Last week ArchDaily attended the 2016 World Architecture Festival in Berlin. We chatted with Sir Peter Cook and asked him about the current state of global affairs (Brexit, the US election, etc). He explained how his experience and work has influenced a career that has spanned over five decades, and reminds us of the inspiring power of architecture. 

Last week ArchDaily attended the 2016 World Architecture Festival in Berlin. We chatted with Sir Peter Cook and asked him about the current state of global affairs (Brexit, the US election, etc). He explained how his experience and work has influenced a career that has spanned over five decades, and reminds us of the inspiring power of architecture. Peter Cook: You have to understand that I'm a very particular kind of animal both politically and in my general opinions. I'm what I would call a creative cynic. I'm an old person and I've seen a lot of not very good things happen. On the other hand I was privileged as a child to have free education and free college. 
Peter Cook. REAL CITY: Perspective of Everscreened Type, 1986, tracing paper, ink, 64 x 62 cm © Peter Cook

I don't see things in the extremely black and white. I think there are variants on the not quite right and variants on the nearly possible. And so I think even in the Archigram days my projects were actually based upon a kind of liberal tradition. Although the mechanics looked outrageous, perhaps, the actual society tha...