A New Kind of Bleak: Journeys Through Urban Britain is a 2012 book by Owen Hatherley and a follow-up to A Guide to the New Ruins of Great Britain,[1] in which he seeks to use "architecture and town planning" as a "way to talk about politics".[2]
Overview
editHatherley's aim in A New Kind of Bleak is to find a means of "rebuilding cities that is not just aesthetically superior, but also more equitable" while highlighting the "miserable, abandoned present". He warns that the book concentrates "perhaps overmuch on the gory details of some extremely unlovely places" in its demonstration that Britain's architecture represents the "exterior decoration of evil".
Hatherley describes Anish Kapoor's Orbit tower as "embarassing",[1] calls Coventry "flawed, tarnished by the usual neoliberal trash like everywhere else",[2] and criticises the placement of advertising in its railway station. He sums up the Shard as "an act of urban thuggery" and notes the evocation of RoboCop and the work of Andrei Tarkovsky in the Lloyd's building.[1] He finds many of the worst architectural mistakes in the Birmingham planned by Herbert Manzoni,[3] which is noteworthy for its "monstrous typicality"; and finds Dartford "desperately sad". Hatherley also criticises the work of Banksy.[2]
Nonetheless, he assesses Plymouth in a positive light and calls the University of Leicester a "superb mini city".[1] He also finds sensitivity in the City of London and suggests Cumbernauld as a site of architectural inspiration.[3] Hatherley advocates a new landscape built by trade unions, students and the young unemployed.[2]
Critical reception
editThe Metro described A New Kind of Bleak as "a timely counterpoint to Britain’s jubilee and Olympics self-congratulation", and Hatherley as "impassioned and political" in his judgements.[1] Sarah Morrison of The Independent concurred, calling it "[e]arnest and well-researched," but warns readers "there's a lot of misery."[2]
Igor Toronyi-Lalic of The Daily Telegraph, however, described Hatherley as "a very angry young thing" whose thesis is contradicted by reality, and summed up A New Kind of Bleak as a "childish rant" written in a "flabby style".[3]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e "Owen Hatherley's A New Kind of Bleak forces you to open your eyes". Metro. 20 June 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
- ^ a b c d e Morrison, Sarah (1 July 2012). "A New Kind of Bleak: Journeys Through Urban Britain, By Owen Hatherley". The Independent. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
- ^ a b c Toronyi-Lalic, Igor (20 June 2012). "A New Kind of Bleak by Owen Hatherley: review". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
- Beckett, Andy (6 July 2012). "A New Kind of Bleak by Owen Hatherley – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
- Olcayto, Rory (12 July 2012). "What do Owen Hatherley and Gregory's Girl have in common? "Glorious" Cumbernauld". Architects' Journal. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
- Bowd, Gavin (15 July 2012). "Book review: New Kind Of Bleak: Journeys Through Urban Britain by Owen Hatherley". Scotland on Sunday. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
- Sutcliffe, Jamie; Hatherley, Owen (20 August 2012). "Forwards Not Forgetting: Owen Hatherley Interviewed". The Quietus. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
- "Author Owen Hatherley full of praise for Leicester's landmarks and venues". Leicester Mercury. 12 July 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
- "Review: A New Kind of Bleak". Icon. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
External links
edit- Hatherley, Owen (2 July 2012). "The Olympian Landscape". Guernica Magazine. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
- Hatherley, Owen (7 September 2012). "A New Kind of Bleak: Journeys Through Urban Britain". PopMatters. Retrieved 10 February 2012.</ref>