0:00:02 > 0:00:07BBCFour Collections - archive programmes chosen by experts.
0:00:07 > 0:00:08For this Collection,
0:00:08 > 0:00:10Janet Street-Porter has selected programmes
0:00:10 > 0:00:12about post-war architecture.
0:00:12 > 0:00:13More programmes on this theme
0:00:13 > 0:00:17and other BBC Four collections are available on BBC iPlayer.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07What is the essence of a building?
0:01:07 > 0:01:11Well, it mustbe about protecting you from the elements -
0:01:11 > 0:01:12to keep you warm when it's cold,
0:01:13 > 0:01:14cool when it's hot.
0:01:14 > 0:01:18And the building tells you something about itsage,
0:01:18 > 0:01:21the materials, the structures,
0:01:21 > 0:01:24gives a certain symbolic quality to the building,
0:01:24 > 0:01:26its point in time.
0:01:27 > 0:01:29This place hasa time that is without doubt
0:01:30 > 0:01:32fixed in the lasthalf of the 20th century.
0:01:32 > 0:01:36It exudes confidence, style, technology and friendliness
0:01:36 > 0:01:38ina way that very few other things have managed to do.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41Most buildings are specialised,
0:01:41 > 0:01:44but this oneis very specialised indeed.
0:01:44 > 0:01:46It is a jumbo jet.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59With about 3,000 square feet of floor space,
0:01:59 > 0:02:0116 lavatories, three kitchens,
0:02:01 > 0:02:04and an occupancy of up to 376 guests,
0:02:04 > 0:02:07this is surely a true building.
0:02:07 > 0:02:08This machine blursthe edges
0:02:08 > 0:02:10between technology and a building -
0:02:10 > 0:02:14and, what's more, it flies.
0:02:20 > 0:02:23It has an extraordinary presence.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26When youlook at that tail up there,
0:02:26 > 0:02:28it's higher than a six-storey building.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33I suppose it's the grandeur, the scale, it's...heroic.
0:02:33 > 0:02:35It's also pure sculpture.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39I mean, it doesn't really need to fly, it could sit on the ground,
0:02:39 > 0:02:40it could be in a museum.
0:02:40 > 0:02:44I suspect it's one of those icons of the late 20thcentury
0:02:44 > 0:02:49that in generations hence will still be looked at in wonder.
0:02:49 > 0:02:54The fact that we call this an aeroplane ratherthan a building,
0:02:54 > 0:02:57or engineering rather than architecture,
0:02:57 > 0:03:00is really a kind of historical hangover,
0:03:00 > 0:03:03because, for me, much of what we have here is genuinely architectural,
0:03:03 > 0:03:06both in its design and its thinking.
0:03:06 > 0:03:08Once you're inside here,
0:03:08 > 0:03:12there are many parallels with modern buildings.
0:03:12 > 0:03:14Like a lot of offices,
0:03:14 > 0:03:17it's a fixed shell and a moveable interior.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20But there's acertain anticlimax.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23I mean, it's really, in many ways, rather bland.
0:03:23 > 0:03:26You could say it's in the international hotel style,
0:03:26 > 0:03:28which I suppose isappropriate, people come and go,
0:03:28 > 0:03:31it doesn't have a great deal of character or stimulation.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33It could really be almost anywhere.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37I'mreally quite passionate about flying,
0:03:37 > 0:03:40whether it's tiny aircraft or giant jumbos like this,
0:03:40 > 0:03:41which may explain why
0:03:41 > 0:03:44I protest perhaps that most airports
0:03:44 > 0:03:47are depressingly more and more like shopping centres
0:03:47 > 0:03:49and you barely see the aircraft.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52And when you do, and you come inside, then...
0:03:52 > 0:03:56the experience offlying isalmost anaesthetised
0:03:56 > 0:03:59with drinks, food, movies,
0:03:59 > 0:04:02the windows are closed, there'sinstant music.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04Almost anything to pretend
0:04:04 > 0:04:07that you're doing something other than flying,
0:04:07 > 0:04:10which may be what the interior isall about.
0:04:10 > 0:04:13But somewhere, there's a missed opportunity there.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15The reason is that, unlike the exterior,
0:04:15 > 0:04:20marketingis largely responsible for the interior of this place.
0:04:20 > 0:04:23However, tucked away from view there are glimpses of the real thing.
