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Dr Andrew Demetrius @demetrius-art.bsky.social · Jul 19

Not sure either, but seems to be a good illustration of the difference in levels of car ownership during the interwar years and postwar decades as traffic grew to dominate planning.

Dr Andrew Demetrius @demetrius-art.bsky.social · Jul 19

Town centre or ‘off centre’?

Dr Andrew Demetrius @demetrius-art.bsky.social · Jul 15

Dancing Oaks
Gallery 495, Cellardyke

12 July - 30 September 2025
Open 24/7

I am showing new work at the Gallery 495 phone box community exhibition space by Cellardyke harbour, about ecology, pedagogy, and public art made in response to the local landscape of the East Neuk.

Poster showing detail of Dancing Oaks exhibition installation

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Dr Andrew Demetrius @demetrius-art.bsky.social · Jul 4

A fascinating book, deserves to be better known.

Dr Andrew Demetrius @demetrius-art.bsky.social · Jul 3

I once enjoyed the great privilege of a private audience with Irving Finkel discussing the BM cuneiform tablet library. Very little beats listening to a world expert. A memorable pleasure.

Edwin Heathcote @edwinheathcote.bsky.social · Jul 3

This is great. And do watch the YouTube video about the world’s first world map.

Brian Klaas @brianklaas.bsky.social · Jul 3

If you want something to distract you from all the horribleness happening [gestures everywhere wildly], might you consider briefly losing yourself in the wonderful world of Irving Finkel? www.forkingpaths.co/p/the-mirthf...

León Krier, Architect Whose Classical Work Won a Royal Ally, Dies at 79

Dr Andrew Demetrius @demetrius-art.bsky.social · Jul 3

A reminder that the Tory propaganda (press) are vile misogynists, regardless of Labour’s despicable policy.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves displaying emotion.

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Reposted by Dr Andrew Demetrius

Alexander Luckmann @aluckmann.bsky.social · Jun 26

Léon Krier is dead. He should be remembered as a Speer apologist and (intentional or unintentional) aesthetic smokescreen for far-right thought, from neo-Nazism to techno-feudalism

www.nytimes.com/2025/06/25/a...

www.nytimes.com

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Dr Andrew Demetrius @demetrius-art.bsky.social · Jun 27

Highlight of the Mike Nelson show @fruitmarket.bsky.social

Reproduction of Brueghel’s Hunters in the Snow.

Dr Andrew Demetrius @demetrius-art.bsky.social · Jun 24

Better public art than the Biennale.

Financial Times @financialtimes.com · Jun 24

Jeff Bezos’s upcoming Venice wedding has become a lightning rod for protest, as locals disgruntled with overtourism join climate activists to rage against a spectacle that to them epitomises many global ills. www.ft.com/content/460c...

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Dr Andrew Demetrius @demetrius-art.bsky.social · Jun 22

Interesting to note the similarities and differences between these southern new / expanded towns and those of the north and Scotland.

LCC municipal @lccmunicipal.bsky.social · Jun 20

The New Towns were a major part of post-WW2 reconstruction and a showcase for town planning. Alongside was the LCC's (and then GLC's) own efforts to relocate people and industry. Here's a 🧵to give a flavour of the opportunities, starting with this LCC "Offices of the Move" leaflet from the late '50s

The cover of the leaflet says “Offices on the Move, issued by the London County Council” superimposed over an image of a crowded London Bridge and an aerial view of a suburban scene.

Photo credit: Picture Post (top)
Taken from: Offices on the Move
Published by: London County Council
Date: Undated but document reference suggests 1958?

Extract of text as insufficient characters available in alt text
WOULD YOU GAIN FROM
A MOVE?
Many business firms have voluntarily moved their offices from Central London to new sites in the suburbs or beyond.
Some have moved all but a small headquarters, others have only moved certain departments but all have found advantages in their new locations.
These firms have benefited from moving in many ways. Rents are lower for suburban premises.
There are opportunities for erecting purpose built office accommodation and land can be reserved at reasonable cost for extensions in the future.
Staft efficiency has increased as a result
of better accommodation.
There is less absenteeism and loss of time through sickness.
Time keeping is better.
Firms have been able to provide better facilities for staff training and to offer their staff more recreational facilities.
Salaries can be offered which are lower than in Central London but are still attractive as they do not have to cover daily travelling costs.
Office staff also benefit by working in the suburbs or beyond. They do not have to endure daily rush hour journeys to central London with their fatiguing effects.
Any journeys they may have to make are much shorter and pleasanter.
They have more time for relaxation and recrea-tion. Their " real" pay is increased.
They may even be able to go home for lunch.
Firms which have moved out of Central
London have found the advantages outweigh the disadvantages of a divided office.
Such disadvantages as remain have been minimised by modern communication systems that allow close contact with " head office".
Duplication of records can be kept to a minimum by a judicious selection of the departments to be moved out.
Senior executives need not be burdened with excessive journeys if the new location is carefully selected.

Taken from: Offices on the Move
Published by: London County Council
Date: Undated, but document reference suggests 1958?

A map of the various locations that firms were being encouraged to move to

Extract as alt text limited to 2,000 characters

Basildon
Basildon, in Essex, is one of the London New Towns intended to relieve the overcrowding of London. designated population of the town is 80,000 persons.
The The town is 27 miles from London on the Fenchurch Street-Southend-Shoeburyness railway which is in course of being electrified; this is scheduled to be completed in June, 1961.
Although no office accommodation is immediately available to let, that at present under construction being already let, the Basildon Development Corporation intends to build more office accommodation as construction on the town

Bracknell
Bracknell, in Berkshire, is 30 miles from London. Bracknell, one of the New Towns, is a rapidly expanding town with a designated population of 25,000 persons.
The Development Corporation have already constructed and leased offices in the town centre and are erecting further office accommodation as development of the centre proceeds, Office suites are available, close to car parks, at rentals of os. to 7s. per square foot for terms of at least seven years.
Sites in the town centre are also available to let on long lease.
The Corporation let houses and flats to employces of firms taking offices and have houses available in specially selected areas of the town for sale frechold or leaschold.

