Jim Stirling’s Architecture - ACE036.2

The site of Runcorn New Town, with construction in early stages. Commentary says that it’s architecture that enables the building of "low cost, tolerable, residential units", according to standards set by the Department of the Environment. VO of Jim Stirling saying that the British public doesn’t readily recognise good modern architecture as there isn’t much of it in Britain, and that the Runcorn development is of the highest density permitted by government regulations. Stirling and colleagues in a planning meeting, talking about wanting to use a design based on a series of "urban squares" and avoid the idea of suburban living. They are concerned that local politics are such that it will take some time to establish a good social structure. Stirling at the building site. Commentary says that cost elements are now accepted and architecture has become "a legal wrangle over delivery dates and contractual specifications for the concrete finish" and is responsible for technical standards on site. Articles and books about Jim Stirling. Stirling working on designs. Colleagues talking about ideas. Stirling’s VO talking about architects being very different from each other.