City corners

Chapter 1

The Flatiron Building in New York

The Flatiron Building is one of the most iconic corner buildings in the world. Though it met criticism at its unveiling in 1901, the building attracts hordes of tourists every day. We explore its history with Alice Alexiou, author of ‘The Flatiron: The New York Landmark and the Incomparable City That Arose with It’.

Chapter 2

Speakers’ Corner

Regarded as the home of free speech, Hyde Park’s Speakers’ Corner is a traditional place for assembly. We delve into its past with Peter Bradley, director of the Speakers’ Corner Trust and Philip Wolmuth, a photographer whose recent book is ‘Speakers’ Corner: Debate, Democracy and Disturbing the Peace’.

Chapter 3

The perfect corner shop

Cities such as Portland and Montreal have been pushing for a revival of the corner shop, sparking debate on how the ideal one should look. Andrew Tuck is joined by Josh Fehnert to discuss what makes these retail outlets so special.

Chapter 4

Cerdà’s utopian district

With its distinct cut-off corners, Eixample is the pioneering work of Catalan urban planner Ildefons Cerdà. More than 150 years have passed since the building of Eixample; join us as we explore the planning behind its chamfered corners.