A consequence of the cult of individualism that has grown alongside Channel 4 over the last 25 years is the growing importance of style and design
. Channel 4 has captured this in programmes like Grand Designs, a property show that’s also a paean to aspiration and self-expression (as well as a study in occasional self-delusion). Channel 4 has not just charted how the homes and possessions of a generation have exploded the one-size-fits-all philosophy of the past, but has recognised the wider social impact of the built environment. Architecture has been given shelf space alongside the visual arts through annual coverage of the RIBA Stirling Prize, and documentary series such as The Perfect Home have examined the contribution that good design makes to human happiness.
In This Chapter
- Introduction
- The Meaning of Design by Alain de Botton
- Grandest Designs by Kevin McCloud
- I’ll Huff and I’ll Puff by Nigel Coates
- Goldfinger’s Lair by Daisy Leitch
- The Style Junkies by Peter York
- Gallery
Chapter Gallery
