Great book from the RCA offers new perspectives on the Victorian cultural quarter, Albertopolis

The Albertopolis Companion is a collection of writings on the west London area, in 1850 a new quarter of art, design and innovation, and nicknamed to facetiously honour its co-benefactor, Prince Albert. The book, produced collaboratively by graduating students from last year’s Critical Writing in Art & Design MA at the Royal College of Art, contiains 15 pieces of writing on the area’s geography, architecture, history and cultural life with “an aerial overview and urban critiques… unexpected encounters with Mormon elders, sparring scientists, tea room spies and cursed stones,” and a foreword by architecture critic Owen Hatherley.

Designed by Guillaume Chuard and Daniel K. Y. Nørregaard , and illustrated by Katie Rose Johnston , the book manages to feel very current whilst making clear, confident nods to the area’s history. The monograms used throughout reference the pocket book, Victorian Painters’ Monograms and Katie’s illustrations feel contemporary whilst also alluding to the high camp of the era, as does the golden sheen flowing through the Companion .

The book bypasses the “fussy, over-designed” nature of Exhibition Road, as identified by Owen Hatherley in his foreword; and challenges and renegotiates our perception of the strange area and its Imperial architecture.