Modern architecture ‘needs to be sensitive’
Friday 20th May 2011, 2:29PM BST.
Architect Jamie Falla delivers his talk to a packed Les Cotils last evening. (Picture by Adrian Miller, 1137957)
ARCHITECTURE in the 21st century needs to be creative but sensitive to its environment, according to BasMooarc director Jamie Falla.
Les Cotils was packed for Mr Falla’s talk for the Workers Educational Association.
Mr Falla, who has often been called upon to defend so-called ‘glass-box’ development, used examples of work that his company had done to explain how he thought design should complement lifestyles.
Some people, he said, thought buildings should be constructed to match the past.
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The really sad thing is that Environment’s Planning officers approve these triple-glazed palaces for the well heeled but the hoi polloi are denied their sheds and fences.
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Funny thing about modern architecture is it soon becomes old. But that does not mean the design will age well.
St Paul’s Cathederal has a shocking 60s development right within stones throw. That was seen as acceptable modern design when it was built.
Just because a design is ‘modern’ does not give the right for it to be labeled good design and have the potential to stand time.
There is more to living then being catered for at every whim, if we all did that globally how manay planets would that need?
Sorry but the arguement given in this article for modern design comes over as too ‘self’ orientated and individualistic. Can’t say I feel that there are many examples of ‘sensitive’ modern design in Guernsey.
Design has to work for all, unless you have your own 10 acre site and wont have any impact on anyone else. Roll on a few hundred years (assuming the glass bioxes are still standing) the only place with 10 acres free will be the north pole.
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…whew! Tried to respond sooner to this but couldn’t, as I was in hospital getting my gut mended after busting it whilst laughing so hard at Mr Falla’s comments about modern architecture having to be ‘creative but sensitive to its environment…’
I love old buildings and architecture, but time moves on, and I equally appreciate some of the absolutely stunning, truly inspired modern architecture out there…….
then there’s Mooarc. Every one of their more prolific buildings are glass boxes, every one of them placed in an area where they scream ‘look at ME!’ without a care for the existing buildings or nature of the location they’re in.
Actions speak so much louder than words, Mr Falla, and to my mind, you have Mooarc-ed some lovely areas to death with your unfailing need to crowbar in vast, ticky-TACKY glass boxes, surely the most UNimaginative, UNprogressive stance on design, and something that will date horribly within a very short period of time.
I would seriously love for Mr Falla to practice what he preaches (appropriate pic and location chosen for his talk…) but sadly, as long as people with too much money and no taste are happy to pay for the same tired idea time and time again, he’ll keep ‘re-using’ the same tired template time and time again, whilst he (and his supporters) bang on about how if someone doesn’t like his design, then we don’t like ANY modern design, when the fact is, I truly do….
which is why I don’t like Moorac’s…!
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Yes, it did strike me that they must have been very hard up for a speaker to need Mr Falla lecturing them about architecture ‘sensitive to its environment…’. Not really what he’s best known for, is it?
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Mr Falla is paid, it would appear very well, to not only come up with his various design concepts, but to have sufficient (I can’t distinguish his architecture with empathy for our Island) clout to bring some to fruition.
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