Modernists win the day
Friday 23rd July 2010, 11:30AM BST.
Face to face before last night’s debate on modern architecture are architect Jamie Falla, left, and Robin Penna, the man who started a petition against so-called eyesores. (Picture by Steve Sarre, 1002949)
A LIVELY debate on whether architecture was ruining Guernsey saw the audience vote last night in favour of architects.
The discussions focussed on so-called eyesores and was held as an exercise as part of an exhibition entitled Architecture Today.
Both sides of the argument were represented with campaigner Robin Penna and Deputy Al Brouard in favour of the proposition that modern architecture was bad for the island, and architects Jamie Falla and Andrew Ozanne against it.
The Environment Department was also represented by director of planning control services Jim Rowles.
A few hundred islanders turned out to hear their views, but also expressed their own opinions on the subject.
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Interesting debate – and Planning in particular made a powerful presentation. Good to know we’ve moved on to decisions being driven by policy and principle, than rather than by a clique of Islanders who decide what’s ‘appropriate’, when ‘appropriate’ = ‘what I like’ and ‘consistent with its surroundings’ = ‘what I say it is’.
Biggest laugh of the evening was provided by Deputy Brouard who claimed that ‘a good architect’ could create a building that would blend in with a Fisherman’s cottage, a Farmhouse, a Georgian Town House and a 1960s bungalow….talking of which I’ve seen another one go up recently – these are the real ‘eyesores’ – who builds 1960s houses in 2010? Sadly, plenty…..
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The architects and developers seem to have succeeded in moving the goal posts on the debate about modern architecture being introduced into traditional surroundings/conservation areas into a debate on modern architecture being appropriate anywere and won the match.Congradulations to them for this manipulation of public opinion.
Maybe its time to update the postcard view of the town being sold to tourists to include the house on Clifton now its been there for half a decade and act like we are proud of it.
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