Feeling very sad that this beautiful building in Hackney is no longer an active primary school, reflecting a decline in pupil numbers in inner London.

Marianne in Cheiron’s Cave On group minds, the school of the future, and Marianne Faithfull.

A new film about Marianne Faithfull - Broken English - prompted some research & thinking around models of creativity that she inherited from radical educationalists and artists who came before her. ( I bloody love Marianne Faithfull's music) knightdavid.substack.com/p/marianne-i...

The Hand in the Wall On the handmade in public architecture, in a new edited collection by painter Bella Bacon.

Asserting the potential of the handmade in public architecture and public space, for Bella Bacon's edited collection For the Love of People. Includes Eleanor Coade, Duncan Grant, Vanessa & Quentin Bell, a church in Sussex & a converted school in Spitalfields knightdavid.substack.com/p/the-hand-i...

A Homeless Library: The Library of the Housing Crisis? David Mountain, 27 March 2026.[1] In the storerooms of a little-known fenland museum is a treasure trove of rare books on town planning and housing policy, comprising an entire specialist library. …

One of the country's finest libraries of books on town planning and housing policy - the Harry Simpson Memorial Library, currently located in Wisbech - is at risk of being pulped. Please publicise and support the campaign to save it.
davemnt.wordpress.com/2026/03/26/a...

Why we made a film about Mark Fisher called We Are Making A Film About Mark Fisher | The Quietus Tim Burrows talks about how a conversation on a park bench led to an experimental film about the philosophy of Mark Fisher

thequietus.com/opinion-and-...

Arts and Crafts 'To-day' New collaborative writing on the contemporary relevance of the Arts & Crafts

My WhatsApp group Nerds from Nowhere appear to have collectively written an essay for the RIBA Journal on the (increasing) relevance of the Arts and Crafts…
knightdavid.substack.com/p/arts-and-c...

Royal Docks Waterways announces plans for London’s largest floating destination Introducing London’s largest floating destination and community. Royal Docks Waterways has launched a new Vision for Royal Victoria Dock West, setting out plans to transform 12 hectares of water withi...

At @dk-cm.bsky.social we have been bringing forward a vision for Royal Victoria Dock West in east London, bringing an array of public uses to the docks. It published yesterday: royaldocks.london/articles/roy...

The latest open day at the London School of Architecture was last night. It was great to see some study/precedent models emerging, taught by Hugh Strange - in particular this lovely pink fragment of Webb’s Red House.

Water firms could be let off pollution fines as part of government overhaul Exclusive: Campaigners claim changes will let companies ‘off the hook’, as government prepares to unveil new white paper for water industry Water companies could be let off fines for polluting the environment under changes announced in the government’s new white paper. The environment secretary, Emma Reynolds, hailed the changes as “once-in-a-generation reforms” featuring “tough oversight, real accountability and no more excuses”. Continue reading...

Water firms could be let off pollution fines as part of government overhaul

Other Plans #5: Hedgerow encroachment A linear village ‘grown’ entirely within the boundary hedge of a Great Estate.

"This was not a settlement that was ever designed, rather it evolved out of a disparity between different understandings of space." I love @drdavidknight.bsky.social's humanistic, democratic writing on place and architecture & this is typically fascinating:

knightdavid.substack.com/p/other-plan...

Many thanks @luketurner.bsky.social !

Experiments in Freedom Advocating for the unpredictable and emergent in planning and design. An archive piece from 2011.

Back in 2011 I was thinking about how planning and design benefit from the unexpected, the accidental, and understanding limits. Still am really. Here is a visual essay from that time, commissioned by Sam Jacob and featuring some vintage (2010) phone photos.
knightdavid.substack.com/p/experiment...

