Podcast Summary:

New Books Network
Episode: Jessica Kelly and Neal Shasore, "Reconstruction: Architecture, Society and the Aftermath of the First World War" (Bloomsbury, 2024)
Host: Matthew Wells
Date: January 7, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode features a deep discussion with Jessica Kelly and Neal Shasore, editors of the book Reconstruction: Architecture, Society and the Aftermath of the First World War. The conversation aims to challenge prevailing narratives about British architectural history between the wars, specifically questioning the dominance of modernism and exploring broader cultural, professional, and societal transformations. The editors reflect on the genesis, structure, and ambitions of their volume, as well as their approaches to methodology, sources, and the ongoing evolution of scholarship in this field.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Genesis and Motivation Behind the Book

• Origins:
  • The project began with a 2018 symposium marking the WWI Armistice centenary and was shaped by the editors’ shared interest in broadening architectural history’s focus beyond buildings themselves (04:46, Jessica Kelly).
• Challenging the “Interwar” Frame:
  • Both editors critique the standard periodization of the interwar era as too rigid, arguing it oversimplifies complex continuities and ruptures in architectural and societal change (04:46, Jessica Kelly).
  • Quote: “The idea of the First World War as the end of something and the beginning of something else... is very simplifying and loses a lot of nuance.” — Jessica Kelly (03:54)

2. Methodology and Structure of the Book

• Beyond the Architect:
  • The volume deliberately moves “beyond the building as product” (02:50, Jessica Kelly) and away from architect- or style-centered accounts, instead considering broader networks of actors and processes (13:43, Neal Shasore).
• Section Themes & Gerunds:
  • Book is organized into thematic sections, each deliberately titled with an active gerund (e.g., "Promoting," "Designing," "Binding") to foreground societal drivers and processes rather than passive categories (23:15, Neal Shasore).
    • Quote: “We wanted a kind of social driver to structure the…five sections of the book…Every section title is led by a gerund...to make them feel more active rather than passive.” — Neal Shasore (23:18)
  • Within these are essays with single-word titles plus descriptive subtitles, acting almost like “tags” for broader social themes.
• Process of Editing:
  • The structure went through “huge amounts of iteration,” with an emphasis on producing a coherent, purposive volume rather than a “cobbled together” proceedings typical of edited collections (17:57, Neal Shasore).
    • Quote: “We did it over and over again. In fact, it stalled for some months…because I was really keen that we made it coherent.” — Neal Shasore (17:57)
  • The book came together during the COVID-19 pandemic, influencing content and prompting the addition of a section on health and reconstruction (09:36, Jessica Kelly).

3. Key Themes Explored

• Reconfiguring Architectural History’s Scope:
  • Efforts to make architectural evidence relevant for historians and researchers outside of architecture by encouraging consideration of infrastructure, the “business” of architecture, and the wider built environment as historical subjects (11:55, Jessica Kelly).
  • Emphasis on architecture as process — involving real estate, design, construction, specification, and inhabitation — not just finished objects (13:43, Neal Shasore).
• Community, Infrastructure, and Citizenship:
  • Volume avoids the usual focus on housing post-WWI (“Homes for Heroes”), instead examining religious, leisure, and community buildings that reflect changing views on citizenship, the state’s role, and public life (20:01, Jessica Kelly).
• Use and Accessibility of Visual Material:
  • All images, plans, and drawings are contemporaneous and were redrawn to facilitate comprehension, particularly for non-specialist readers (23:15, Neal Shasore and 27:43, Jessica Kelly).
    • Quote: “We took the decision to have plans as the main form of architectural projection…so that we are not freaking people out when they look at a plan that’s actually…a drainage plan dug up from an obscure local authority archive.” — Neal Shasore (23:15)
    • The editors actively encourage treating illustrations as analytical sources, not just supplements (27:43, Jessica Kelly).

4. Internationalism and Empire

• Broader Geographical Lens:
  • The book touches on Britain's imperial identity and some global connections (e.g., Cairo Cathedral, Herbert Baker in Rhodes House), but acknowledges the parochial bias of previous historiography and the volume itself (29:45, Neal Shasore).
  • Editors express a desire for future studies to further integrate transnational and colonial perspectives (32:58, Jessica Kelly).
    • Quote: “We treat Britain as imperial Britain and there are essays that talk about Cairo Cathedral, that talk about Herbert Baker and Rhodes House…But again…this was not exhaustive. This was to open up roots.” — Neal Shasore (29:45)

5. Reflections on the Discipline and Future Research

• Ongoing Evolution:
  • The discipline of architectural history is changing, and the editors note how the book’s contributors continue to revise their perspectives; were they to start now, the project might look quite different (32:58, Jessica Kelly).
• Current and Next Projects:
  • Jessica is working on a book about the public sector architectural profession after WWII, plus a podcast and an article on community television in Milton Keynes/Swindon and its relationship to public participation and architecture (33:53, Jessica Kelly).
  • Neal describes his ongoing trilogy on interwar British architecture, with upcoming books on the RIBA headquarters and projects on postwar housing practice and themes such as standards, standardization, and risk in the built environment (36:22, Neal Shasore).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote |
|---|---|---|
| 03:54 | Jessica Kelly | “The idea of the First World War as the end of something and the beginning of something else…is very simplifying and loses a lot of nuance.” |
| 13:43 | Neal Shasore | “The point was…to de-center a kind of polite architectural history that was monographic.” |
| 17:57 | Neal Shasore | “We did it over and over again. In fact, it stalled for some months…the progress of the project because I was really keen that we made it coherent.” |
| 20:01 | Jessica Kelly | “What's interesting here is…this period in British architectural history…is very much talked about in terms of housing…wanting to have…this section, I think, reflects…looking beyond housing…infrastructure is almost as important as the word community…” |
| 23:18 | Neal Shasore | “Every section title is led by a gerund…to make them feel more active rather than passive.” |
| 23:15 | Neal Shasore | “We took the decision to have plans as the main form of architectural projection…so that we are not freaking people out when they look at a plan…” |
| 27:43 | Jessica Kelly | “…the broader methodology…of us wanting to push authors and our readers to consider the illustrations as sources…” |
| 29:45 | Neal Shasore | “…this was not exhaustive. This was to open up roots, you know, and we hope that more of that work will come through.” |

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:07] – Introduction to the book and challenge to conventional narratives
• [04:46] – Editors discuss motivation and questioning “interwar” periodization
• [09:36] – How the book was structured and impacted by historical context/Pandemic
• [13:43] – Expanding the cast of actors beyond architects
• [17:57] – The editorial rigor and shaping of the volume
• [20:01] – Exploration of “community infrastructure” and beyond housing
• [23:15] – Methodology for visual materials and user accessibility
• [29:45] – International and imperial dimensions
• [32:58] – Reflections on the discipline and looking ahead
• [33:53] – Editors’ current and future projects

Episode Takeaways

• The book Reconstruction challenges conventional views of the British interwar built environment and modernism, offering a more nuanced and socially-engaged approach.
• It expands architectural history’s actors and evidentiary sources, arguing for relevance well beyond architecture itself.
• Visuals and structure are methodologically central and intentionally accessible.
• The story is still evolving, with both editors actively pursuing new directions in public engagement, social processes, and the international dimension of architectural history.

This summary captures the episode’s key discussions, notable moments, and organizational structure for anyone seeking a comprehensive understanding without having listened.