>2 Creativity as an end in itself
>
>Now I teach architecture. What interests me is that we appear to value
>creativity for its own sake. There is no necessary connexion with any
>requirements. It could be argued that our method of teaching has become
>degenerate.
>
>
>3 Creativity in housing (No thanks - we're British????)
>
>I was reading something about housing estate design in the UK yesterday.
>There is great concern about poor design, lack of variety or sense of
>place in new housing. What struck me as very odd is the fact that the
>housing market is so notoriously conservative. The same people rush out
>to buy the latest electronic gadget, or mountain bike or whatever. Why
>is it when they buy houses they behave so conservatively? Why is the
>housing market incapable of re-inventing itself with better products,
>better suited to people's wants? By the way they are mostly NOT designed
>by architects (but neither are mountain bikes).
>
>Apologies for the length of this.
>
>Does anyone have any thoughts?
>
>Conall
Housing and mountain bikes?
>From my perspective, housing in Sydney is also awash with conservative and
phony traditional [federation] styles.
Perhaps a few reasons for this may be differences;
A house has longer life span than a mountain bike.
A house [in Sydney at least] is valuable re-tradable commodity offering
significant capital gain [at the moment] irrespective of the design
integrity of the structure. The dirt holds the value in many cases.
Speculative and opportunistic developers have no interest in good design
other than surface appeal [If I see another Michael Graces kettle on a
black granite kitchen top, I swear I'll..............].
A house is subject to council regulation and the whims of the town
planners, who are not noted for their progressive and creative problem
solving abilities.
Much housing is designed by drafters and builders and not by architects
The majority of architects who do domestic housing are often commissioned
by conservative clients.
I could go on
Miles Park
Lecturer : Industrial Design
Faculty of the Built Environment
UNSW
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|