In this first episodic architectural study, filmmaker Allan Sylvester brings his characteristic sensitivity to the brutalist vernacular, continuing the thoughtful documentation style that has distinguished his contributions to the Museum of Brutalist Architecture’s collection. This prequel focuses on the Acland Burghley School Assembly Hall, capturing not just the physical structure but the accumulated history of six decades of community life within its walls.
Click below to watch the film
Introduction by Andy Costa, Urban Learners and co-founders of the Museum of Brutalist Architecture
Filmed on Location at Acland Burghley School, the home of the Museum of Brutalist Architecture
Sylvester’s camera moves with deliberate purpose through the space, lingering on the interplay between raw concrete surfaces and warm timber elements that have witnessed countless assemblies, performances, and gatherings since the hall’s completion in the 1960s. As with his earlier studies of modernist architecture, Sylvester’s lens reveals how the materiality of brutalism can serve as a repository of collective memory, each architectural element bearing silent witness to the building’s rich history. Not surprising therefore is that Sylvester attended the school as a 6th former in the late 1980’s and his and the collective memory of fellow students are captured beautifully and poignantly by his short documentary.
The film pays particular attention to the hall’s role as a performance space, documenting its longstanding relationship with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (OAE) and its planned restoration as a heart of the community social space. Through careful framing and patient observation, Sylvester captures how the original architects’ vision of creating a space for community use has been housed for generations. The four architects; Howell, Killick Partridge and Amis’s bold architectural statement, firmly rooted in brutalist principles, transcends functionality to create a genuine cultural hub.
This documentary comes at a pivotal moment, as Urban Learners, in partnership with Acland Burghley School and supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, embark on their ambitious project to establish the UK’s Museum of Brutalist Architecture. Sylvester’s film serves both as a celebration of the hall’s first sixty years and as a crucial historical document, capturing the space before its anticipated restoration that will see it emerge as the ‘Hall for All’.
The filmmaker’s generosity in creating this record speaks to a shared understanding of architecture’s role in community life. By donating his time and expertise, Sylvester ensures that future generations will have a window into this significant period in the building’s history. His work stands as both an artistic appreciation of brutalist architecture and a testament to the enduring power of civic spaces to shape and hold our collective experiences.
Click to explore more [STORIES] using the interactive map
Find out more about the location of this and other Brutalist Architecture related [STORIES], by exploring the interactive map. Filter by Category or just search by location.
Visit us on Instagram
Help the Museum of Brutalist Architecture improve by answering a few questions