pugin? never heard of him

it's one of the curious things about melbourne. aside from the trams, and the elm trees, it's most characteristic feature is the abundance of gothic revival architecture. especially the churches. one person is wholly responsible for this cult of 'pointed' architecture in the second half of the 19th century: augustus welby northmore pugin. (though, of course, he's more justly famous as one of the co-designers of the palace of westminster.) still, no one is melbourne would know who pugin was. bless our history teachers for that. but i'm reminded of him by the publication of a new biography "god's architect: pugin and building of romantic britain". let's hope it leads to a gothic re-revival. because the fascist banalities of le corbusier and mies van der rohe are so dreary.