Purcell heritage consultants contribute to new book celebrating 21st-century architecture
Two members of Purcell’s heritage consultancy team have contributed to a new book exploring some of Britain’s most significant buildings of the 21st century.
Published by Batsford Books in association with the Twentieth Century Society, 100 21st-Century Buildings brings together a diverse selection of buildings completed since 2000.
Through photography and accompanying essays, the book considers what contemporary architecture reveals about British society, its changing values and aspirations – and which buildings may become the listed heritage of the future.
Purcell heritage consultants Jon Wright and Tom Goodwin contributed nine entries spanning schools, libraries and public spaces. These include Stirling Prize-winning Gateshead Millennium Bridge; David Kohn Architects’ The Red House, named RIBA House of the Year in 2022; and Hackney New Primary School, winner of the 2022 RIBA Neave Brown Award. The essay on Kingsdale Foundation School was co-written by Wright and his daughter Georgia, who is a pupil at the school, bringing a personal perspective to the building and how it is experienced by those who use it every day.
Although none of the nine buildings are currently listed, they are potential candidates for future designation. Together, they prompt important questions about how we recognise architectural significance in relatively recent buildings, how their value may evolve over time and whether the current system is equipped to protect the best architecture of the early 21st century.
The contributions reflect the breadth of Purcell’s heritage expertise, which extends beyond the conservation of established historic buildings to understanding and advocating for the significant places of the future. Identifying that significance early can help owners, designers and communities make informed decisions about how buildings are adapted, managed and cared for as they age.
Purcell’s work with Jamie Fobert Architects at the Grade I listed National Portrait Gallery also features in the book, which recognises the ‘heritage sensitivity’, ‘smart engineering’ and ‘bold decisions’ behind its much-lauded transformation.
