About

Attendees are invited to enjoy a glass of wine, take a seat, and listen as Dr. Thom Gorst guides you through key periods in architectural history. An experienced and witty presenter, Dr. Gorst ensures an engaging and entertaining experience.

A qualified architect, Dr. Gorst has lectured on architectural history at several universities, including the University of Bath from 1989 to 2002. His doctorate from the Glasgow School of Art focused on the aesthetics of industrial ruins. In addition to his academic career, he regularly lectures on architecture and art aboard cruise ships, including those of the Cunard Line, Voyages of Discovery, Viking Line, and Fred. Olsen.

Each lecture will last between 45 minutes and an hour, followed by an opportunity to meet Dr. Gorst and ask questions.

Beginning with the architecture of Greece and Rome, the series will explore the architectural principles that influenced the building of Bath and continue to shape architecture today.

Lecture Series Schedule

1 - The Classical Language of Architecture
Date: Wednesday, 9 April 2025
Time: 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Explore how the architecture of Greece and Rome established foundational design principles that have influenced architectural practices throughout history.

2 - Gothic and the Middle Ages
Date: Wednesday, 4 June 2025
Time: 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Examine the technical and artistic masterpieces of 12th and 13th-century cathedral masons, whose towering achievements also inspired many 19th-century architects.

3 - The Renaissance
Date: Wednesday, 3 September 2025
Time: 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Understand the 16th-century rebirth of interest in Classical Architecture, driven by profound changes in religious and social values, including the discovery of perspective in painting.

4 - 'Palladian' Architecture
Date: Wednesday, 8 October 2025
Time: 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Learn about the influence of 16th-century architect Andrea Palladio, whose work became highly influential in Britain, directly informing the building of Bath in the 18th century.

5 - 'The Battle of the Styles'
Date: Wednesday, 5 November 2025
Time: 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Discover how a polarization of architectural taste from the late 18th century led to different architects advocating either classicism or gothic styles, creating what was once described as a 'fancy dress ball of architecture'. This period includes the romantic landscapes of Prior Park and Stourhead.

6 - The Industrial Revolution
Date: To be confirmed
Explore how the design of buildings was radically changed by the development of new construction techniques during the Industrial Revolution. As the world became more industrialized, the reaction against industrialization grew, leading to the Arts and Crafts movement.

7 - The Birth of Modernism
Date: To be confirmed
Examine how the Modern Movement in Architecture emerged in the early 20th century as a confident attempt to redefine building design and living spaces, underpinned by a significant amount of philosophy.

8 - Architecture Today
Date: To be confirmed
Discuss how contemporary architecture has evolved and the challenges we face in contextualizing it with our understanding of the past, presenting an exciting conclusion to this lecture series.