Ever been caught short? Here’s the good news: a great British toilet revolution could be on the way | Eddie Blake Inspired by ministers and councils willing to spend a penny, architects are building beautiful, functional loos – a first step towards restoring civic pride, says architect Eddie Blake

@dk-cm.bsky.social 's work creating and refurbishing public toilets is celebrated in the Guardian today. The piece includes our work on the listed Bruce Grove WCs but we will be celebrating our refurbished public toilets in Camber Sands in the coming weeks. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Organic Intelligence LI: Laura Cannell's Guide to Early-ish Christmas Music | The Quietus A December afternoon, and I’m watching the afternoon sky turn from light to dark grey to black. An overgrown holly bush waves vigorously at me through the window. It is a stark backdrop, but one softe...

Beautiful antidote to algorithmic Christmas rotations from Laura Cannell on @thequietus.com

thequietus.com/subscriber-a...

Monochrome photograph of a white building with a conspicuously flat facade, almost like a stageset. The words World Savings are written as signage on the front of the building.

Before the elaborate folds and crinkles of the Guggenheim et al dominated his office's work, there were decades of work by a relentlessly playful and experimental architect, forever improvising and testing. Thanks Frank Gehry.

This was an excellent event and a lovely crowd, thanks Justin. Dear the Long Year is next on the pile.

Pop Power On public planning and popular agency

Some heavy stuff on the workings of popular culture open.substack.com/pub/knightda...

* JOB ALERT *

Nature recovery and creating new wildlife havens sit at the heart of the National Park Authority's work 🦉

We're currently seeking a Strategy Lead for Nature Recovery.

Apply 👉 bit.ly/3K3QVpY

📷 Corinne Kozok

Other Plans #4: Portici A public network of privately-owned covered places; created by legislation and delivered by thousands of individual acts of construction.

‘An urban rule, far from being a mere restriction on creativity, can on occasion be the most creative act.’ Other Plans #4 explores the portici of Bologna. open.substack.com/pub/knightda... #thespringline

Vaim by Jon Fosse review – the Nobel laureate performs a strange miracle In the Norwegian master’s latest example of ‘mystical realism’, one man makes a dreamlike, hypnotic voyage through life

Loved this book: www.theguardian.com/books/2025/n...

Speaking Out: Oral History for Architects hosted by The Architecture Foundation and The Art Workers' Guild

Lots of people asked for a reading list of texts read or mentioned, so I have put one up on my substack, in the comments here: knightdavid.substack.com/p/speaking-o...

I thoroughly enjoyed last night’s event at the Architecture Foundation where we spoke and listened to/about oral history at the Art Workers Guild - a screen-free conversation about conversation & the practising of history. Thank you Mary Chamberlain & Jerry White, and my cohost Cristina Monteiro.

Speaking Out: Oral History for Architects hosted by The Architecture Foundation and The Art Workers' Guild

open.substack.com/pub/knightda...

‘Where English churches imitate the sacred groves of the forest, early Cornish churches, with their ribbed and curved roof timbers, imitate boats or even the skeletons of fish.’ - Roger Deakin, Waterlog.

Its a nice thought - any Cornish churches that reinforce this idea greatly appreciated.

not on display for sure. but worth an email - ta!

The best gig I ever saw cost £4. Spiralling concert prices are a cultural disaster | John Harris Tickets for big tours have vastly outstripped inflation, while smaller artists and venues struggle. The magic is in danger of being snuffed out entirely, says Guardian columnist John Harris

The best gig I ever saw cost £4. Spiralling concert prices are a cultural disaster | John Harris

Speaking Out: Oral History for Architects | Architecture Foundation A conversation with leading oral historians at the Art Workers Guild

SPEAKING OUT: ORAL HISTORY FOR ARCHITECTS | With Cristina Monteiro I am hosting an exciting event for the Architecture Foundation, focussing on oral history in relation to place and architecture. With brilliant oral historians Mary Chamberlain and Jerry White. More info + tickets:

@oldweirdalbion.bsky.social have you got, or have ever seen, a map of the land that Vera Pragnell bought/owned? I have all the historic mapping for the lifespan of the sanctuary in its pure form. but not its extents.

amazing, thanks @oldweirdalbion.bsky.social - I think this might be my first major bluesky research achievement!

do you by any chance have a copy, digital or otherwise, of Vera Pragnell’s Story of the Sanctuary?