0:04:23 > 0:04:26Here,on the surprisingly tiny flight deck,
0:04:26 > 0:04:29there's a kind of twinkling beauty
0:04:29 > 0:04:31and ergonomic efficiency about the layout.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34At a more humdrum level, the Business Classlavatories are admirable.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37Space-efficient and beautifully detailed pieces
0:04:37 > 0:04:39of industrial architecture.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43Elsewhere thereare really elegant touches.
0:04:43 > 0:04:45Recessed, snag-free handles on all the doors
0:04:45 > 0:04:48and the galleys have a kind of marvellous American diner style,
0:04:49 > 0:04:51all stainless steel and black plastic.
0:04:51 > 0:04:53They somehow feel sadly orphaned
0:04:53 > 0:04:55in a place that usually serves pre-cooked food.
0:04:55 > 0:05:00And then safety regulations turn some of these parts into pure art.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03In the end it's this exuberance of technology as art
0:05:03 > 0:05:05that transforms this bare assembly of parts.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29There is, I believe, a common misconception
0:05:29 > 0:05:31aboutarchitectureand design.
0:05:31 > 0:05:35The belief that somehow if the forces of nature are allowed to create form
0:05:35 > 0:05:38then that form will automatically be beautiful.
0:05:38 > 0:05:41The "if it looks right,it is right" sort of argument.
0:05:41 > 0:05:43Personally, I think this is nonsense.
0:05:43 > 0:05:46There's no doubt that an aircraft is an extreme example,
0:05:46 > 0:05:48but I cannot believe mere aerodynamics
0:05:48 > 0:05:52gave this piece of industrial architecture its heroic outerform.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54This thing WAS designed,
0:05:54 > 0:05:56in fact, an engineer called Joe Sutter
0:05:56 > 0:05:58is credited as the chief designer.
0:05:58 > 0:06:02It's not decorated, it has style.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05Bythat I mean metaphoric elements associated with culturalideas
0:06:05 > 0:06:09of speed, efficiency, power, strength and dependability.
0:06:09 > 0:06:13Andyet, it is genuinely beautiful.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16I believe all modern architecture
0:06:16 > 0:06:19must be capable of this intrinsic style and beauty
0:06:19 > 0:06:21without in any way compromising itsfunction.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27It's quite surreal up here,
0:06:28 > 0:06:30I mean, in thestrong wind here
0:06:30 > 0:06:32the aircraftis literally flexing its wings,
0:06:33 > 0:06:35it's almost as if it wanted to fly.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38And yet,there's a tremendous...
0:06:38 > 0:06:40It's almost like the avenue,
0:06:40 > 0:06:43the grand approach up to some incredible country house.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45Quite inspiring.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53These tensions between scale, symbolism andfunction
0:06:53 > 0:06:56are purely architectural.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59Classical and modern buildings often impress by their silhouette alone
0:07:00 > 0:07:02but, when we get closer, they lose that impact
0:07:02 > 0:07:06and when close enough to touch, they can be a real disappointment,
0:07:06 > 0:07:09let down by shoddy workmanship andbad detailing.
0:07:09 > 0:07:11Only the greatest bear close inspection
0:07:11 > 0:07:13and, on this basis,
0:07:13 > 0:07:16the 747 is a monumental achievement.
0:07:18 > 0:07:23Awe-inspiring in flight and, asI've said, beautiful closer, too.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27And when we reach it - exquisitely detailed.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43Youknow, we don't make buildings on sites any more,
0:07:43 > 0:07:46we make piecesin a factory
0:07:46 > 0:07:50and then we bring them to the site and we put them together.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53Which is exactlyhow this aircraft is made -
0:07:53 > 0:07:56a series of subassemblies, little pieces,
0:07:56 > 0:07:58which comes together to make the total aircraft.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28This is a '60s aircraft that first flew in1969,
0:08:28 > 0:08:31its projected life is forward maybe another 30 years.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34We think of buildings as enduring -
0:08:34 > 0:08:36this aircraft is more enduring
0:08:36 > 0:08:39than alot of the '60s buildings which are already coming down.
0:08:39 > 0:08:43Why are they coming down? Because they can't respond to change.
0:08:43 > 0:08:45The shell's OK.
0:08:45 > 0:08:47This aircraft- its shell's enduring,
0:08:47 > 0:08:49it's responding to change,
0:08:49 > 0:08:51there's a lot to learn from this building.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53In one sense you could say
0:08:53 > 0:08:55it's the ultimate technologicalbuildingsight.