Victorian architecture
Monday 5 November 2007 21:45-22:30 (Radio 3)
On the eve of the opening of the St Pancras Eurostar terminal in London, Matthew Sweet is joined by historian Tristram Hunt to consider the changing fortunes of Britain's Victorian architecture.
In the 1950s and 1960s, St Pancras, like many Victorian masterpieces, was reviled by modernists, but the efforts of poet John Betjeman saved it from despoilment. Now the station is set to be Europe's gateway to Britain, so is this re-opening the grand finale of the rehabilitation of Victorian buildings?
Matthew also talks to the directors of A Crude Awakening, a controversial new documentary which argues that the world must confront the fact that we're running out of oil.
Crude Awakening
From the opening sequence to A Crude Awakening
Playlist
Victorian Architecture
Matthew Sweet is joined by historian Tristram Hunt and the architecture critic Joe Kerr to discuss the impact of the radical redesign of St Pancras railway station in London, on the eve of its reopening later this month. Does it mark the return to vogue of Victorian architecture, or prove that only radical reinvention can make old buildings work today?
St Pancras International opens November 14th.
Crude Awakening
Matthew meets the directors of a frightening new documentary, A Crude Awakening, which argues that we face dwindling oil supplies within decades, and that this could have a devastating effect on our way of life - unless we act quickly. But Matthew asks why they draw on the activities of Hitler during the Second World War to support their argument.
A Crude Awakening is released on Friday 9th.
Free Thinking- Peoples Choice
There is another chance to hear the four advocates pitching their ideas for the People's Choice debate at Radio 3's Free Thinking festival.
Free Thinking Festival is a series of free interviews, debates, performance and film in Liverpool, November 9-11th, broadcast on Night Waves over the coming weeks. Please click here for more details.
British dictators
Matthew talks to the director Penny Woolcock and other writers about imagining near-future Britain under dictatorship.
Exodus is on Channel 4 at 10pm, November 19th.
A State of Denmark is re-published by Serpent's Tail.
