The Twentieth Century Society C20
The Twentieth Century Society (C20) is a British charity with interests that focus on 20th-century Britain. It is concerned with the preservation of architectural heritage after 1914. This was the age where buildings were no longer protected by the Victorian Society and it was also the year that World War 1 started.
It was established in the 1979, when it was called the Thirties Society, in response to the threat to demolish Sir Edwin Cooper’s Classical building for Lloyds of London. There was a growing understanding in the 1970's of 20th Century design and the need to protect objects that at the time had no protection.
One of the the most significant cases was The Firestone Factory by Wallis Gilbert & Partners, an Art Deco building that was demolished in 1980 by its owners over a bank holiday weekend on the eve of it being listed. This loss galvanised support for the protection of C20th buildings and led directly to the listing of 150 inter-war buildings, including Battersea Power Station. A number of other campaigns followed, including Bracken House, red telephone boxes and the rescue of outdoor lidos. In 1992 the Society changed its name to the Twentieth Century Society with the first of its Journals being published two years later.
In 2019 it celebrated its 40 year anniversary and today remains an active registered UK charity governed by a Board of Trustees with open documents covering governance and risk management. It continues to campaign to save outstanding buildings and design that have shaped the British landscape after 1914, both iconic buildings, and little-known gems, considered irreplaceable and under threat.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
Quality Planning for Micro and Small to Medium Sized Enterprises
A CIOB Academy Technical Information sheet.
A briefing on fall protection systems for designers
A legal requirement and an ethical must.
CIOB Ireland launches manifesto for 2024 General Election
A vision for a sustainable, high-quality built environment that benefits all members of society.
Local leaders gain new powers to support local high streets
High Street Rental Auctions to be introduced from December.
Infrastructure sector posts second gain for October
With a boost for housebuilder and commercial developer contract awards.
Sustainable construction design teams survey
Shaping the Future of Sustainable Design: Your Voice Matters.
COP29; impacts of construction and updates
Amid criticism, open letters and calls for reform.
The properties of conservation rooflights
Things to consider when choosing the right product.
Adapting to meet changing needs.
London Build: A festival of construction
Co-located with the London Build Fire & Security Expo.
Tasked with locating groups of 10,000 homes with opportunity.
Delivering radical reform in the UK energy market
What are the benefits, barriers and underlying principles.
Information Management Initiative IMI
Building sector-transforming capabilities in emerging technologies.
Recent study of UK households reveals chilling home truths
Poor insulation, EPC knowledge and lack of understanding as to what retrofit might offer.
Embodied Carbon in the Built Environment
Overview, regulations, detail calculations and much more.
Why the construction sector must embrace workplace mental health support
Let’s talk; more importantly now, than ever.
Ensuring the trustworthiness of AI systems
A key growth area, including impacts for construction.