TAG Talk #01: Capitals of the World

Capitals of the World: A romp through the weird and wonderful ornamentation of column capitals from around the globe.
Summary: On his holiday travels over the years, Simon has always kept an eye out for the unusual, inventive or simply bizarre designs of column capitals and other architectural details. This talk will be a fast-paced slideshow showing many variations of traditional and classical forms from countries such as Algeria, Argentina, India, Italy, Morocco, Peru, Turkey and many others. Some are weird; some are clever; some push the boundaries of what you might even think should be allowed; but all are in their own way interesting and show how diverse and inventive one can be working within an established, or even imposed culture or tradition.

Simon Hurst trained in architecture at The University of Bath, then the Prince of Wales’ Institute of Architecture and also won a Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings Lethaby Scholarship in 1998.

He is a Trustee of and the Honorary Architect to the Art Workers’ Guild, and a Patron of Sir John Soane’s Museum. He has worked in the past for John Simpson and John Outram but now runs his own practice, specialising in intelligent and sensitive work to Listed Buildings, or in Conservation Areas as well as traditional, classical and contextual new build. He is the Communication Secretary of the Traditional Architecture Group