Original version

BBC Four HD

BBC Four

Peter Sweasey

Nicolas Kent

The Brits Who Built the Modern World: Episode 2: The Power of the Past

Documentaries

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media: Arts

The Power of the Past

Episode 2

Episode 2: The Power of the Past

The Brits Who Built the Modern World

BBC Four - The Brits Who Built the Modern World, The Power of the Pastsearch

In the 1980s, modern architecture was unpopular and under attack from Prince Charles.

Modern British architects such as Richard Rogers, Terry Farrell and Norman Foster reveal the stories behind some of their most famous creations of the 1980s.

How an exceptional generation of British architects, led by Norman Foster and Richard Rogers, conquered the globe with their high-tech vision. 

This episode focuses on the 1980s, when modern architecture was deeply unpopular and under attack from the Prince of Wales. The architects reveal the dramatic stories behind some of their most famous creations, including Rogers's Lloyd's of London building and Foster's Stansted Airport. 

Terry Farrell reveals how he was kept in the dark when he was designing the MI6 Headquarters, Michael Hopkins recalls the challenges of bringing ultra-modern architecture into the traditional world of Lord's Cricket Ground, and Nicholas Grimshaw follows in the footsteps of the great Victorian engineers with his Waterloo International station.

Knowledge, arts, music and culture from the UK and the world.

BBC Four reflects arts, music and culture with an ambitious range of intellectually and culturally enriching programmes, taking an expert and in-depth approach to its subjects.

The story of five of the most successful and globally recognised British architects.

Series telling the story of how an exceptional generation of British architects, led by Norman Foster and Richard Rogers, conquered the globe with their high-tech vision.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Brits Who Built the Modern World

Episode 2: The Power of the Past

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Series

BBC Four HD

About BBC Four