Aylesbury
Aylesbury, one of the expanding towns is 39 miles from London.
At present, as far as the Borough Council are aware, no office accommodation is available for letting in the borough, but there are, from time to time, a number of larger houses, including attractive country houses within easy distance of the town, available for sale, which would undoubtedly offer excellent facilities for conversion into office accommodation.

Taken from: Offices on the Move
Published by: London County Council
Date: Undated, but document reference suggests 1958?

Reposted by Dr Andrew Demetrius

Katrina Navickas @katrinanavickas.bsky.social · Jun 22

As a historian of protest, the number one question I get asked, by radio/podcast presenters, students, other people, is "why do political and social movements keep choosing to do peaceful protests like demonstrations if they usually fail?"
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Courtney 🐙 Lovecraftian 🐙 Actually @hexadecibelle.fyi · Jun 22

this was the real nail in the coffin for peaceful protest in the UK.

it’s why i don’t have much faith in peaceful protest achieving much by itself. but what it is good for (and perfectly demonstrated by the recent trans protests) is showing you’re not alone, and getting a message out to the public.

Hepatitis 5G @hep5g.bsky.social · Jun 22

Kids won't believe you these days, but Blair was genuinely shaken at the scale of the Iraq protest. No such hope this time around, it's already been decided, UK public be damned.

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Dr Andrew Demetrius @demetrius-art.bsky.social · Jun 20

Life, apparently.

Dr Andrew Demetrius @demetrius-art.bsky.social · Jun 19

Now available for Edinburgh birthdays, weddings, barmitzvas, etc.

Hand written poster advertising a magician of questionable ability.

Livingston Public Art Walking Tour

Reposted by Dr Andrew Demetrius

docomomoscot.bsky.social @docomomoscot.bsky.social · Jun 4

Join Andrew for a walking tour of Livingston new town and its splendid public art this Saturday (June 7th) - the sun is sure to shine! 😎

Dr Andrew Demetrius @demetrius-art.bsky.social · Apr 24

Livingston!

Please join me and @ssahistory.bsky.social for a walking tour of highlights from the Livingston public art collection. Non-members and concrete fans welcome.

Let’s take it to the streets, man!

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/livingston...

Dr Andrew Demetrius (University of St Andrews) leads a walking tour of the public art in Livingston, West Lothian

www.eventbrite.co.uk

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Dr Andrew Demetrius @demetrius-art.bsky.social · May 31

A reminder that this is happening next Saturday 7 June. Public art everywhere from civic showpieces, social housing and concrete poetry in infrastructure, to supermarket car parks and drains - “something for everyone!” ;-)

Dr Andrew Demetrius @demetrius-art.bsky.social · Apr 24

Livingston!

Please join me and @ssahistory.bsky.social for a walking tour of highlights from the Livingston public art collection. Non-members and concrete fans welcome.

Let’s take it to the streets, man!

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/livingston...

Livingston Public Art Walking Tour

Dr Andrew Demetrius (University of St Andrews) leads a walking tour of the public art in Livingston, West Lothian

www.eventbrite.co.uk

Dr Andrew Demetrius @demetrius-art.bsky.social · May 7

Disappointed there isn’t a corgi merry-go-round.

Dr Andrew Demetrius @demetrius-art.bsky.social · May 7

Heatherwick, natch

Statues, bridges, soundscapes: Queen Elizabeth II memorial designs unveiled

Dr Andrew Demetrius @demetrius-art.bsky.social · May 7

And yet… www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025...

Giant canopy of stone lilies and exact cast of Windsor oak tree among ideas for commemoration in St James’s Park

www.theguardian.com

‘It’ll be solemn, enshrining his ashes’: statue of Lemmy to be unveiled in his home town of Stoke-on-Trent

Dr Andrew Demetrius @demetrius-art.bsky.social · May 7

Public art overkill www.theguardian.com/music/2025/m...

Cast in bronze by sculptor Andy Edwards and containing the legendary Motörhead frontman’s DNA, the effigy underscores the West Midlands’ rock heritage

www.theguardian.com

Dr Andrew Demetrius @demetrius-art.bsky.social · May 3

“Ban this filth”, etc.

Livingston Public Art Walking Tour

Dr Andrew Demetrius @demetrius-art.bsky.social · Apr 24

Livingston!

Please join me and @ssahistory.bsky.social for a walking tour of highlights from the Livingston public art collection. Non-members and concrete fans welcome.

Let’s take it to the streets, man!

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/livingston...

Dr Andrew Demetrius (University of St Andrews) leads a walking tour of the public art in Livingston, West Lothian

www.eventbrite.co.uk

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Dr Andrew Demetrius @demetrius-art.bsky.social · Apr 22

Spot the eider nesting.

Dr Andrew Demetrius @demetrius-art.bsky.social · Apr 4

Academics take note.

Private Eye Magazine @privateeyenews.bsky.social · Apr 3

“Er, my question is really in two parts…”

From the new Private Eye, out now.

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Dr Andrew Demetrius @demetrius-art.bsky.social · Apr 1

‘Same old scene”?