The Dentist's Chair - The Obvious Source of Architectural Inspiration!

Nigel Swift and David Paisley's recent article in the German Life and Letters Publication, explores the private accusation of plagiarism to Sir Basil's Spence's Coventry Cathedral.

' Dominikus Bohm, Sir Basil Spence and the Dream in the Dentist's Chair. A German Source for Coventry Cathedral' 

The article explores the similarities between the German architect's Church of Saint Johann in Neu-Ulm, with Sir Basil Spence's rebuild of the Coventry Cathedral. The document goes into lengthly descriptions of the two churches, the first of which was built in 1927, and the second being rebuilt by 1952.

There a several obvious similarities between the two designs. Not only are the floor plans very similar but the unique 'zig-zag' walls, the two exterior chapels and orientation of light are almost identical. Both buildings orientate the windows towards the alter so they are invisible when you enter the church. The floor plan and drawing of the Church of Saint Johann were published frequently within architectural journals in particular in America. It is impossible to prove whether Spence had seen plans of the church, however he was certainly able to access them. What does make the situation sound rather suspicious is Spence's reasoning when he was later questioned over plagiarism:

"My dream was wonderful. I was walking through the Cathedral and it looked marvellous, with a light like Chartres. The alter looked tremendous, backed by a huge tapestry, but I could not see the windows until I went right in and turned half back - the walls were zig-zagged!"

Spence, Sir Basil. Phoenix at Coventry. London. 1962

Don't get me wrong, I am well aware the creative individuals can often be very eccentric, but Spence's miraculous dream whilst under general anesthetic in a dentist's chair does seem a little far fetched. In my opinion dreams are based on memories, it takes a previous encounter to spark a new idea or experience. This was also the conclusion of Swift and Paisley in their article.

" We would rather suggest that the mental process at work in the dentist's chair was not inventive imagination, but memory, memory of a specific architectural plan whose identity had already been signaled ...." 

Swift, Nigel. Paisley, David. "Dominikus Bohm, Sir Basil Spence and the dream in the Dentist's Chair: A german source for the Coventry cathedral." German Life and Letters. Volume 64 Issue 2. (2011): p 248.

The images above so the resemblance between the two interiors which is accentuated by the roof vaulting. The top image is the Coventry Cathedral and the second the Church of John the Baptist. The similarities is even clearer in the floor plans below, illustrating the zig-zag wall construction.

Swift and Paisley were not the only ones to challenge the source of inspiration, Louise Campbell also explores the possibility of a 'forgotten source' and perhaps we are subconsciously influenced by previous encounters. 

It may also be concluded that Spence did later admit to plagiarism in so many words, he definitely believed in subconscious influences. "I am quite certain there are sub-conscious ones" Taken from a letter from Spence to Nikolaus Pevsner (19 June 1956) - 4 Years after the Coventry Cathedral was completed.

Campbell, Louise. Coventry Cathedral: Art and Architecture in post war Britain. London: Clarendon Press. 1996 p.87

Sources of Images:

Joe Blogs - Musing from the riverside - www.wharferj.wordpress.com

Dominikeus Bohm - www.wikipedia.org.uk

www.panoramio.com

www.oneexwidow.blogspot.co.uk