Can we restore Britain to architectural greatness?

Question

I hate all of these modern buildings that look as if they were hacked from a solid block of misery (although I do appreciate the work of the builders).

Why can't we go back to the gothic and Victorian arcgitecture of old; is it simply a question of money/ health and safety? I mean genuine workmanship in the woodwork, stone carving, glazing...why can't we just sod the modern era and political correctness once in a while and build something that's actually nice, and so grand that we could actually be proud to call it a public building?

Answer 1

Most building nowadays are modular meaning that all doors, windows, bricks, blocks, fixtures, fittings etc are of a standard size. In effect a building can be constructed using 'off the shelf' materials - a window in one building will be exactly the same as a window in many other buildings.

A system called SMM (Standard Method of Measurement) was introduced many years ago in order to standardise things within the building industry. Architects, quantity surveyors, engineers all work from the same set of specifications.

True craftsmanship is a dying art. Historically a master craftsman would take on an apprentice who would learn the craft first hand over many years and then in turn pass his skills on. Much of today's training is learned from a pre-determined curriculum in college.

The skills do still exist and buildings of merit could still be constructed but the client would have to be prepared to wait a long time before completion of the project and would need a healthy bank balance.

As with so many things, people want things now and they want them at minimum cost.

Answer 2

Because

A) Its not "financially viable" to construct beautiful buildings nowadays. If construction companies had to put in the effort to build architectually interesting buildings they would not be able to throw a housing estate up in a few months, would they?

B) The appreciation of beauty, (especially in the form of architecture) is seen as something highbrow and intellectual, not something that everyone should care about or appreciate.

In my opinion, beauty in any form, whether it be art, nature, music, architecture etc, should be appreciated. I know that my views are out of fashion though, most of the general public are more concerned with what house a minor celeb owns rather than the disappearing architectural heritage of this country.

There's an interesting website with an example of a beautiful gothic house which has been left to rot here:
http://beedingwood.co.uk/index.htm

It's criminal that places are left to decay, methinks it could be something to do with the fact that you can't knock down a listed building UNLESS it is unsafe.....coincidence?

Edit: I live in Portsmouth on the South Coast of England, it was bombed terribly during the war, with the result that the city is liberally scattered with concrete boxes or brown glass monstrosities that were thrown together in the 60's/70's. Its a terrible shame.

Answer 3

I actually think that SOME of the modern buildings are fantastic, and add to the architectural greatness, especially if the architect has designed with the surrounding older buildings in mind. We do need to get rid of the 1960/70s concrete monstrosities though

Unfortunately there is very few people who have the skills to design and construct buildings of which you desire. The financial implications would be enormous, just from the extra labour and time required.

Answer 4

Gothic and Victorian is alright, but it doesn't clean very well and also costs too much, I would have thought. I do like a mix myself, but I do think you have a point with the modernist stuff being a bit too much. Maybe we need younger people that can take more risks in the industry?

Answer 5

we do need 2 do something 2 guarantee our buildings.

seems we're not being told everything we need 2 know about our rare crumbling & neglected heritage.
i read this 2day, on the taipe times.
c link below.

Answer 6

We need to persuade Nicholas Grimshaw to base his designs on something other than insects.