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Gordon Cullen's : A Cinematic Urban Theory

image of Gordon Cullen's Serial Vision: A Cinematic Urban Theory

During his long and various career as an architect, urban planner, consultant, and editor of the Architectural Review, Gordon Cullen (1914 - 1994) developed innovative and original urban visions.

Despite that, not many studies have been conducted on him, his projects, numerous sketches, or his personal vision about Townscape. This paper addresses this lacuna, offering, in particular, a thorough analysis of a never-published series of sketches part of the Gordon Cullen Archive held at the University of Westminster.

Focusing on this suggesting sequence of images, this paper will investigate in particular Cullen's original approach, describing properly the serial vision as unique cinematic method that he implemented to express and successfully represent the complexity of urban spaces. The main aim is to re-evaluate Cullen's contribution in relation to the seminal urban research of the 50s, 60s, and 70s, stating his crucial role in influencing the contemporary development of urban theories.

Keywords: Gordon Cullen ; Holy Mountains ; Sergei M. Eisenstein ; Serial Vision ; The Architectural Review ; Townscape ; University of Westminster Records and Archives ; Urban Design ; Via Crucis ; Westminster Catholic Cathedral

Hardback ISBN: 9781789389807
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Gordon Cullen's Serial Vision: A Cinematic Urban Theory
Intellect , 194 (2024); https://doi.org/10.1386/9781789389807_12
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References

  1. Aitchison, Mathew. ‘Who's Afraid of Ivor de Wolfe?’ AA Files 62 (2011): 34–39.
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  2. Aitchison, Mathew. ‘Townscape: Scope, Scale and Extent.’ Journal of Architecture 17, no. 5 (2012): 621–42.
     [Google Scholar]
  3. Cullen, Gordon. The Townscape. New York: The Architectural Press, 1961.
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  4. Eisenstein, Sergei M. ‘Montage and Architecture.’ Assemblage 10 (1989): 118–31.
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  5. Engler, Mira. Cut and Paste Urban Landscape: The Work of Gordon Cullen. Abingdon: Routledge, 2016.
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  6. Epstein, Jacob. Epstein: An Autobiography. London: Art Treasures Book Club, 1963.
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  7. Gosling, David. Gordon Cullen: Visions of Urban Design. London: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
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  8. Gosling, David, Bob Jarvis, David Reed, David Rock, and William Whistler. ‘Gordon Cullen Tribute.’ Urban Design Quarterly 52 (1994): 15–30.215
     [Google Scholar]
  9. Kilde, Jeanne H. Sacred Power, Sacred Space: An Introduction to Christian Architecture and Worship. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008.
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  10. Macarthur, John. ‘The “Revenge of the Picturesque”, Redux.’ Journal of Architecture 17, no. 5 (2012): 643–53.
     [Google Scholar]
  11. Maggi, Angelo. ‘Capturing the Italian Townscape: From the Beginnings of Italian Landscape Photography to the Anti-Idyllic Images of Ivor and Ivy de Wolfe.’ Journal of Architecture 21, no. 6 (2016): 890–909.
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  12. Molinari, Carla. ‘Sequences in Architecture: Sergei Ejzenštejn and Luigi Moretti, from Images to Spaces.’ Journal of Architecture 26, no. 6 (2021): 893–911.
     [Google Scholar]
  13. Montes Serrano, Carlos. ‘Gordon Cullen and The Architectural Review: Unbuilt Ideas for Marlow New Town.’ ZARCH 6 (2016): 27–43.
     [Google Scholar]
  14. Montes Serrano, Carlos, and Marta Alonso Rodríguez. ‘Drawing the Changing City: A Tribute to Gordon Cullen.’ In Disegno & Città, edited by A. Marotta and G. Novello, 1129–32. Roma: Gangemi Editore, 2015.
     [Google Scholar]
  15. Orillard, Clément. ‘Gordon Cullen beyond The Architectural Review: Some New Perspectives from His Personal Archives.’ Journal of Architecture 17, no. 5 (2012): 719–31.
     [Google Scholar]
  16. Orillard, Clément. ‘The Paradox of Gordon Cullen: Between International Celebrity and a Limited Career Abroad.’ 17th IPHS Conference – History Urbanism Resilience 1 (2016): 349–60.
     [Google Scholar]
  17. Pevsner, Nikolaus, and Mathew, Aitchison, eds. Visual Planning and the Picturesque. Los Angeles: The Getty Research Institute.
     [Google Scholar]
  18. Powers, Alan. ‘Townscape as a Model of Organized Complexity.’ Journal of Architecture 17, no. 5 (2012): 702–14.
     [Google Scholar]
  19. Sharp, Thomas. Town and Townscape. London: John Murray, 1968.
     [Google Scholar]
  20. Storne, Albert. The Way of the Cross: An Historical Sketch. Jerusalem: Franciscan Printing Press, 1976.
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  21. Wolfe, Ivor de (Hugh de Cronin Hastings). The Italian Townscape. London: Architectural Press, 1963.
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References

