Delightful Fun: a Cedric Price Thinkbelt for our Times

Hosted by CUBE, amidst a touring exhibition of the works of Cedric Price, this event discussed, in relation to teaching and practice (and Price’s legacy), enduring architectural questions of re-use, circular economics, participation, community-led development and transdisciplinary methods of working which all require careful consideration of how time impacts design.

Thinkbelt – Delightful Fun: a Cedric Price Thinkbelt for our times is a collaborative project between a network of UK schools of architecture to celebrate the legacy of Cedric Price (1934-2003) for its relevance today. The Thinkbelt network explores, collects and shares knowledge on the move – embodying the dynamism, expediency and inclusiveness invested in Price’s work.

The idea picks up on three of Price’s projects: POTTERIES THINKBELT (1964) - a design for a new kind of university in Staffordshire that regenerates skills and knowledge reusing and adapting its existing infrastructures; POLYARK (1973) - a plan for a circular knowledge economy between UK schools of architecture inspired by his National Schools Plan (1966); and WESTAL (1986-90), a set of three ‘store-and-display’ units commissioned by Westminster Council to improve the conditions of the borough’s street markets. For Price, the project was about making everyday experiences better for people living and working in cities.

The centrepiece for the exhibition is two of Price’s WESTAL market stalls with a range of facsimile and archival drawings and reference materials presenting the diversity of his practice. The stalls speak to the idea of exchange in the city and associated events encourage exchange of ideas. Each school stopover will make their own display, make new materials to add to the exhibition and host a public event to be recorded and included in a cumulative catalogue.

This event is supported by RIBA London, London Metropolitan University and the University of Westminster to promote uniting academia and practice through knowledge exchange.