Christine Wall 2025. Absent Voices, Absent Lives: Articulating Building Workers in Architectural Production 1. in: Matt Davies, Will Thomson, Katie Lloyd Thomas and João Marcos de Almeida Lopes (ed.) Building Sites: Accessibility symbol Accessibility Information Book Building Sites Architecture, Labour, and Production Studies Routledge.
| Chapter title | Absent Voices, Absent Lives: Articulating Building Workers in Architectural Production 1 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Christine Wall |
| Editors | Matt Davies, Will Thomson, Katie Lloyd Thomas and João Marcos de Almeida Lopes |
| Abstract | Ferro’s analysis of the role of workers and the conditions under which they labour are the foundation of his lifework on production, allowing for his vision of ‘the history of architecture seen from the building site’. However, Ferro’s writings rarely include first-hand accounts from building workers and so, in this respect only, is aligned with the historiography of post-war architecture, where workers’ own testimonies are usually absent. This chapter positions the building site, understood here primarily as a workplace, and the experiences of the workforce at the centre of analysis. The key methodology is that of oral history interviewing, contextualised with wider documentation and imagery of production. Introducing the voices of workers removes any formulation of labour as a homogenous entity or an abstract concept: it necessitates awareness of difference, between workers, for example skill and gender, class and race; as well as forms of organisation, whether hierarchical or co-operative, thus revealing the many facets of social relations implicit in production. Using examples from a research archive of interviews recorded over a period of 30 years, the post-war sites of construction are inhabited with a polyphony of voices, where, beneath the finished surfaces, architecture is articulated through memories of lived experience on the building site. |
| Book title | Building Sites: Accessibility symbol Accessibility Information Book Building Sites Architecture, Labour, and Production Studies |
| Year | 2025 |
| Publisher | Routledge |
| Publication dates | |
| Published | 19 Dec 2025 |
| ISBN | 9781003490777 |
| 9781032788845 | |
| 9781032791524 | |
| Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003490777-14 |
| Web address (URL) | https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003490777-14 |
The pursuit of pleasurable work: Craftwork in twenty-first century England
Wall, Christine 2023. The pursuit of pleasurable work: Craftwork in twenty-first century England. British Journal of Educational Studies. 71 (6), pp. 728-730. https://doi.org/10.1080/00071005.2023.2234171
“It Was a Totally Different Approach to Building!”: Constructing Architectural Concrete in 1960s London
Wall, C. 2019. “It Was a Totally Different Approach to Building!”: Constructing Architectural Concrete in 1960s London. in: Gosseye, J., Stead, N. and van der Plaat, D. (ed.) Speaking of Buildings: Oral History in Architectural Research New York Princeton Architectural Press. pp. 50-75
It Was a Totally Different Approach to Building! Constructing architectural concrete in 1960s
Wall, C. 2019. It Was a Totally Different Approach to Building! Constructing architectural concrete in 1960s. in: Gosseye, J., Stead, N. and van der Plaat, D. (ed.) Speaking of Buildings: Oral History in Architectural Research Princeton Architectural Press. pp. 50-75
A collection of voices
Wall, C. 2018. A collection of voices. The Modernist. Winter (29).
Normierung im Praxistext – Arbeit und Normierung im Großbritannien der Nachkriegsmoderne
Wall, C. 2018. Normierung im Praxistext – Arbeit und Normierung im Großbritannien der Nachkriegsmoderne. Arch+. 233, pp. 142-147.
