Dr Rachel Hurdley to present BBC Radio 4 documentary

Dr Rachel Hurdley of the Cardiff University School of Social Sciences will present The Hidden History of the Corridor on BBC Radio 4.

This 30 minute documentary will explore the power of the corridor, examining how the ambiguous space of the corridor reflects society, influences behaviour and provides the perfect place for a chance meeting.

As a sociologist, Rachel has long been fascinated by the power of corridors and their role as spaces which are neither entirely public or private. The corridor is a relatively recent architectural innovation, arriving in Britain around the beginning of the 18h Century.

In this documentary, Rachel visits Castle Howard to walk what are thought to be the first corridors in England, discovers why Victorians had a mania for corridors, finds out about the move towards open plan and asks whether corridors may now be due to return to our buildings.

Along the way Rachel will interview architectural historians and writers, hear why corridors are a film maker’s dream, and enter the world of diplomacy to find out why corridors can be the perfect place to make a deal.

Dr Rachel Hurdley is a Research Fellow at the Cardiff University School of Social Sciences. Dr Hurdley’s research focuses on identity and power relations within home, work and family, everyday spaces and things.

Tune in to BBC Radio 4 at 11am on Friday 29th September to hear the show.