Wren Before Wren
Rory Coonan, former Head of Architecture at the Arts Council,
discusses Sir Christopher Wren’s first 30 years.
Rory Coonan’s talk focuses on ‘Wren before Wren’, namely how the young Christopher spent his first 30 years - from astonishing, home-tutored child prodigy who went up to Wadham at Oxford at the age of only 16 in 1649/50, after the Civil Wars. Then appointed Savilian Professor of Astronomy at Oxford at the age of 25, Wren worked as a professional mathematician, geometer and ‘experimental philosopher’ (later termed ‘scientist’) before he taught himself architecture with the aid of books.
Coonan will explain Wren’s approach to design and, most remarkably, the calculation of risk.
The talk also presents an account of Wren’s modern reputation.
Talk only £15.00
