The Coffey Architects team appreciates the value of inspiration. It can drive people to create stunning architecture that provides lots of benefits. As one of the most talented architects London has to offer, we want to do just that.

Today the world is full of incredible buildings, including amazing and unique designs. One of the hottest periods for inspiration in design came much sooner though. In the 60s and 70s designers were looking at why and who when they were thinking about buildings.

A radical period

The 60s and 70s was when many architects and designers began thinking outside the box. They took the time to look at different buildings techniques, materials, and also how people would like to live.

There are some noteworthy people and teams from this period. Buckminster Fuller is credited with starting the whole movement. He took inspiration from geodesic dome structures and did a huge amount of research into them. Although not the original inventor, he did take the concept to new heights of popularity. An early design was first on display in 1954.

Hans-Rucker-Co had some incredible ideas during the period. The Balloon For Two was an inflated PVC bubble that could be used to expand an existing structure. Another notable project from HRC involved the installation of a PVC cover over Museum Haus Lange in Germany. The futuristic idea was to protect the building from polluted air.

Archigram was a group of six British architects that were active during the period. Their most famous proposal is Plug-in City. The project is a mega-structure where construction cranes are permanent buildings. They could move to allow the city to expand.

Ant Farm also had some very interesting ideas in the decades. Their main focus was creating malleable buildings that were light and transportable. The designs were immensely creative.

Today’s challenges

There are plenty of other projects from the 60s and 70s that you can refer to as radical architecture that challenge people to think. They are all worth considering and could inspire architects today. Some of the ideas could even help to resolve current challenges.

If you are considering a project and would like help from a passionate team please contact us. We are among the best architects London has and always strive to bring projects to life. Whatever the philosophy and aims of your project, we can deliver for you.