WHAT? Vanbrugh: The Drama of Architecture

WHERE? Sir John Soane’s Museum, 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3BP

WHEN? Now until 28th June

WHY GO? To meet a radical architect! What do Blenheim Palace and Castle Howard have in common? Both were designed by the maverick architect, Vanbrugh, who may not be as famous as Wren, but whose legacy is certainly deserving as the ‘rockstar’ of architecture.
A display of his work is on show in the extraordinary Soane’s Museum with more events filtering throughout the country as it's 300 years since he died in 1726 and fans are celebrating his genius.
Vanbrugh leaves behind buildings that are engraved in the very soul of the country.
The display, though small, is big on illustrating the depth and talent of Vanbrugh through rare drawings on show for the first time.
His major projects were as diverse as the monumental Blenheim Palace to the intimate, Goose-Pie House in Whitehall that was his London home.
Vanbrugh was a man of many talents; he was an officer in the army and political prisoner, a wine merchant and a playwright before finally settling on architecture despite having had no formal training. It brought him fame but sadly very little fortune!
Perhaps today, Vanbrugh would be considered an entrepreneur or even tech bro perfectly ‘at home’ in any milieu. It’s fascinating to contemplate what he would have achieved in today’s modern architectural arena.

IN THE KNOW Delve deeper, VANBRUGH300, the conservation society founded to preserve Georgian heritage, lists all related events throughout the country that are dedicated to celebrate his legacy and anniversary.