We’re just replacing ugly with bland
DEAR Editor, When I saw your article about future building projects in Birmingham ‘The Shape of Things To Come’ ( Post, January 4) I couldn’t help thinking, yet again we are replacing Brutist with bland.
Have the architects only got sheets of squared paper used in maths lessons for their inspiration? We seem to have a choice of tall, very tall or not-so-tall oblongs!
I don’t really agree with the “Brutiful” gang – some concrete architecture had merit but most of the grey, morbid blocks and underpasses of the 1960s and 70s will not be missed.
However, we do seem to be replacing ugly with bland. Is it because most development is now purely commercial with no civic plan for public space architecture? Most buildings are now offices and apartments.
One thing that I notice with apartments/ student flats is how close they are to the pavement and road side. You could knock on the windows of some of them as you walk past.
They must be quite noisy and polluted, especially the ones along main roads.