[online] Samira Ahmed: From Cathedrals to Cooling Towers – Global stories about the buildings that bond us
[online] Samira Ahmed: From Cathedrals to Cooling Towers – Global stories about the buildings that bond us
Tuesday 2 December at 6.30pm – 8pm
For more than 30 years Samira Ahmed has been reporting on architecture and the battles over preservation and national identity. Since 2022 she's been a member of Historic England's Blue plaques panel, tasked with deciding which figures to celebrate on England's buildings. In a lecture packed with images from her travels, she'll be reflecting on some of the surprising stories she's covered at home and abroad - from the fall and rise of LA's movie palaces, to Reims' art nouveau rebirth out of the ruins of the First World War, and Iran's Brutalist mausoleums to its poets and warriors.
Samira Ahmed is the C20 president, journalist, broadcaster and writer whose work explores the intersection of popular culture, heritage, art, science, politics and social change. She presents the BBC’s flagship arts and culture show ‘Front Row’ on Radio 4 and ‘Newswatch’ on BBC1. Her BFI Classic book on A Hard Day’s Night is due to be published by Bloomsbury in April 2026.
This booking is for online Zoom lecture. For in-person event book here.
C20 Society Member £6;
Non-Member £8;
Young C20 member free*;
Student £4 **
*For Young C20 members, please email lukas@c20society.org.uk to secure a place.
**For student pricing please select from the dropdown option next to ‘membership number’ on the booking form below.
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Note: This event is hybrid and is being run both in-person at Cowcross Street Gallery and online via Zoom. The event will be recorded and offered as a catch-up lecture for those who have booked and will be available for two weeks.
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The Twentieth Century Society is an IHBC (Institute of Historic Building conservation) recognised CPD provider.
The Twentieth Century Society is a registered charity, no 1110244
Image above: Maqbaratoshoara / Mausoleum of Poets in Iran by Qolamerza Farzanmehr, 1981. Photo Credit: Gardeshgar