The first time I heard the word “folly” was in relation to Bernard Tschumi’s Parc de la Villette in Paris – the large park with dozens of red structures strategically organized in a grid – each embodying the principles of deconstruction. I had been fascinated with the relevance and functionality of follies and even more amused by the lack of its typology.

On graduation from Oxford, Rory Fraser wrote and illustrated his first book Follies: An Architectural Journey, which he then presented as a documentary. Rory subsequently completed an MPhil in Architectural History at Cambridge. He lives in London where he divides his time between writing, lecturing and painting architectural commissions.

Link to the series: https://watch.shelter.stream/follies

Rory’s work: https://www.instagram.com/roryfraserr/