Palace of the Ether: Elizabeth Darling discusses her new book on BBC Broadcasting House with Samira Ahmed
Palace of the Ether: Elizabeth Darling discusses her new book on BBC Broadcasting House with Samira Ahmed
Friday 26 June 2026 at 6.30pm
The Gallery, 70 Cowcross Street, London, EC1M 6EJ
Join us as Elizabeth Darling introduces the ideas behind her new book with a short talk, followed by a discussion with Samira Ahmed about how the BBC and its designers created an architecture of broadcasting. Topics will range from how Broadcasting House embodied the public service ethos of the BBC, the challenges that faced the designers, the different approaches the designers brought to the project and the task of making the immaterial material.
Elizabeth Darling is a leading architectural historian, and specialises in histories of modernist cultures in Britain, especially in the 1920s and 1930s. Among her extensive range of publications are Re-forming Britain (Routledge, 2007) and Wells Coates (RIBA, 2012).
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.
If you can't make it in person, there's an online version of the event too.
The book will be available for purchase at the event.
C20 Society Member £11;
Non-Member £16;
Young C20 member + guest Free*;
Student + guest £5 **
*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.
Includes a glass of wine
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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 and is a registered charity, no 1110244
Image above: Palace of the Ether book cover (image: Lund Humphries) and Broadcasting House (image: BBC).