Interior view towards the ceiling of the Judge Institute showing its geometric shapes and patterns.
View looking up towards the ceiling at the Grade II* listed Judge Institute, University of Cambridge, designed by John Outram. © Historic England Archive. DP195705. View List entry 1126031
View looking up towards the ceiling at the Grade II* listed Judge Institute, University of Cambridge, designed by John Outram. © Historic England Archive. DP195705. View List entry 1126031

20th Century Architects on the Missing Pieces Project

Listen to audio recordings of in-depth interviews with influential British architects and discover how they shaped the places we live our lives in and around. 

Use the map below to:

  • Listen to the architects interviewed in the British Library's recordings
  • Explore their creations, considered so important they're protected by listing
  • Share your unique take on the listed places you find: add pictures, notes and stories to the Missing Pieces Project

Architects

Find listed buildings and listen to the stories of how their creators have shaped our wonderful built environment.

Sir Colin St John Wilson

This collection also features an interview with Sir Colin St John Wilson who was the architect behind the British Library. Born in Cheltenham, he went to Corpus Christi, Cambridge in 1940 to read architecture. After the war he continued his studies at the Bartlett School.

He began his career at London County Council where he collaborated with (Sir) Leslie Martin. He became a lecturer in Architecture at Cambridge in 1956 where Martin was Professor. Wilson and Martin worked together on several projects, but Wilson, in collaboration with his wife Mary Jane Long, is undoubtedly best known for his design of the British Library, a project of some 30 years duration. A highly influential architect of the post-war period, his renown is attested by 10 of his buildings being listed.

British Library Oral Histories collection

Oral Histories help us to understand why the public value their historic places. It helps us to capture memories of the people that love, use and breathe our built heritage environment. Capturing the community memory of places is key to our understanding of the value accorded to their historic buildings.

British Library Oral History Collection

Get involved

Many places on the List are well-known and even world-famous. But in some cases there is much that remains unknown.

Your view of a place is as unique as you are, so every photo and story you add to the Missing Pieces Project is an important piece of the picture. Tell us what makes your favourite listed building special, so we can record important facts, and even unlock the secrets of some places.