Madingley Lecture - Other spaces, other cultures: the evolution of buildings from Vitruvian man to Leonardo and beyond

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*This event has been postponed until a later date*

As we ponder the chaos surrounding leadership and uncertainty in today’s world, it is worth taking time to reflect on those cultures, attitudes and approaches that either bind us together or force us apart. Learning from alternative worlds and realities allows us to reflect on the rights and wrongs of our own beliefs and attitudes.

Madingley Lectures, arranged by the University of Cambridge Institute of Continuing Education present a series of snapshots of other cultures, other worlds, distanced from our own by time and place.

Other spaces, other cultures: the evolution of buildings from Vitruvian man to Leonardo and beyond, Mr Francis Wells

From hunter/gatherers to potential inhabitants of Mars, we all need somewhere to lay our heads at night and to shelter from the elements. The great architectural movements have been constructed with human proportions in mind: anthropomorphic. At the heart of this movement is Vitruvian man - an idea developed by Vitruvius (whence the name) and celebrated by Leonardo.

More recently, as we have left behind the countryside in favour of city living, there is a new architecture centred on bringing the countryside to the city: biomorphic. And soon we will live on Mars and will have to “print” our homes in situ. This talk will explore this evolution of architectural form and our place within it.

Francis Wells is a Cardiothoracic surgeon based in Papworth Hospital, part of the University of Cambridge group of specialist hospitals. He trained in London, Cambridge and the University of Alabama in Birmingham Alabama where he was senior research fellow to Professor John Kirklin, a founding father of modern cardiac surgical practice. His specialist area of interest has been heart valve reconstruction, cardiopulmonary transplantation and the surgical management of intra-thoracic malignancy.

In parallel with his clinical practice Francis has had a lifelong interest in the arts and a specific interest in the Renaissance, having studied in depth the work of Leonardo da Vinci. This work led recently to the publication of his book The Heart of Leonardo.

He has sponsored several artists in residence within his clinical practice and this has led to several pieces which have appeared in major exhibitions including the Royal Academy summer show. Himself a recipient of the Sir Hugh Casson prize for drawing, Francis enjoys drawing, painting and playing the piano.

Complimentary tea and coffee available on arrival. Cash bar open after the lecture.