The soon-to-open M+ museum in Hong Kong has bought the entire archive of influential British architecture collective Archigram, despite attempts to block the overseas sale.
Tens of thousands of drawings and models produced by the 1960s group will be moved from storage in the UK to the Herzog & de Meuron-designed M+, set to open later this year in Hong Kong's West Kowloon Cultural District.
The £1.8 million sale was approved by the UK's government's Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, despite an Arts Council committee recommendation to block it, reported the Architects Journal (AJ).
Archigram became famous for its experimental approach to design, as shown in Archigram Magazine
Museum experts had objected to the collection of important British architectural works being moved overseas, but no buyer planning to keep the collection in the UK could be found. Archigram members to celebrate with "drink in Hong Kong"
Founded in the 1960s, Archigram became famous for its experimental approach to design, with futuristic projects such as Plug In City and Instant City. Members included Peter Cook, Warren Chalk, Ron Herron, Dennis Crompton, Michael Webb and David Greene.
The group's avant-garde work informed the work of architects including Richard Rogers, Renzo Piano and Norman Foster.
Peter Cook, one of the surviving members of Archigram, told the AJ that he welcomed the sale.
"We'll have a drink in Hong Kong I should think," he said. "...