Building back better in Britain and Ireland
The Reformation was a disaster for British architecture, argues an impressive new book – and the country’s approach to building design has never been the same
The Victorian chapel designed by a high priest of colour
William Burges’s transformation of the chapel of Worcester College in Oxford doubles as an all-out assault on the senses and a scathing critique of the previous architect
The saving of St Mary-le-Strand
Pedestrianisation means that one of London’s finest churches is now the centre of attention again
The triumph of the Tudors
Other European dynasties of the period had equally thriving court cultures, but none has had such a hold on the popular imagination
Bank account – the story of London’s lost riverside palaces
The Strand is now one of the capital’s busiest thoroughfares, but it was once home to a string of magnificent mansions
‘Nothing like this had been seen in England’ – on Banqueting House at 400
Banqueting House is one of the most extraordinary buildings in London – and it’s a huge shame it’s so inaccessible
Why are New York’s new skyscrapers so bad?
As the Manhattan skyline keeps getting higher, the quality of the skyscrapers crowding the horizon seems to be getting lower and lower
The Soane Museum provides a masterclass in the art of architectural drawing
Frances Sands’ selection from one of the world’s greatest collections of architectural drawings will delight both experts and the general reader alike
The City of Westminster should stop gaslighting its own heritage
London’s oldest streetlamps were designed to be beautiful as well as useful – so why is Westminster Council trying to remove them?
John Crome is forgotten today – but he once ranked alongside Constable and Turner
John Crome was among the greatest English landscape painters of his day – but you’ve probably never heard of him
Flight of fancy – the spectacle of the Spanish Steps
Sitting on the steps is now forbidden – but for centuries, the monumental staircase has been one of Rome’s most theatrical attractions
Fantasy land – a guide to English follies
A personal guide to the playful structures has much in common with its whimsical subject
Redeeming features – how Palladio marked the end of the plague in Venice
Built to give thanks for Venice’s deliverance from the plague, the church of Il Redentore remains the centre of an annual festival marking the event
Instant classic – the many versions of St Martin-in-the-Fields
Commissioned 300 years ago, James Gibbs’ design for the London church was soon replicated around the world
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The crowning glories of Westminster Abbey
With all eyes on the coronation, it’s worth remembering that the scene of the ceremony remains a work in progress