简介：InVisionsofSpace,RobertHughestacklestheworkandlivesofthreeremarkable20th-centuryarchitects:AntonioGaudi,AlbertSpeerandMiesvanderRohe-whoseworkdidsomuchtoshapethemodernworld.Hugheslooksathoweachoneusedspaceindifferentwaystoexpressourresponse,respectively,tothepowerofreligion(Gaudi),thepoweroftheState(Speer),andthepowerofthecorporation(MiesvanderRohe). AlbertSpeer:SizeMatters In1979RobertHughesmetandinterviewedHitler'sarchitect,AlbertSpeer,forhislandmarkseries,ShockoftheNew.Speerdiedshortlyafterwards. Twenty-threeyearslaterHughesdiscoveredthelonglosttapeofthatuniqueconversationandwasinspiredtotravelbacktoGermanytoexaminethelegacyofamanwhowas,forabriefperiod,themostpowerfularchitectintheworld. MiesvanderRohe:LessisMore ThisepisodefeaturestheGermanarchitect,MiesvanderRohe,whomovedtoAmericaanddiscoveredthefaceofthemoderncorporatecity.Inthishighlypersonalaccount,HughesfollowsinMies'footstepslookingathowanarchitectwhobeganhiscareermakingkitschy,HanselandGretelstylehouseswithpointyroofs,littlewindowsandsquatfloorplanstransformedhimselfintothemasterofinternationalmodernism-thearchitectoflightandspace. Miesisthefatherofthecontemporaryvogueforloftliving-whathewasbuildinginthe1920sstilllooksfuturisticnow.Similarly,hisNewYorkmasterpiecetheSeagramsBuildingprovidedtheblueprintforthemodernofficebuilding-withoutMiesnomajorcityonEarthwouldlookasitdoes. ButdespitehisundeniableimpactthereissomethinginMies'workthatHughesfindsshockinglyneglectfulofrealhumanneeds.Thismasterbuildercouldspenddaysworkingouthowtoturnacornerwithaskilfullyplacedbeamandtotallyignorethelegitimatewishesanddesiresofthosewhousedhisbuildings. AntoniGaudi:God'sArchitect RobertHughesreturnstoSpaintoexplorethelegacyofAntoniGaudi,thelastgreatcathedralbuilderofthe20thcentury. GaudiwasanintenselyCatholiccelibatewho,despitehisausterelife,createdsomeofthemostsensuousbuildingseverknown.OnhisjourneythroughGaudi'slifeandwork,Hughes(anex-Catholichimself)explainshowamanasreligiousandconservativeasGaudicouldbecomesuchaninnovative20th-centurygiant. AboutRobertHughes RobertHughes'perceptiveviewsoftheartshaveledhimtobeoneofthemostesteemedandwidelyreadartcriticswritinginEnglishtoday.HehasbeenawardedTheRichardDimblebyAward,bytheBaftafor"themostimportantpersonalcontributiontofactualtelevision"of1996-97.HeistheonlyartcritictohavetwicewonAmerica'smostcovetedawardforartcriticism,theFrankJewettMatherAward.HehaslivedinEuropeandAmericasince1964.Hehasneverlosttouchwithhisnativecountry,inrecognitionofhisservicestoAustralianculture,hewaselectedanOfficerintheOrderofAustralia(hiscountry'shighestcivilianhonor)in1994.…