Author: Simon Elmer

New Left Revue (Being for the Benefit of Mr. Assange)

after John Lennon For the benefit of Mr. A. There will be a trial today on Facebook stream. The socialists will all be there Late of Workers & Welfare – what a scene! By slanders, lies and allegations, Lastly through ordeal by Puritan bile: In this way Mr. A. will be accused! The much maligned … Continue reading New Left Revue (Being for the Benefit of Mr. Assange)

The Sacred Heart of Architecture: Lessons from the Paris Commune

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, called the Sacré-Cœur, is a Roman Catholic church and minor basilica. A popular landmark in Paris, the basilica is located at the summit of the butte Montmartre, the highest point in the city. Sacré-Cœur is a double monument, political and cultural: a national penance for both the … Continue reading The Sacred Heart of Architecture: Lessons from the Paris Commune

For a Socialist Architecture. Part 2: The Principles of Architectural Practice

At the invitation of the Architecture Society of the University of Cambridge, it was announced that, on 13 May 2019, Patrik Schumacher, the Principal at Zaha Hadid Architects, gave a lecture titled ‘Architecture and Urbanism in the 21st Century’ in the Department of Architecture. In response, a group of postgraduate students invited Architects for Social … Continue reading For a Socialist Architecture. Part 2: The Principles of Architectural Practice

For a Socialist Architecture. Part 1: The Facts in the Case of Patrik Schumacher

At the invitation of the Architecture Society of the University of Cambridge, it was announced that, on 13 May 2019, Patrik Schumacher, the Principal at Zaha Hadid Architects, gave a lecture titled ‘Architecture and Urbanism in the 21st Century’ in the Department of Architecture. In response, a group of postgraduate students invited Architects for Social … Continue reading For a Socialist Architecture. Part 1: The Facts in the Case of Patrik Schumacher

Whatever Happened to the Middle Class? Bad Faith and the Culture Industry

‘Indeed, it may be feared that recourse to private patronage in order to finance art, literature and science will gradually place artists and scholars in a relationship of material and mental dependence on economic powers and market constraints. In any case, private patronage may justify the abdication of public authorities, who use the pretext of … Continue reading Whatever Happened to the Middle Class? Bad Faith and the Culture Industry

Sponsorship and Censorship: Why ASH is withdrawing from the Chicago Architecture Biennial 2019

The recent arrest and subsequent imprisonment of the Wikileaks founder Julian Assange has sent out a clear message to whistle-blowers and those who dare publish them that the freedom of the press is not so much under attack as under lock and key. But the truths to be considered out of bounds for publication from now … Continue reading Sponsorship and Censorship: Why ASH is withdrawing from the Chicago Architecture Biennial 2019

Extinction Rebellion: Socialist Revolution

On Easter Sunday, after a week of protests and over a thousand arrests, Extinction Rebellion’s political circle coordinator, the climate change lawyer Farhana Yamin, announced that the week of protests in London would now be ‘paused’ as commuters went back to work and shop. This would show, she said - although she didn’t say whom … Continue reading Extinction Rebellion: Socialist Revolution

Inequality Capital: A Power Walk by Architects for Social Housing

The text for this walk is available to download as a booklet titled Inequality Capital. Preface London is the European capital of inequality. 165,000 people, 1 in every 52 Londoners, are officially homeless; yet last year 93 billionaires were registered as resident in the capital, the highest of any city in the world, and more … Continue reading Inequality Capital: A Power Walk by Architects for Social Housing