Radical Rooms: Power of the plan
Experimentation within the domestic plan both architecturally and socially.
By Royal Institute of British Architects
A narrative is based on assets from the exhibition and installation Radical Rooms: Power of the plan shown at The Architecture Gallery, RIBA in 2022.
Radical Rooms: Power of the Plan - installation shot (2022) by Architect: Charles Holland Architects, Designer: Europa and Photographer: Black Edge ProductionsRoyal Institute of British Architects
"Ordinary things contain the deepest mysteries" Robin Evans: Figures, Doors and Passages
Power and the domestic plan
Robin Evans' essay explores the development of the corridor as a mechanism for domestic control and privacy. This can be seen within this Victorian house where rooms are assigned to specific genders, class and age. The corridor implemented control and restricted movement within the house.
Palladian Villas
Unlike the rigid structure of the Hakewill plan, Palladian villas embraced a nine-square grid with open spaces and flexible room arrangements. The exhibition Radical Rooms was inspired by this freedom of design and featured other original domestic plans with intentional layouts.
A Unique Collaboration
Radical Rooms showcases a unique collaboration between Charles Holland Architects and artist Di Mainstone. While Holland focused on the spatial design, Mainstone brings the human element through the multimedia presentation of four captivating characters.
Radical Rooms: Power of the Plan' exhibition at the RIBA (2022) by Architect: Charles Holland, Artist: Di Mainstone and Photographer: Gareth GardnerRoyal Institute of British Architects
Unveiling Hidden Histories
The installation uses curtains to conceal the RIBA Collection, encouraging visitors to explore the space and discover unconventional domestic plans and figures within architectural history who have been persistently ignored, especially females.
Di Mainstone brought to life four leading ladies who inhabited the gallery. Taken from the 16th, 18th and 20th Century, they each told their story in connection with their associated house. Using costume, choreography and music, these female protagonist are represented, amplifying their voices through music, soundscapes and a 21st Century lens. Their story could be followed in three parts, drawing visitors around the gallery by sound, and large format projections
Top Euro Bri E Derbyshire Hardwick HallLIFE Photo Collection
Hardwick Hall
This late 16th-century country house was built in the Elizabethan style and recognised as one of the earliest examples in Britain of the influence of the European Renaissance. Commissioned and designed by Elizabeth Shrewsbury as her home and a statement of her wealth and power.
Elizabeth Shrewsbury
More widely known as Bess of Hardwick and one of the wealthiest and most influential women in Elizabethan England. She established herself as a key player in court politics and architectural patronage, she married four times, amassing wealth and power. The ES at the top of Hardwick House represents her initials.
Variant plan for Hardwick Hall (1585) by Architect: Robert SmythsonRoyal Institute of British Architects
Bess of Hardwick's Legacy
Though Robert Smythson is credited with Hardwick House's design, Bess of Hardwick played a crucial role in its creation. Before clear roles of client and architect, these were often ambiguous, highlighting the collaboration inherent in the project.
Hardwick Hall: the Long Gallery (1880) by Photographer: Bernard Hugh Cox and Architect: Robert SmythsonRoyal Institute of British Architects
The design of Radical Rooms has drawn on the decorative motifs of the internal panelling and plasterwork of Hardwick Hall. The house makes extensive use of tapestries hung from walls to form textile-based spatial armatures that also relate to the use of curtains in the exhibition.
Bess of Hardwick
Using costume and the composition of music, the story of Bess is told, using an Elizabethan grime soundtrack that embodies the bold attitude and brazen approach to architecture and life.
A la Ronde - Jane and Mary Parminter
This almost-circular cottage was built near Exmouth in the late 18th century by two female cousins, Jane and Mary Parminter. It was inspired by the 6th century Byzantine basilica of San Vitale of Ravenna - seen by the sisters on their European Grand Tour.
A la Ronde, Exmouth, Devon (1950) by Architect: and Photographer: Edwin SmithRoyal Institute of British Architects
Gallery of shells
The interior of the house is richly and idiosyncratically decorated using a variety of unusual techniques including inlaid feathers and a shell gallery. This represent the cousins interest in nature, travel and draw from the surrounding landscape.
Rather than marry, the cousins lived a free and independent life. They travelled and on their return to the England designed, built and decorated A la Ronde as a home and haven for other unmarried woman. Spatially, the interlinked rooms which radiate out from a central triple-height hall, allowed the cousins to occupy rooms according to the time of day, subverting conventional concepts of functionality and use.
Parminter Cousins
The bold cousins in Radical Rooms embody a punk attitude, challenging societal norms and embracing their individuality. Inspired by the female punks of the mid to late seventies, they are represented as rebellious protagonists and social anarchists, rejecting conformity.
The dining area of Hopkins House, Downshire Hill, Hampstead, Greater London (2016-11-25) by James O Davies, Historic EnglandHistoric England
Hopkins House - Patty Hopkins
Built in 1976 as a combined domestic and office space, designed by Patty Hopkins for her family and the couples architectural practice. It was built in the hi-tech style promoting the use of industrialised and standardised parts.
The house deliberately blurs home and office life, using a pared down interior that moves from one to the other with minimal separation and enclosure. Like a number of contemporary hi-tech houses, it avoids conventional domestic planning as much as it does conventional materials, aiming for flexible, non-hierarchical space that can be used in different ways.
Patty Hopkins
Inspired by the modernist sound of Philip Glass, the soundtrack integrates material sounds that encapsulate the quality of the building. Patty Hopkins voice is overlaid from an interview describing the building and its construction.
Radical Rooms: Power of the Plan - installation shot (2022) by Architect: Charles Holland Architects and Photographer: Black Edge ProductionsRoyal Institute of British Architects
Twitching curtains
Through interactive elements, this exhibition encourages a playful exploration of hidden stories and the power dynamics within the domestic space. The interplay between architecture and different mediums, showcases how architectural history can be interpreted through art and storytelling.
Explore more from RIBA Collections here.
All images are from RIBA Collections unless listed.
A la Ronde, Shell Gallery. Edwin Smith / RIBA Collections
Interiors of Hopkins House. Architectural Press Archive / RIBA Collections
Blue spiral staircase. Joe Low / RIBA Collections
Radical Rooms: Power of the plan - installation shots Gareth Gardner, character shots: Heiko Prigge
Exhibition design: Charles Holland Architects
Audio-visual design, narratives + lyrics: Di Mainstone
Exhibition identity + graphic design: Europa
Bess of Hardwick: Kerin Che3kz Morris (voice + performance)
Jane Parminter: Seaming To (voice + performance)
Mary Parminter: Frances Murray (voice) Faye Stoeser (performance)
Patty Hopkins: Liz Lundy (performance)
Composer + producer: Jay Malhotra (Parminters, Patty)
Sound design + mixing: Jay Malhotra (all characters)
Composer + producer: Mandy Wigby (Bess)
Creative studio: The Big Sky Production manager and editor: Monday Adjetey
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