The ARCHIGRAM GROUP came together in the early 60s. Peter Cook’s cartoons in the Archigram Story tell something of how it happened. There was only a short period of about two years, between 1962 and 1964, when we were all in the same time at the same time. This was when we produced our first major exhibition, LIVING CITY (shown at the ICA London in 1963). The small photos here were taken at that time. The Group photo, the only one in the Archive, was taken much later in 1987 at a dinner to celebrate Mike Webb’s Temple Island exhibition at the AA.
DAVID GREEN
Born in Nottingham 1937. The poet of the group. Sometimes contemplative, sometimes fatalist, he reacts to these moods in a positive way: writing or inventing something that often has references to the existing world, contrived in an original way. Concerned with conceptual possibilities and a fascination with the words absence and erasure, in particular the erasure of architecture by digital technology. He tries to speculate on what a new architecture might be for the culture of the person that Marshal McLuhan calls ‘the Electronic Man’. He has continurd to be suspicious of the status of the drawing preferring the medium of the ‘adjusted photograph’.
Currently he is writing bits and continuing his collaboration with Case Verde in addition to his teaching as Professor of Architecture at the University of Westminster.
WARREN CHALK
Born in London in 1927. During his early years at Manchester Art College, he was torn between painting and architecture. The most abrasive and critical of the Archigram Group, hid doubts and dissatisfaction with the obvious and the banal have many times been justified by subsequent events. Wrote frequently in Architectural Design on a variety of topics, often based upon a re-observation of the myths and curiosities of our culture, where this can give a clue to alternatives to the obvious and the banal.
Since the Archigram period Warren continued writing and teaching in the United States and England, principally at the Architectural Association. Warren died August 1987.
PETER COOK
Born in Southend on Sea in 1936. The most talkative and ‘public’ member of the group. Enjoys inventing situations and very much enjoys forming analogies between the quirks and experiences of individual people and possibilities for the environment that are ambiguous and unexpected. Preoccupied by the idea of ‘Metamorphosis’. Enjoys drawing illustrations of these analogies and metamorphoses rather than writing about them.
Formed Partnership wit Christine Hawley (former student of Ron Herron) which continues and has built housing in Berlin and smaller structures in Ossaka and Frankfurt. Is now Bartlett Professor at University College London and Professor at HbK Frankfurt.
MICHAEL WEBB
Born in Henley on Thames in 1937. Has for some considerable time been living in the United States of America, and so is in a sense a ‘corresponding’ member of the Group. Nevertheless, his airmail relationship (and occasional head-to-head sessions) with the London part of the group is a very necessary part of its thinking and the total effort. Always something of a loner, he too feels the pull and the necessity of the total Archigram effort.
Has lived for nearly 30 years in New York and teches at CopperUnion, Columbia Bamard and Princeton Universities and has had exhibitions at Architecture League and Storefront Gallery in New York and in Berlin and Frankfurt.
RON HERRON
Born in London in 1930. Draws like a dream… apparently effortlessly. Doesn’t enjoy superfluous chat but does enjoy cheerful situations. Always sees good in people and situations. An optimist who cannot see why everybody makes such a hassle over everything. Observes quietly… and then syntethesises it all through a project. Beyond this all, not as uncomplicated as he may seem, on the odd occasion when he does really dig his heels in on an issue, he is the toughest and least transigent of the lot.
Tought at the Architectural Association from 1965 to 1993 and formed Herron Associates in 1981 along with his sons Andrew and Simon. Built the much acclaimed Immagination Headquarters in London. Became Professor and Head of the School of Architecture at the University of East London in 1993. Ron died in 1994.
DENNIS CROMPTON
Born in Blackpool in 1935. Conspicuously in charge of all the technical matters that form part of Archigram’s output. The inventor of the ‘things that go bang in the night’.An enthusiast on gadgets, machines, techniques and systems. The most practical member of the group who has nevertheless been known to flip completely when confronted with the opportunity to make a bigger and better and more bang-in-the-night apparatus.
Had a strong involvement with the Architectural Association School since 1965 where, until 1996, he was responsible for communictions and publishing. Now teaching the masters courses at the Bartlett. Designs exhibitions and books whenever the opportunity arises and has guided the Archigram Exhibition around Europe and the United States since its opening in Vienna in 1994.