The 20th Century Society continues to defend and promote modern architecture in Britain with erudite enthusiasm, not least through it publications. Their most recent edition concerns the work of RIBA Gold Medallist Edward “Ted” Cullinan and his practice, and follows on from recent excellent publications devoted to FX Verlarde and other more or less well known exemplary modern British architects. This new volume essentially updates Edward Cullinan Architect, also by Powell, an RIBA publication of 1984, and his 1995 book, of the same title, published by Academy Editions.

Powell writes affectionately about Cullinan, tracing his gilded youth through Ampelforth and Queens College Cambridge, via stints at UC Berkeley and Denys Lasdun’s office, before establishing his own practice in 1965. The story is not quite so linear though, as Cullinan had in fact completed a number of very intriguing houses in California whilst still technically a student, and in fact he continued to return to the US to build a number of projects influenced by the climate and topography of the West Coast. For fans of his domestic architecture these houses are a fascinating counterpoint, and I for one wish there was more information about these in the book.

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