director, Future Cities Project; author of 'China's Urban Revolution' and 'New Chinese Architecture.' Critic on architecture, environmentalism, and China.
London
Joined September 2010
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In 1978, China's urban population was 18%; today it is 65%.
In 1978 there were 193 Chinese cities; today there are around 650.
Thanks @spectator #Chinesewhispers @CindyXiaodanYu for a thoroughly enjoyable chat about cities, development & progress in China.
spectator.co.uk/podcast/hist…
Austin Williams retweeted
Watching the penny very slowly drop at The Economist is always a pleasure.
A hard look at Britain’s data suggests so. But it is hardly an epidemic economist.com/britain/2026/1…
.@guardian "look-how-weird-the-Chinese-are" article.
But 50 years ago, 1.5million pet rocks were sold in the West.
boingboing.net/2024/09/19/re…
theguardian.com/world/2026/o…
How architects think [#2]:
"from 'a psychoanalytic perspective,' her neighbour parking the 'phallic symbol' of his white Nissan Navara pick-up truck across her driveway represented gender violence."
thetimes.com/article/20c410f…
Previous reviews:
A “surgical demolition” The Guardian
“Excellent” Daily Telegraph
“Eh?” The Star
Join Theodore Dalrymple discussing "An Englishman’s Home Is His Car Park"
4 November
7–8:30pm
ONLINE
eventbrite.com/e/bookshop-ba…
“thought-provoking” (Robert Tombs)
“fun and challenging” (Paul Embery)
"both exhilarating and a little horrifying" (Evan Davis)
Now it’s Theodore Dalrymple turn at the Bookshop Barnie, discussing "An Englishman’s Home Is His Car Park"
4 Nov, 7pm. ONLINE
eventbrite.com/e/bookshop-ba…
“the spirit of liberty is the spirit which is not too sure that it is right.”
A brilliant and necessary defence of freedom.
@AdGo @glukianoff
@TheFIREorg open.substack.com/pub/greglu…
Austin Williams retweeted
Lucy Connelly @LucyTCWife signing her book about being jailed for a tweet at @oldspeak_books at the #BattleFest.
Cry harder
Austin Williams retweeted
One of the great things about #battlefest is that there are so many debates to choose from. The downside is you can't see everything! Thankfully, many of our speakers have now published their speeches or articles discussing their sessions. Click below for a round-up 👇
Austin Williams retweeted
Our era has produced so many insane headlines that will baffle future historians.
Here’s another…
Austin Williams retweeted
"The final legacy of Starmer is to (force feed us the BBC version of events via social media).
"I'm not a conspiracy theorist, but my God!"
@Fox_Claire
On the day that everyone turns on their heating, puts on a jumper, storms rage & the government refuses to license domestic oil production - the Greens bang on about global warming.
Who knew that as well as on gender and Zionism, Greens were tone deaf on environmental issues too?
Austin Williams retweeted
Government prepping malarkey is annoying. Instead of lecturing public on preparing for power outages, Burnham needs to be prepared to URGENTLY lift ban on drilling in North Sea. If threats to security, increase defence spending etc. Thanks to @CharlieRowley18 for letting me vent
Austin Williams retweeted
It is funny that as Baroness Fox patiently set out a case for the dangers of poorly-socialised young people in Western society, the BBC had an oversized child sat by her to roll its eyes, sigh and interrupt every few seconds.
My attempt at discussing what has driven violent riots & wanton destruction in France (not without interruption). I was also reacting to unhelpfully labelling Kemi Badenoch's mention of challenges of migration y'day, as a Trump-like dog whistle #PoliticsLive
BOOKSHOP BARNIE
Theodore Dalrymple on his "An Englishman's Home Is His Car Park"
How will his thesis change when the gov gives drivers new rights to challenge unfair private parking charges.
Date: 4 Nov • 19:00
eventbrite.co.uk/e/bookshop-…
Magisterial
Part 2 of a rather fractious exchange on #PoliticsLive. Difficult discussions too often turn toxic once the challenges of mass immigration/integration are raised as problems, even though I was arguing this is only one aspect of the riots in France.
Meanwhile @TimesRadio reports that Australian politician Helen Haines was attacked by an environmental campaigner... coincidentally "radicalised" into pro-Pal and anti-Israel hatred.
Let's join the pro-nature, anti-human, antisemitic dots.
This quoted post is unavailable.
Austin Williams retweeted
"We are the festival that more than anything else bucks trends. We challenge the idea that certain things are the norm."
@Ella_M_Whelan on what you need to have a "battle of ideas"
👇