3]

The schemes without university status are briefly presented below in two columns:—

1. The left-hand column contains a digitized image from the CCA file representing each particular scheme together with a 'Learn More' link to the file.
2. The right-hand column contains 'Notes' linking to articles on this site.

[edit] • Potteries Thinkbelt

• "This study helps to indicate a valid national and regional distribution of educational institutions." [4.1]
• See also [4.2] [4.3] [4.4] [4.5].)

[edit] • Oxford Corner House

• "Electronic links with Central and Local Government, Commerce, Industry and Education are provided for since many of the functions of OCH correspond to those previously found in the town hall, the labour exchange or the official envelope through the letter-box."
• (Cedric Price, 'Self-pace public skill and information hive', AD/5/68, pp.237-239) [5]

[edit] • Atom

• "...this thesis postulates both a first set of tools (buildings, equipment, etc.) together with a development plan sufficiently indeterminate to encourage varied and possible diverse development modes."
• (Cedric Price, 'Atom', AD/5/68, p.234) [6]

[edit] • Detroit Think Grid

• "The Community College would appear to be an ideal agency (for the task of introducing an addiitional comprehensive sensitive to needs not yet formulated) since not only has its role not crystallised into any particular authoritarian educational patern, such as is the case with most universities, but also its very structure can be extremely sensitive to society's change."
• (Cedric Price, 'Oakland Community College', AD/6/71, p.354) [7]

[edit] • BMI/HQ

• "...such a building as that proposed can provide the continuous scientific, technological, cultural 'servicing' required by both the individual and the group. At the same time the building can act as the nerve centre, producer and distributor of an enormous range of services to members and the public in the region."
• (Cedric Price, 'BMI: HQ/Birmingham and Midland Institute, Birmingham, England', AD/6/71, p.364) [8]

[edit] • Inter-Action Centre

• "The Interaction Centre [...] is a logical follow-through from the earlier projects: the primary structure forming a relatively large-scale, long-life shelter and framework for the flexible secondary enclosures and components."
• (Steve Mullin, 'Cedric Price: or still keeps going when everything else has stopped', AD/5/76, p.286. [9]

[edit] • Generator

• "A forest facility for 1-100 users. Architecture is used as an aid to the extension of one's own interests. A series of structures, fittings and components that respond to the appetites that they themselves may generate. A 'menu' of items for individual and group demands of space, control, containment and delight. A place to work, create, think and stare."
• (Cedric Price, 'Generator, Florida, USA', AR/1/79, p.16.) [10]

[edit] PROPOSITION 2: The shadow institution as a 'housing' service

• 'A change is required in our current attitude to “Housing”' [11.1]

Successive 'housing' schemes are briefly presented in two columns:—

1. The left-hand column contains a digitized image from the CCA file representing each successive scheme together with a 'Learn More' link to the file.
2. The right-hand column contains 'Notes' linking to articles on this site.

NOTE:—

• "This work has been concerned with postulating a coarse model of a potential 'housing' service which would help correct the shortfalls and ensure that future appetites and demands, as yet unknown, can be identified and when necessary, satisfied." [11.2]

[edit] • Potteries Thinkbelt student housing

[12]

[edit] • Steel House

... [13]

[edit] • 24 hour Living Toy

... [14]

[edit] • Housing Research aka "Son of Thinkbelt"

... [15]

[edit] CONCLUSION

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... [16]

Project: Potteries Thinkbelt, 1939-1987, predominant 1963-1967
AP144.S2.D56

[edit] End Notes

1 Foreword

• 1.1 Norman Fellows (14 Dec 1978) 'Meeting notes', unpublished. *
• 1.2 See Appendix A for a full list of schemes in Norman Fellows' collection of articles by Cedric Price published in AD, beginning with the acquisition of the Potteries Thinkbelt issue in August 1967 (sic) and finishing with the Housing issues in October 1971 and January 1972. Cedric Price's articles ... Kentish Town West Amalgam
• 1.3 See Appendix C. **
• entitled 'Cedric Price Works 1952–2003: A Forward-Minded Retrospective' edited by Samatha Hardingham ...

nb

• * The meeting was attended by Tyrell Burgess, Norman Fellows, Royston Landau and Cedric Price.
• Appendix B is a placeholder.
• ** The only instance of the term 'the shadow institution' being found on the internet is this article which was found by Google - see Appendix C.

