Main Edition
US
FR
August 17, 2021 - 3:02pm
Modernism is a civilisational catastrophe on a global scale. But pricing that in, one has to ask how London architecture has managed to sink to yet lower depths over the last decade.
A few examples:
The giant glowing ball of Stratford
This one hasn’t been built yet — and hopefully never will. It’s a proposal for a spherical stadium, the height of Big Ben, whose illuminated exterior surface would display advertisements visible across a large part of east London.
While digital touch is often used for remote experiences, the MSG Sphere London is proposing to bring infrasound #haptics to a #concert venue. However the controversial project is proving to be sensory overload for less desirable reasons! https://t.co/aKlQt3Ul49 pic.twitter.com/jYcuuXNENM
— IN_TOUCH_UCL (@IN_TOUCH_UCL) August 13, 2021
It almost dares the critic to use the phrase “Bladerunner aesthetic”, but overgrown vulgarity is a likelier outcome here than dystopian grandeur.
The Marble Arch Mound
Speaking of monumental disappointment, here’s what happens when an obviously stupid idea gets off the drawing board. For reasons never adequately explained, it was decided that what the West End really needs is an artificial hill made out of scaffolding and astroturf. The visiting public disagreed.
Half marathon passing by Marble Arch this afternoon- I really don’t get the point of this Mound #London #quirky #Sundayrunday #running 🏃🏻♀️ pic.twitter.com/v4LhzFELDs
— Julie E Russell (@Julieru13) August 15, 2021
So what to do it now? In ancient Sparta, there was a mountain where unwanted infants would be exposed to the elements. I’d suggest that the Marble Arch Mound is put to a similar use — only for misconceived municipal projects.
Nine Elms
Nine Elms was central London’s biggest brownfield site — a massive opportunity to show the future what we were made of.
Join the discussion
Join like minded readers that support our journalism by becoming a paid subscriber
To join the discussion in the comments, become a paid subscriber.
Join like minded readers that support our journalism, read unlimited articles and enjoy other subscriber-only benefits.
SubscribeA city, a country, without faith or vision. London, as with the country at large, has absorbed everything, from everywhere, but can’t bare to look over it’s shoulder as to where it came from. A perfect NEW identity, for a brave new world, free from the baggage of the past. Narcissistic, self absorbed and without a soul.
Reasons
1) Aesthetics is not taught at architects school. A friend of mine, headed for a professorship in Turkey, had never heard of Roger Scruton, or studied classical concepts of aesthetics.
2) Commissioning agents are philistines. Like the prat who commissioned the mound. No idea what he’s doing.
3) Cost. Crap design is cheaper
4) Architects prefer brutalism. As the Architects Journal notes, architects love square concrete stuff. The public prefer Georgian/Classical/proportionate designs. There is a huge divergence in opinion between the designers and the public.
5) Brainrot. Architecture is influenced by Young British Artists, Duchamp, and other 20th century influences, who rejected beauty and went for shock value. It’s terribly bourgeois to design handsome buildings. What would Damien Hirst say? Sadiq Khan’s advisor on architecture Dinah Bornat even argues Georgian architecture is colonial.
Perhaps we should get Artists to design the appearance of buildings, and Structural Engineers to make sure they don’t fall down. All Architects to be legally prohibited from any input.
“Perhaps we should get Artists to design the appearance of buildings,”
!!!!! Do you know what artists do? Have you seen their stuff? Hunter Biden would likely be commissioned for two million to come up with some ‘Art’ design. That’s like getting a butcher to run a petting zoo.
In architecture (as in art) Modernism is a cul-de-sac, with nothing to offer after the initial and bracing shock of the new.
I also blame CAD. Bring back drawing boards.