William Arrol and Peter Lind: demolition, construction and workmanship on London’s Waterloo Bridges 1934 -1946
Wall, C. 2018. William Arrol and Peter Lind: demolition, construction and workmanship on London’s Waterloo Bridges 1934 -1946. 6th International Congress on Construction History. Brussels 09 - 13 Jul 2018
Lost lesbian spaces: memories of an urban community in 1970s London
Wall, C. 2018. Lost lesbian spaces: memories of an urban community in 1970s London. European Social Science History Conference. Queen's University, Belfast 04 - 07 Apr 2018
‘Nuclear prospects’: the siting and construction of Sizewell A power station 1957-1966
Wall, C. 2018. ‘Nuclear prospects’: the siting and construction of Sizewell A power station 1957-1966. Contemporary British History. 33 (2), pp. 246-273. https://doi.org/10.1080/13619462.2018.1519424
Constructing Brutalism: in situ knowledge and skill on London's South Bank
Wall, C. 2018. Constructing Brutalism: in situ knowledge and skill on London's South Bank. in: Heine, E.-C. and Rauhut, C. (ed.) Producing non-simultaneity: construction sites as places of progressiveness and continuity Farnham, Surrey Ashgate. pp. 95-109
Women and Low Energy Construction in Europe: a new opportunity?
Clarke, L., Gleeson, C.P. and Wall, C. 2017. Women and Low Energy Construction in Europe: a new opportunity? in: Griffin Cohen, M. (ed.) Climate Change and Gender in Rich Countries: Work, Public Policy and Action Earthscan. pp. 55-69
Constructing Post-War Britain: building workers stories
Wall, C. and Clarke, L. 2017. Constructing Post-War Britain: building workers stories.
Building Brussels: Building Brutalism
Wall, C. 2017. Building Brussels: Building Brutalism. Building Brussels. Brussels 09 Jun 2017
Standardization on Site: skill and the construction process in mid-twentieth century Britain
Wall, C. 2017. Standardization on Site: skill and the construction process in mid-twentieth century Britain. Standard Architecture Symposium . Deutsches Architekturmuseum, Frankfurt am Main, Germany 19 - 22 Oct 2017
“We don’t have leaders! We’re doing it ourselves!”: squatting, feminism and built environment activism in 1970s London
Wall, C. 2017. “We don’t have leaders! We’re doing it ourselves!”: squatting, feminism and built environment activism in 1970s London. field: Journal. 7 (1), pp. 129-140.
Sisterhood and Squatting in the 1970s: Feminism, Housing and Urban Change in Hackney
Wall, C. 2017. Sisterhood and Squatting in the 1970s: Feminism, Housing and Urban Change in Hackney. History Workshop Journal. 83 (1), pp. 79-97. https://doi.org/10.1093/hwj/dbx024
New notions of value in Modern Architecture
Wall, C. 2017. New notions of value in Modern Architecture. in: Modern Futures London Unicorn Books.
On Site
Beech, N., Clarke, L., Wall, C. and Fitzgerald, I. 2016. On Site. in: Lloyd Thomas, K., Amhoff, T. and Beech, N. (ed.) Industries of Architecture Routledge.
‘Through Trade Unionism you felt a belonging – you belonged’: Collectivism and the Self-Representation of Building Workers in Stevenage New Town
McGuire, C., Clarke L. and Wall, C. 2016. ‘Through Trade Unionism you felt a belonging – you belonged’: Collectivism and the Self-Representation of Building Workers in Stevenage New Town. Labour History Review. 81 (3), pp. 211-236. https://doi.org/10.3828/lhr.2016.11
No More Softly, Softly: Women in the Construction Workforce
Clarke L., Michielsens, E., Snijders, S., Wall, C., Dainty, A., Bagilhole, B. and Barnard, S. 2015. No More Softly, Softly: Women in the Construction Workforce . London ProBE.
No more softly, softly: review of women in the construction workforce
Clarke, L., Michielsens, E., Snijders, S. and Wall, C. 2015. No more softly, softly: review of women in the construction workforce. ProBE publication.
'Raising the bar’ for the representation of women in the construction workforce
Wall, C., Clarke, L., Michielsens, E. and Snijders, S. 2015. 'Raising the bar’ for the representation of women in the construction workforce. London University of Westminster with University of Loughborough.
Modular men: architects, labour and standardisation in mid 20th century Britain
Wall, C. 2015. Modular men: architects, labour and standardisation in mid 20th century Britain. in: Lloyd Thomas, K., Amhoff, T. and Beech, N. (ed.) Industries of architecture London Routledge.
