A Symposium: Architecture at Cambridge, The Martin Years, 1956-73

This symposium celebrates the way in which the Department of Architecture was transformed during the years in which Leslie Martin was Professor and Head of Department. Organised with the blessing of the Department, the event is to be held on 1 and 2 November. There will be two sessions each day,consisting of a series of 20-minute presentations by students and staff during the period, followed by a chaired discussion.

Arrangements for the two days

There is a charge of £25 a day to cover refreshments, which include coffee and tea between sessions, drinks in the courtyard on Saturday and a light lunch. For those who wish to splash out, on Saturday night we have also arranged a formal dinner in Queens’ College at a cost of £75 per head, including wine. Please respond by midday 22nd October. Payments should be made online at

https://onlinesales.admin.cam.ac.uk/conferences-and-events/faculty-of-architecture/the-martin-years/the-martin-years-symposium-01-02-november-2025 

Draft Programme:

1 – 2 November 2025 in the Department of Architecture

Saturday 1st: Teaching and life in the Department

9.30                 Coffee and welcome

Chair          Natcha Ruamsanitwong

10.00               Nick Bullock

10.30               Peter Carolin

11.00               to be announced

11.30               Coffee

11.45               John Sergeant

12.15               Alex Reid

12.45               Nick Ray

1.15-2.00         Lunch  

Chair          Flora Samuel

2.00                 David Mellor

2.30                 John Meunier

3.00                 John Ellis

3.30                 Oliver Hawkins

4.00                 Tea

Chair          To be announced

4.15-5.45         Discussion

6.00                 Drinks in the courtyard

7.30                 Supper in Queens’

Sunday 2nd: The Department’s Research and Links to Practice

Chair          Dean Hawkes

9.30                 Coffee and welcome   

10.00               to be announced

10.30               Phil Steadman

11.00               Marcial Echenique

11.30               Coffee

11.45               Rob Howard

12.15               Randall Thomas

12.45               Tim Brittain-Catlin

1.15-2.00         Lunch  

Chair          Holly Smith

2.00                 Richard Hill

2.30                 James Dunnett

3.00                 Steve Greenberg

3.30                 Peter Dickens

4.00                 Tea

Chair          James Campbell

4.15-5.45         Discussion

The symposium organising committee can be contacted at this email address: themartinyears@arct.cam.ac.uk  

Nick Bullock, James Campbell, Peter Carolin, David Crowther, Dean Hawkes, Peter Dickens, Marcial Echenique, John Meunier, François Penz, Nick Ray, Natcha Ruamsanitwong, John Sergeant