2 Introduction

• 2.1 Peter Murray (1971) 'Introduction', in 'Cedric Price Supplement', AD/10/70, p.507.
• 2.2 Norman Fellows (2024) 'Updated Commentary', unpublished.
• 2.3 College Sidekick (2024) 'Categorical Propositions', collegesidekick.com
• 2.4 Norman Fellows (2025) 'The Shadow Scheme', unavailable.

3 Proposition: The shadow institution as an alternative to the University

• 3 Wikipedians (2024) 'University', Wikipedia.

4 • Potteries Thinkbelt

• 4.1 Cedric Price (1966) 'Potteries Think Belt', February in Norman Fellows (15 Aug 2024) 'Potteries Thinkbelt study: Further ongoing research'.

• 4.2 "The Potteries Thinkbelt was a self-sponsored project designed during 1964 and 1965."
• (Royston Landau, 1968, 'New Directions in British Architecture', p. 119)

• 4.3 "The Potteries Thinkbelt was a higher educational facility, a term carefully chosen to avoid the use of the word university."
• (Royston Landau, 1984, Cedric Price Works II, p.13)

• 4.4 "The only purchaser of the full Potteries Thinkbelt documentation was the Ministry of Housing and Local Government who bought the report and copies of every single drawing including the photo-montages."
• (ib. p.15)

• 4.5 "It was the result of a bet. I used to lunch with the junior minister, Lord Kennet, then known as Wayland Young, [Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government from 1966 to 1970]. We started talking about universities. He was responsible politically for new universities. I went on criticising them and complaining about new buildings in Cambridge, Brighton, and Lancaster."
• (Cedric Price, Interview in Stanley Mathews, 2007, 'From Agit-Prop to Free Space: The Architecture of Cedric Price', p.200)

[...]

• "Kennet got fed up with these criticisms and said, "Why don't you tell us what we should do?" That annoyed me so much that I decided to do something.""
• (ib.)

5 • Oxford Corner House

• Cedric Price (1967) 'Self-pace public skill and information hive', AD/5/68, pp.237-239.

6 • Atom

• Cedric Price (1967) 'Atom: Design for new learning for a new town', AD/5/68, p.234.

7 • Detroit Think Grid

• Cedric Price (1968) 'Oakland Community College, Think Grid, Michigan, USA', AD/6/71, p.354.

8 • BMI/HQ

• Cedric Price (1969) 'BMI: HQ/Birmingham and Midland Institute, Birmingham, England', AD/6/71, p.364.

9 • Inter-Action Centre

• Steve Mullin (1976) 'Cedric Price: or still keeps going when everything else has stopped', AD/5/76, p.286.

10 • Generator

• Cedric Price (1979) 'Generator, Florida, USA', AR/1/79, p.16.

nb The quotation about Generator was not published in the Architectural Review until January 1979 - i.e. after the December meeting. However, Cedric Price's original drawing - i.e. DWG 132 029 entitled 'NETWORK' - was discussed at the first meeting between Cedric Price and Norman Fellows on 10 January 1978.

11 Corollary: The shadow institution as a 'housing' service

• 11.1 'A change is required in our current attitude to “Housing”' by Cedric Price - ExtremelyProvocative
• 11.2 (Cedric Price (1971) 'Housing', AD/10/71, p.620)

12 • Potteries Thinkbelt student housing

13 • Steel House

14 • 24 hour Living Toy

15 • Housing Research aka "Son of Thinkbelt"

16 • Conclusion

[edit] References

(William Cannady, 1970, New Schools for New Towns,

(Kathy Velikov, 2015, Tuning Up The City, p.42)

[edit] Further Reading

ATOM: A generating system designed by Cedric Price

Cedric Price

Housing Research by Cedric Price

Norman Fellows

Potteries Thinkbelt

Potteries Thinkbelt study

Potteries Thinkbelt study: Further ongoing research

[edit] APPENDIX A - A collection of related schemes

• 1964 (64) Potteries Thinkbelt
• 1965 (67) Oxford Corner House
• 1965 (69) Steel House
• 1967 (X15) 24 hour Living Toy
• 1967 (81) Housing Research aka "Son of Thinkbelt"
• 1967 (89) Atom
• 1968 (93) Detroit Thinkgrid
• 1968 (94) BMI HQ
• 1970 (102) Inter-Action Centre
• 1976 (I32) Generator

Note: The figures in brackets are Cedric Price's Job Numbers.

