I suspect the problem of ultra-conservative approaches to housing design in
the UK is very complex and historical, and has little to do with good
architects preferring higher profile projects. If, say, Richard Rogers were to
be approached by one of the major builders to produce innovative concepts; I
am sure he would be intrigued and excited by the idea. In reality, however,
the brief would probably be restrictive and would require some nostalgic
imagery to indicate "this is a home" to the bulk of the population.
But this will have to change. The changing patterns of lifestyle and family
units, and the pressure on available land leading to the increasing spread of
estates of ever-smaller boxes like a stain around our towns, needs imaginative
and flexible answers. Perhaps if one large house builder had the courage to
try, and to market the results in the way that electronic products and
mountain bikes are, the (particularly English?) backward-looking trend could
be reversed?
--
Stephen Bailey
Institute of Design
School of Law, Arts and Humanities
University of Teesside TS1 3BA
01642 342362
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|