Are women ‘not up to’ working in construction – at all times and everywhere?
Clarke, L. and Wall, C. 2014. Are women ‘not up to’ working in construction – at all times and everywhere? in: Munn, M. (ed.) Building the future: women in construction London Smith Institute. pp. 10-19
Women and Low Energy Construction in Europe
Clarke, L. and Wall, C. 2014. Women and Low Energy Construction in Europe. Women and Environments. 94/95, pp. 26-27.
Are women ‘not up to’ working in construction – at all times and everywhere?
Wall, C. and Clarke, L. 2014. Are women ‘not up to’ working in construction – at all times and everywhere? London The Smith Institute.
Recording the ‘building world’: how oral history transforms construction history
Wall, C. 2014. Recording the ‘building world’: how oral history transforms construction history. The First Construction History Society Conference & Annual General Meeting. Queens’ College, University of Cambridge 12 Apr 2014 Construction History Society.
Rethinking Brutalist Buildings: their soul is in their making
Muñoz-Rojas, O., Wall, C. and Clarke, L. 2013. Rethinking Brutalist Buildings: their soul is in their making. in: Gheran, N.L. and Monteith, K. (ed.) Monstrous Spaces: the Other Frontier Oxford Brill. pp. 93-104
An architecture of parts: architects, building workers and industrialisation in Britain 1940-1970
Wall, C. 2013. An architecture of parts: architects, building workers and industrialisation in Britain 1940-1970. Abingdon Routledge.
Constructing London’s satellite towns: building workers in Stevenage new town 1950–70
Wall, C. 2013. Constructing London’s satellite towns: building workers in Stevenage new town 1950–70. Mobilising London's Housing Histories: The Provision of Homes since 1850. Centre for Metropolitan History: Institute of Historical Research 27th-28th June
Battles on the Barbican: the struggle for trade unionism in the British building industry, 1965-7
McGuire, C., Clarke, L. and Wall, C. 2013. Battles on the Barbican: the struggle for trade unionism in the British building industry, 1965-7. History Workshop Journal. 75 (1), pp. 33-57. https://doi.org/10.1093/hwj/dbs033
Nostalgia as a postscript: building workers’ memories of large construction sites in 1960s Britain
Wall, C. and McGuire, C. 2012. Nostalgia as a postscript: building workers’ memories of large construction sites in 1960s Britain. European Social Science History Conference. Glasgow 11-14 April
The art of concrete: building the South Bank arts centre
Wall, C., Clarke, L., McGuire, C. and Munoz-Rojas, O. 2012. The art of concrete: building the South Bank arts centre. University of Westminster.
Building the M1 motorway
Wall, C., Clarke, L., McGuire, C. and Munoz-Rojas, O. 2012. Building the M1 motorway. University of Westminster.
Building the Barbican 1962-1982
Wall, C., Clarke, L., McGuire, C. and Munoz-Rojas, O. 2012. Building the Barbican 1962-1982. University of Westminster.
Something to show for it: the place of mementoes in women’s oral histories of work
Wall, C. 2012. Something to show for it: the place of mementoes in women’s oral histories of work. in: Goodwin, J. (ed.) Sage biographical research. Volume four: other documents of life: photographs, cyber documents and ephemera London Sage.
It was a new world: building Sizewell a nuclear power station
Wall, C. 2012. It was a new world: building Sizewell a nuclear power station. University of Westminster.
Concrete constructors: oral history accounts of building work on a large, complex site in 1960s Britain
Wall, C. 2012. Concrete constructors: oral history accounts of building work on a large, complex site in 1960s Britain. in: Carvais, R., Guillerme, A., Nègre, V. and Sakarovitch, J. (ed.) Nuts and bolts of construction history: culture, technology and society Picard.
The development of building labour in Britain in the twentieth century: is it distinct from elsewhere in Europe?
