Jackie Smith at St Peter’s Post Office signing Robin Penna and Rob McGhee’s ‘eyesore’ petition concerning modern buildings on sensitive sites. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0917802)

BUILDING styles must move with the times, according to the president of the Guernsey Society of Architects.

David Falla was responding to news that Robin Penna and Rob McGhee were circulating a petition aimed at stopping what they consider to be ‘eyesores’ being built on sensitive sites.

‘It’s good to see that people are taking an interest in architecture, but it needs to de done on a more informed basis,’ he said.

‘If you take a pastiche approach, you will end up with a watered-down version of what Guernsey used to be,’ he said.

Materials were also important and a modern piece of glass in a more-traditional type of window frame could look great, he said. To say you could not do anything contemporary or modern was wrong and there were no hard and fast rules.

‘The history of architecture reflects different styles and ages,’ said Mr Falla, and suggested comparing something like St Sampson’s Church with the airport terminal.

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