Synopsis

Born in Georgia in 1901, Berthold Lubetkin is one of the most outstanding and influential architects in Britain. His life has spanned the Russian Revolution and two World Wars. Finally, in 1982 he was awarded the highest honour the RIBA can grant - the Royal Gold Medal, in belated recognition of his achievements. Best known for the abstract elegance of the Penguin Pool at London Zoo, he remains an isolated figure constantly fighting bureaucracy and indifference; he has remained an unapologetic champion of the ideals of modernism while fiercely attacking many of its most celebrated exponents. In tonight's Arena Richard Rogers, Peter Palumbo , Lord Zuckerman and others assess the unique influence that Lubetkin has had on generations of architects.