Established in 1994, The Course offers exciting lectures in Art History, Music and Literature.

In this 10 part series, we ask when does a house become a “home”? When does a food plot become a “garden”? How do staircases and corridors reflect a new way of life? From the defensive architecture of the moat and keep to the 21st century urban fortresses of glass and concrete, from the monastic herbal garden to Chelsea show gardens for the urban terrace, we look not only at buildings, interiors and nature but, above all, at what they tell us about how people use their spaces to manage their lives.

Stately homes, Suburbs and Skyscapers

The dominant focus of the 20th C is urban – and so, therefore, is its architecture. Towns spread, buildings rise ever higher and private gardens are a privilege – the 20th century takes us from P. G. Wodehouse to “Digging for Britain” and the Shard.