Clarke, L., McGuire, C. and Wall, C. 2012. The development of building labour in Britain in the twentieth century: is it distinct from elsewhere in Europe? in: Dainty, A. and Loosemore, M. (ed.) Human resource management in construction: critical perspectives (2nd edition) Taylor & Francis. pp. 51-79
Building a community: construction workers in Stevenage, 1950-1970
Wall, C., McGuire, C., Clarke, L. and Brockmann, M. 2011. Building a community: construction workers in Stevenage, 1950-1970. University of Westminster.
Representing identity and work in transition: the case of South Yorkshire coal mining communities in Britain
Wall, C., Kirk, J. and Jefferys, S. 2011. Representing identity and work in transition: the case of South Yorkshire coal mining communities in Britain. in: Kirk, J., Contrepois, S. and Jefferys, S. (ed.) Changing work and community identities in European regions: perspectives on the past and present Basingstoke Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 184-216
Work and identity: historical and cultural contexts
Kirk, J. and Wall, C. 2011. Work and identity: historical and cultural contexts. Basingstoke Palgrave Macmillan.
Resilience and loss in work identities: a narrative analysis of some retired teachers' work-life histories
Kirk, J. and Wall, C. 2010. Resilience and loss in work identities: a narrative analysis of some retired teachers' work-life histories. British Educational Research Journal. 36 (4), pp. 627-641. https://doi.org/10.1080/01411920903018216
Skilled versus qualified labour: the exclusion of women from the construction industry
Clarke, L. and Wall, C. 2010. Skilled versus qualified labour: the exclusion of women from the construction industry. in: Davis, M. (ed.) Class and gender in British labour history: Renewing the debate (or starting it?) Merlin Press.
Biography, education and civic action: teaching generations and social change
Martin, J., Kirk, J., Wall, C. and Jefferys, S. 2009. Biography, education and civic action: teaching generations and social change. in: Wetherell, M. (ed.) Theorizing identities and social action Basingstoke Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 38-55
'A woman's place is where she wants to work': barriers to the entry and retention of women into the skilled building trades
Clarke, L. and Wall, C. 2009. 'A woman's place is where she wants to work': barriers to the entry and retention of women into the skilled building trades. Scottish Labour History. 44, pp. 16-39.
Something to show for it: the place of mementoes in women’s oral histories of work
Wall, C. 2009. Something to show for it: the place of mementoes in women’s oral histories of work. International Labour Process Conference 2009. Edinburgh April 2009 Sage. https://doi.org/10.1177/1744935910370194
Picturing an occupational identity: images of teachers in careers and trade union publications 1940-2000
Wall, C. 2008. Picturing an occupational identity: images of teachers in careers and trade union publications 1940-2000. History of Education. 37 (2), pp. 317-340. https://doi.org/10.1080/00467600701878038
Integrating the visual: work identities in teaching, banking and railways
Wall, C. 2008. Integrating the visual: work identities in teaching, banking and railways. Does Work Still Shape Social Identities and Action: Project Seminar. The Women's Library, London Metropolitan University Wednesday 16 July 2008
Work memorabilia and affect in oral histories of work
Wall, C. 2008. Work memorabilia and affect in oral histories of work. Rethinking Labour: Labour, Affect and Material Culture. University College Dublin 18th, 19th and 20th April 2008
Researching teachers' working lives: findings from the ESRC project 'Does work still shape social identity and action?'
Wall, C. 2008. Researching teachers' working lives: findings from the ESRC project 'Does work still shape social identity and action?'. History of Education Lunchtime Seminar Series. Institute of Education, University of London 11th June 2008
The use of photographs in eliciting work-life histories: a tool for international comparisons?
