About

Attendees are invited to enjoy a glass of wine, take a seat, and listen as Dr. Thom Gorst guides you through key periods in architectural history. An experienced and witty presenter, Dr. Gorst ensures an engaging and entertaining experience.

A qualified architect, Dr. Gorst has lectured on architectural history at several universities, including the University of Bath from 1989 to 2002. His doctorate from the Glasgow School of Art focused on the aesthetics of industrial ruins. In addition to his academic career, he regularly lectures on architecture and art aboard cruise ships, including those of the Cunard Line, Voyages of Discovery, Viking Line, and Fred. Olsen.

Each lecture will last between 45 minutes and an hour, followed by an opportunity to meet Dr. Gorst and ask questions.

Beginning with the architecture of Greece and Rome, the series will explore the architectural principles that influenced the building of Bath and continue to shape architecture today.

Lecture Series Schedule

Talk 1 (Weds 9 April): The Classical Language of Architecture
An exploration of the architecture of Greece and Rome and its lasting impact on design principles.

Talk 2 (Weds 7 May): Gothic and the Middle Ages
A look at the towering achievements of the 12th- and 13th-century cathedral masons, whose technical and artistic masterpieces inspired architects well into the 19th century.

Talk 3 (Weds 4 June): The Renaissance
The 16th-century revival of Classical Architecture, influenced by profound changes in religious and social values, alongside the discovery of perspective in painting.

Talk 4 (Weds 3 Sept): 'Palladian' Architecture
The influence of Italian art and architecture in Britain, particularly the work of 16th-century architect Andrea Palladio, which directly shaped the development of Bath in the 18th century.

Talk 5 (Weds 8 Oct): 'The Battle of the Styles'
The late 18th-century polarisation of taste, with architects advocating either classicism or gothic, creating what was once described as a "fancy dress ball of architecture." This talk will also explore the romantic landscapes of Prior Park and Stourhead.

Talk 6 (Weds 5 Nov): The Industrial Revolution
The radical transformation of building design due to new construction techniques, alongside the rise of the Arts and Crafts movement as a reaction to industrialisation.

Talk 7 (TBC): The Birth of Modernism
The emergence of the Modern Movement in Architecture in the early 20th century, driven by a philosophical redefinition of building design and the ways people interact with architecture.

Talk 8 (TBC): Architecture Today
A discussion on contemporary architecture and the challenge of contextualising it within the framework of historical understanding.