The Abstract

This essay asks the question, ‘To what extent are Ruskin‘s Seven Lamps of Architecture still relevant to modern architecture, with reference to the design of Darent Valley Hospital and the Tate Modern, London?’ A deep interest in art and architecture, along with new found knowledge of John Ruskin’s opinions, meant I could begin to analyse and break down these major structures into their component parts and the essence of their design. The comparisons and contrasts seen firsthand can be explored further whenconsidering Ruskin’s ideas which allow a criticism of both topics. The nature of the Tate Modern means that the initial investigation is easily facilitated, as all perspectives of the structure can be viewed making analysis of the relevant Lamps simple. However, Darent Valley Hospital posed a greater problem as, although the building is accessible and welcoming to the public, the recording of details and designs is much harder. Safety and security limits the type of access needed to fully represent the comments made throughout the essay, so compared to the Tate Modern, where various criticisms and notations can be justified through visual representation, such judgements for Darent Valley need to be taken on trust and a certain reliance. This limits the scope and confidence in the essay, as the achievements of the message are somewhat dampened by the lack of illustrative material. However, it will not and does not affect the conclusion of this essay. It is evident within these two examples that the majority of Ruskin’s principles are limiting and so quickly became outdated, as can be seen in the modern designs. However, as later discussed, the principles which discuss the simplicity and power of buildings as well as the benefits of nature are and will remain relevant in our modern world.

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