[edit] APPENDIX B - AA Graduate School Social Institutions Bibliography 1978

Argyris, C. and Schön, D.(1974). 'Theory in Practice: Increasing professional effectiveness', San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. *

Handy, C. B. (1976) 'Understanding organizations', London, England ; New York, N.Y., USA : Penguin Books.*

Laing, R. D. (1969) 'The Divided Self', New York, Pantheon Books.*

Landau, R. (Guest Ed.) (1972) 'Complexity (or how to see the wood from the trees)', Architectural Design, October.

Matza, D. (1969) 'Becoming deviant', Englewood Cliffs, N.J., Prentice-Hall. *

Perlmutter, H. V. (1965) 'Towards a theory and practice of social architecture; the building of indispensable institutions', London : Tavistock Publications.*

Schön, D. A. (1971) 'Beyond the stable state', New York, Random House.*

Simon, H. A. (1969) 'The sciences of the artificial', Cambridge, M.I.T. Press.*

Vickers, G. (1968) 'Value systems and social process', London ; Sydney [etc.] : Tavistock Publications.*

Note: The asterisk indicates that the book is available on the Internet Archive.

[edit] APPENDIX C - Screenshot of internet search on 5 November 2024

• Screenshot: the shadow institution used as a search term on Google and DuckDuckGo on 5 November 2024.

BACK TO TOP

--Archiblog 19:00, 05 Nov 2024 (BST)

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

ATOM: A generating system designed by Cedric Price

Cedric Price

DOMESTIKIT: World-Wide Dwelling Service

Dukeries Thinkbelt

EDUKIT: World Educational System

Norman Fellows

Potteries Thinkbelt

Potteries Thinkbelt study

Potteries Thinkbelt study: Further ongoing research

Outtakes

Atom • "Architect Cedric Price placed maximum emphasis on electronic technology, as he amassed a Kit of Parts for a decentralized education system, based on John Tirrell and Albert Canfield's educational program for a projected new town which will be feasible by the year 1990." (William Cannady, 1970, New Schools for New Towns, p.24) • According to Velikov (2015), Tirrell and Canfield argued:— ... that learning could now take place almost anywhere and anytime, in "the home, the factory, the office and the shopping centre. What could this mean for the architecture of the new learning institutions? [...] The Atom kit of parts would operate as a flexible learning system, distributed and redeployable throughout the spaces of the city and its infrastructures, such as parks, buses, and other transportation facilities, streets, factories, parking lots, and apartment buildings." (Kathy Velikov, 2015, Tuning Up The City, p.42)

[edit] 3.0 NEXT

[edit] Notes

[0.1]

[1.1] Cedric Price, "1.1 Introduction", Potteries Thinkbelt, (unpublished manuscript), February 1966, Cedric Price fonds.

[1.2]

[1.3]

[1.4]

[1.5] Cedric Price fonds

[1.6] Samantha Hardingham Ed. (2016) 'Cedric Price Works 1952–2003: A Forward-Minded Retrospective', Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA) with the Architectural Association (AA).

--Archiblog 19:00, 05 Nov 2024 (BST)

was based on two propositions, namely:—

1. ... that the shadow institution was anticipated by Cedric Price in the Potteries Thinkbelt. [1.2]
2. ... that the anti-isolated-learning-community view taken by the Thinkbelt carried with it an anti-dormitory corollary. [1.3]

2. ... that its offspring was anticipated by Cedric Price in his research and development programme — "Son of Thinkbelt". [1.3]
3. ... that the Thinkbelt carried with it an anti-dormitory corollary. [1.3]
4. On 1 August 2024, Norman Fellows wrote:—
5. ... that the Potteries Thinkbelt study was a working hypothesis constructed by Cedric Price as a basis for further ongoing research.