Charles Knevitt Explained

Charles Knevitt (10 August 1952 in Dayton, Ohio, USA – 14 March 2016)[1] was a British journalist (parents from the UK), author, broadcaster, curator and playwright, and former Architecture Correspondent of the Sunday Telegraph (1980–84) and The Times (1984–91).[2] [3] In 2016 he was made an Honorary Fellow of the RIBA for his contribution to architecture.[4]

In 1975 he coined the term 'community architecture'[5] [6] in an article in Building Design, and later wrote the definitive book on the subject for Penguin, with co-author Nick Wates (1987);[2] it was reissued in the Routledge Revivals series (2013).

As Director of the RIBA Trust (2004–11) he was responsible for bringing the first major exhibition on Le Corbusier in a generation to Liverpool and London; and loaned original work by Palladio in the RIBA Drawings Collection to touring exhibitions in Europe and the US.

In 2012–13 he performed his one-man show, 'Le Corbusier's Women', in London and New York.[7] In 2008 Knevitt was named by Design Week as one of the 'Hot 50' making a difference in design.[8]

Television

In the mid-1980s he popularised coverage of contemporary architecture on television with the ‘Our London’ viewers’ poll of modern buildings for Thames Television (1984), to coincide with the 150th anniversary celebrations of the Royal Institute of British Architects and its Festival of Architecture. The following year (1985) he was consultant on the six-part Anglia Television series for Channel 4, ‘Space on Earth’ and wrote the accompanying book.[9] In 1987 he was the writer and presenter of an award-winning Granada Television programme in its 'New North' series.

Books

He was the author/editor of 12 books. Among them is the Top 20 best-seller, One's Life (1988);[10] Perspectives,(1986);[11] and Shelter,(1994; US edition 1996).[12] The last of these raised more than £100,000 for Shelter – The National Campaign for Homeless People.

RIBA Trust

Director of the RIBA Trust

Between 2004 and 2011 he was Director of the RIBA Trust, managing the cultural assets and delivering the public outreach programme of the Royal Institute of British Architects.[13] The Trust included the British Architectural Library, more than four million items based at the RIBA and the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A); the permanent Architecture Gallery at the V&A; the annual RIBA Stirling Prize for Architecture, broadcast live on Channel 4 and later BBC2, with Kevin McCloud; the Royal Gold Medal and Honorary Fellowships; exhibitions; talks; and development.[14]

Le Corbusier Exhibition and season

He was UK Director of the Vitra Design Museum travelling exhibition, 'Le Corbusier – The Art of Architecture'[15] and season in Venice (Biennale), Liverpool (European Capital of Culture) and London (V&A, Barbican Art Gallery, RIBA and the Architectural Association), 2008–09.

Palladio Touring Exhibitions

There were also two touring Palladio exhibitions, based on original work in the RIBA Drawings Collection, in Europe (with the Royal Academy) and the USA.

Other exhibitions

He curated several exhibitions in London, most recently 'Lifelines' at the European Commission's 12 Star Gallery (2012), with Emma Flynn and Cassandra Tsolakis;[16] and in Malta, 'Richard England – Architect and Artist' for the Bank of Valletta (2013).[17] The catalogue introduction was written by Renzo Piano.

One-Man Show

In 2012 he wrote and performed his one-man show, 'Le Corbusier's Women', which premiered at Riverside Studios, Hammersmith, and subsequently performed it at Chelsea Arts Club, London, and Bowery Poetry Club, New York (2013).[7] It is currently in development as a musical with Peter Manning, Concertmaster at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and will be premiered at the Edinburgh International Festival Fringe (2014).[18]

Honorary Positions

Bibliography

Other publications

Recent Papers

Alma Mater

Notes and References

  1. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/charles-knevitt-hxsgk29s8 The Times, Obituaries, 16 April 2016
  2. Book: Knevitt,Charles and, Wates,Nick. Community Architecture : How People Are Creating Their Own Environment. 2013. Routledge. London. 0415708532.
  3. Web site: Charles Knevitt, architecture expert – obituary . 2016-04-17 . The Telegraph . 2018-02-27.
  4. Web site: RIBA Royal Gold Medal 2016. Royal Institute of British Architects. 26 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160407083208/https://www.architecture.com/Awards/RGM/RGM2016/Royal_Gold_Medal_2016.aspx. 7 April 2016. dead.
  5. Book: Curl, James Stevens. Oxford Dictionary of Architecture. registration. 1999. Oxford University Press. 0192800175. 1.
  6. Book: Weston, Richard. 100 ideas that changed architecture. 2011. Laurence King. London. 978-1856697323.
  7. Le Corbusier Takes the Stage in NYC. Architectural Record. 16 September 2013. 18 September 2013.
  8. Hot Fifty – Charles Knevitt. Design Week. 14 February 2008.
  9. Book: Knevitt, Charles. Space on Earth. 1985. Methuen Publishing Ltd. London. 0423014404.
  10. Book: Knevitt, Charles. One's Life: A Cartoon Biography of HRH The Prince of Wales. 1988. Michael Joseph Ltd. London. 0718131770.
  11. Book: Knevitt, Charles. Perspectives: An Anthology of 1001 Architectural Quotations. 1986. Lund Humphries Publishers Ltd. 0853315116.
  12. Book: Knevitt, Charles. Shelter: Human Habitats from around the World. 1996. Pomegranate. California. 0876546009. registration.
  13. Finch. Paul. A Matter of Trust. The Architects' Journal. 9 September 2004.
  14. Web site: Membership of the British Architectural Trust Board. Royal Institute of British Architects. 26 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160407104449/https://www.architecture.com/Files/BoardandCouncil/BATBMembership-Chmemberrole20130607.pdf. 7 April 2016. dead.
  15. Web site: The Architecture Centre. Le Corbusier Knew My Father. 22 July 2013.
  16. Web site: European Commission Representation in the UK. Lifelines. 14 April 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131113013506/http://www.europe.org.uk/2012/07/17/lifelines/. 13 November 2013. dmy-all.
  17. News: Richard England Launching Exhibition at BOV. 21 July 2013. The Independent (Malta). 30 April 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131113003626/http://www.independent.com.mt/mobile/2013-04-30/company-news/richard-england-launching-exhibition-at-bov-1496285185/#. 13 November 2013. dead. dmy-all.
  18. News: Hot and Bothered. 30 October 2013. BDOnline. 25 January 2013.
  19. Web site: RIBA Royal Gold Medal 2016. Royal Institute of British Architects. 26 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160407083208/https://www.architecture.com/Awards/RGM/RGM2016/Royal_Gold_Medal_2016.aspx. 7 April 2016. dead.
  20. Web site: About Invisible City. The Invisible City. 26 March 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160317024457/http://theinvisiblecity.com/. 17 March 2016. dmy-all.
  21. Web site: Chelsea Arts Club Trustees. Chelsea Arts Club Trust. 26 March 2016.
  22. Web site: The Swiss Cultural Fund. 5 August 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131113001900/http://www.swissculturalfund.org.uk/patrons_and_trustees. 13 November 2013. dead.
  23. Web site: Charles Knevitt. Royal Institute of British Architects.
  24. Web site: Royal Gold Medal Week Masterclasses 2016. Royal Institute of British Architects. 26 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160407095519/https://www.architecture.com/RIBAMembership/LoginToMembers-onlyArea/MemberServices/MemberOffers/MemberOffers.aspx. 7 April 2016. dead.

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