  1. Aitchison, Mathew. ‘Who's Afraid of Ivor de Wolfe?’ AA Files 62 (2011): 34–39.
     [Google Scholar]
  2. Aitchison, Mathew. ‘Townscape: Scope, Scale and Extent.’ Journal of Architecture 17, no. 5 (2012): 621–42.
     [Google Scholar]
  3. Cullen, Gordon. The Townscape. New York: The Architectural Press, 1961.
     [Google Scholar]
  4. Eisenstein, Sergei M. ‘Montage and Architecture.’ Assemblage 10 (1989): 118–31.
     [Google Scholar]
  5. Engler, Mira. Cut and Paste Urban Landscape: The Work of Gordon Cullen. Abingdon: Routledge, 2016.
     [Google Scholar]
  6. Epstein, Jacob. Epstein: An Autobiography. London: Art Treasures Book Club, 1963.
     [Google Scholar]
  7. Gosling, David. Gordon Cullen: Visions of Urban Design. London: John Wiley & Sons, 1996.
     [Google Scholar]
  8. Gosling, David, Bob Jarvis, David Reed, David Rock, and William Whistler. ‘Gordon Cullen Tribute.’ Urban Design Quarterly 52 (1994): 15–30.215
     [Google Scholar]
  9. Kilde, Jeanne H. Sacred Power, Sacred Space: An Introduction to Christian Architecture and Worship. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2008.
     [Google Scholar]
  10. Macarthur, John. ‘The “Revenge of the Picturesque”, Redux.’ Journal of Architecture 17, no. 5 (2012): 643–53.
     [Google Scholar]
  11. Maggi, Angelo. ‘Capturing the Italian Townscape: From the Beginnings of Italian Landscape Photography to the Anti-Idyllic Images of Ivor and Ivy de Wolfe.’ Journal of Architecture 21, no. 6 (2016): 890–909.
     [Google Scholar]
  12. Molinari, Carla. ‘Sequences in Architecture: Sergei Ejzenštejn and Luigi Moretti, from Images to Spaces.’ Journal of Architecture 26, no. 6 (2021): 893–911.
     [Google Scholar]
  13. Montes Serrano, Carlos. ‘Gordon Cullen and The Architectural Review: Unbuilt Ideas for Marlow New Town.’ ZARCH 6 (2016): 27–43.
     [Google Scholar]
  14. Montes Serrano, Carlos, and Marta Alonso Rodríguez. ‘Drawing the Changing City: A Tribute to Gordon Cullen.’ In Disegno & Città, edited by A. Marotta and G. Novello, 1129–32. Roma: Gangemi Editore, 2015.
     [Google Scholar]
  15. Orillard, Clément. ‘Gordon Cullen beyond The Architectural Review: Some New Perspectives from His Personal Archives.’ Journal of Architecture 17, no. 5 (2012): 719–31.
     [Google Scholar]
  16. Orillard, Clément. ‘The Paradox of Gordon Cullen: Between International Celebrity and a Limited Career Abroad.’ 17th IPHS Conference – History Urbanism Resilience 1 (2016): 349–60.
     [Google Scholar]
  17. Pevsner, Nikolaus, and Mathew, Aitchison, eds. Visual Planning and the Picturesque. Los Angeles: The Getty Research Institute.
     [Google Scholar]
  18. Powers, Alan. ‘Townscape as a Model of Organized Complexity.’ Journal of Architecture 17, no. 5 (2012): 702–14.
     [Google Scholar]
  19. Sharp, Thomas. Town and Townscape. London: John Murray, 1968.
     [Google Scholar]
  20. Storne, Albert. The Way of the Cross: An Historical Sketch. Jerusalem: Franciscan Printing Press, 1976.
     [Google Scholar]
  21. Wolfe, Ivor de (Hugh de Cronin Hastings). The Italian Townscape. London: Architectural Press, 1963.
     [Google Scholar]

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