Wall, C. 2007. The use of photographs in eliciting work-life histories: a tool for international comparisons? Journees Internationales De Sociologie Du Travail (JIST) - the biennial French Sociology of Work Conference. London Metropolitan University 20th - 22nd June 2007
Memories of work: exploring identities through visual and oral approaches
Wall, C. and Kirk, J. 2007. Memories of work: exploring identities through visual and oral approaches. Working Lives Research Institute open seminar. London Metropolitan University 7th November 2007
Omitted from history: women in the building trades
Clarke, L. and Wall, C. 2006. Omitted from history: women in the building trades. in: Dunkeld, M., Campbell, J., Louw, H., Tutton, M., Addis, B., Powell, C. and Thorne, R. (ed.) Proceedings of the Second International Congress on Construction History Cambridge, UK Construction History Society. pp. 35-59
Women in manual trades
Clarke, L., Michielsens, E. and Wall, C. 2006. Women in manual trades. in: Gale, A.W. and Davidson, M.J. (ed.) Managing diversity and equality in construction: initiatives and practice London, UK Taylor & Francis. pp. 151-168
Using visual sources: a methodical appraisal
Wall, C. 2005. Using visual sources: a methodical appraisal. ESRC Identities and Social Action Programme Research Fellows Workshop. The Open University, Milton Keynes 25th October 2005
Never argue with the architect: hierachy, skill and status on mid twentieth century building sites
Wall, C. 2004. Never argue with the architect: hierachy, skill and status on mid twentieth century building sites. Institute of Contemporary British History Conference: History of Work in the 20th Century. University of London, Senate House 14th -16th July 2004
Any woman can: twenty years of campaigning for access to training and employment
Wall, C. 2004. Any woman can: twenty years of campaigning for access to training and employment. in: Clarke, L., Pedersen, E.F., Michielsens, E., Susman, B. and Wall, C. (ed.) Women in construction Bruxelles, Belgium CLR/Reed Business Information.
Now you're in, now you're out: women's changing participation in the building trades in Britain
Clarke, L. and Wall, C. 2004. Now you're in, now you're out: women's changing participation in the building trades in Britain. in: Clarke, L., Pedersen, E.F., Michielsens, E., Susman, B. and Wall, C. (ed.) Women in construction Bruxelles, Belgium CLR/Reed Business Information. pp. 24-47
Introduction
Clarke, L., Pedersen, E.F., Michielsens, E., Susman, B. and Wall, C. 2004. Introduction. in: Clarke, L., Pedersen, E.F., Michielsens, E., Susman, B. and Wall, C. (ed.) Women in construction Bruxelles, Belgium CLR/Reed Business Information. pp. 8-22
Women constructors in the twentieth century
Wall, C. 2002. Women constructors in the twentieth century. Construction History Newsletter. 64, pp. 15-17.
Craft versus industry: the division of labour in European housing construction
Clarke, L. and Wall, C. 2000. Craft versus industry: the division of labour in European housing construction. Construction Management and Economics. 18 (6), pp. 689-698. https://doi.org/10.1080/014461900414745
Balancing acts in construction: a study of two women painters in Denmark and Britain
Clarke, L., Pedersen, E.F. and Wall, C. 1999. Balancing acts in construction: a study of two women painters in Denmark and Britain. NORA - Nordic Journal of Feminist and Gender Research. 7 (2), pp. 138-150. https://doi.org/10.1080/08038749950167652
UK construction skills in the context of European developments
Clarke, L. and Wall, C. 1998. UK construction skills in the context of European developments. Construction Management and Economics. 16 (5), pp. 553-567. https://doi.org/10.1080/014461998372097
Desegregating construction
Wall, C., Clarke, L. and Michielsens, E. 1998. Desegregating construction. Work, Employment and Society Conference. University of Cambridge 14th -16th September 1998
Blueprint for change: construction skills training in Britain
Wall, C. and Clarke, L. Padayachee, V. (ed.) 1998. Blueprint for change: construction skills training in Britain. Policy Press.
A fair day's work: women in direct labour organisations
Wall, C., Clarke, L. and Michielsens, E. 1997. A fair day's work: women in direct labour organisations. London Women and Manual Trades.
Staying power: women in direct labour building teams
Wall, C. and Clarke, L. 1996. Staying power: women in direct labour building teams. London Women and Manual Trades.
Skills and the construction process: a comparative study of vocational training and quality in social housebuilding
Wall, C. and Clarke, L. 1996. Skills and the construction process: a comparative study of vocational training and quality in social housebuilding. Policy Press.
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