Visions of Space
2003 · Documentary
Robert Hughes tackles the work and lives of three remarkable 20th-century architects: Albert Speer, Mies van der Rohe, and Antonio Gaudi - whose work did so much to shape the modern world. Hughes looks at how each one used space in different ways to express our response, respectively, to the power of religion (Gaudi), the power of the State (Speer), and the power of the corporation (Mies van der Rohe).
Episodes
1. Antoni Gaudi: God's Architect60m · Hughes examines the legend of Antoni Gaudi, whose buildings have left an indelible mark on the city of Barcelona. Despite his austerely religious lifestyle, Gaudi's innovative genius created some of the most soulful and expressive buildings ever seen.
2. Albert Speer: Size Matters60m · In 1979 Robert Hughes met and interviewed Hitler's architect, Albert Speer, for his landmark series, Shock of the New. Speer died shortly afterwards but in 2002, Hughes discovered the long-lost tape of that conversation and was inspired to travel back to Germany to examine the legacy of a man who was, for a brief period, the most powerful architect in the world.
3. Mies van der Rohe: Less Is More60m · Hughes analyses the work of Mies van der Rohe, the master of light and space who had an enormous influence on modern architecture. In a journey spanning two continents, Hughes analyses his own contradictory reactions to Mies's work.More Like This
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Mysteries of the Abandoned
2017 · ★ 7.3
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Jonathan Meades: Off Kilter
2009
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Mysteries of the Abandoned: Hidden America
2022 · ★ 7
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Art of the Western World
★ 10
First broadcast on October 2, 1989, these 18 original 30-minute episodes provide a panorama of 2000 years of architecture, painting and sculpture, and studies the art masterpieces as reflections of the Western culture that produced them.
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Abandoned Engineering
2017 · ★ 7.2
These are some of the most spectacular examples of abandoned engineering the world has ever known. The series explores how and why they were built, consider the financial and social costs of their failure and examine the environmental and ecological impacts. The series also explores how experts came up with plans to make something beautiful or useful from the ruins.
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Bien bâti
2024
Across Quebec, André Robitaille meets with individuals, organizations, and businesses that have embarked on renovations or restorations of unique historic buildings. Whether by vocation, business, or because fate has thrown an ambitious project their way, the people who have taken charge of these unforgettable places share their stories with passion. Through their experience, the show offers an open door to a host of fascinating heritage sites, where we understand that built heritage is more alive than ever.
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