Civilia: Utopia in the Age of Photomechanical Reproduction. Architectural (Photo)copy as (Re)invention

In June 1971, The Architectural Review featured the culmination of Townscape, a campaign that issue’s author, as well magazine’s editor and owner, Hubert de Cronin Hastings, promoted for decades. Civilia, End Suburban Man was monograph described fictional English New Town, illustrated through an extensive collection views its urban scene made from hundreds photographs buildings, many which had appeared in pages different publications Press preceding Civilia did not manage to provoke debate Hastings desired, remaining mere curiosity wrapped spectacular visual apparatus has hardly been analyzed. However, striking vedute hide elaborate exercise generation architectural form. Its collages include catalog strategies forms buildings are appropriated their photographic images, engender series distorted copies, new personae simultaneously alter our perception originals by either enveloping them narratives or revealing hidden qualities.