Abstract

Twentieth Century Leicester was characterised by at least two distinctive eras in urban design; pluralism and modernism. During the interwar period the city was well known for its broad based economy, strong school of design and culture of local architectural practice. The city was therefore defined by its pluralist and individual style; a combination of deco, neo-classical, expressionism, arts & crafts and modernity. The postwar period witnessed a greater quantity of commissions for nationally renowned architects, such as Leslie Martin, Arup, Denys Lasdun, BDP, Stirling & Gowen and Basil Spence. This resulted in some very highly regarded modernist buildings, particularly those at the University of Leicester.