This published conference paper examines the influence of the state upon the materiality of the street during postwar Britain. It specifically focuses on the impact of the Council of Industrial Design upon the design of street furniture. By promoting ‘well-designed’ street furniture, the Council acted on behalf of the government as an arbiter of good taste and arguably played a crucial role in visually unifying and standardizing the aesthetic of the street. Therefore, this paper examines the role of the Council as a state-funded organization charged with maintaining street furniture design standards, and the tensions that surfaced as a result.

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