Architecture
Powell, Sir Philip. (13 of 20). National Life Story Collection: Architects' Lives
- Add a note
Log in to add a note at the bottom of this page.
- All notes
- My notes
- Hide notes
- Add to playlist
Log in to add this item to one of your personal lists.
- Add to favourites
Log in to add and display this item in your personal list of favourites on the right hand side of this page.
The British Library Board acknowledges the intellectual property rights of those named as contributors to this recording and the rights of those not identified.
Legal and ethical usage »
Type
sound
Duration
0:31:48
Shelf mark
C467/11
Subjects
Architecture
Recording date
1997
Recording locations
NSA
Interviewees
Powell, Sir Philip, 1921-2003 (speaker, male)
Interviewers
Brodie, Louise, (speaker, female)
Abstract
Part 13. Planning of Wolfson College, a difficult concept for a whole community - postgraduates, dons, families. And a different site - not near old buildings and also requiring separate houses with some privacy. The only grand room was the dining room which became the centre of the community. All rooms looking out, except dining room which had good acoustics. Philip Powel [PP] tells very amusing story of dinner at RA and the confusion due to two Lady Powells - recorded in gossip column of the Times. Back to Wolfson College - Wolfson Foundation. Some difficulties with Isaac Wolfson's donations. Designing the Putney swimming pool - the advantage of having a nice site with trees which they used in the design. It was an L-shaped pool with arrangements for high-diving board in the L. Explains why they used folded slab of concrete for roof. Looked at other baths, especially in Germany, before designing. PP explains how they got the job to do Expo 70 in Japan. Had visited Expo 67 in Montreal which gave them ideas and from which they learnt about allowing for crowds, for climate. It also showed examples of other pavilions and the mistakes that were made. Gives reasons for his design, suspending four boxes for exhibitions from masts.
Metadata record: