2024-05-03T12:18:28-04:00 https://archinect.com/news/article/150118782/can-the-government-really-tell-us-what-s-beautiful-the-uk-government-attempts-to-put-beauty-first-in-order-to-solve-building-issues Katherine Guimapang 2019-01-28T09:15:00-05:00 >2019-01-27T16:01:38-05:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/06/0688c95b04b5a6889e427c3ae87eb043.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><em><p>The UK government thinks it has got to the heart of the housing crisis: the problem is, new homes just aren&rsquo;t beautiful enough. &ldquo;Build beautifully and get permission,&rdquo; says the housing minister, Kit Malthouse. &ldquo;Build beautifully and communities will actually welcome developers, rather than drive them out of town at the tip of a pitchfork.&rdquo;</p></em><br /><br /><p>According to housing minister, Kit Malthouse, the key to solving the housing crisis in the <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/3035/uk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">UK</a> is &ldquo;putting beauty at the heart of our housing and communities policy.&rdquo; On November 3, 2018, the initiative to champion beauty when building better homes was announced through the "Building Better, Building Beautiful" Commission. What was thought to initiate a progressive interrogation of how beauty within the built environment would solve problems turned into a "parody of Victorian mores" as parliament debated.&nbsp;</p> <p>Examples of <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/2898/government" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">government</a> dabbling in notions of "what is beautiful, progressive, and architecturally mesmerizing" can be found throughout history. Building quality has decreased over time while monopolies over land and project developments have increased. Rightfully addressed by many it's quite easy to use these government initiatives as distractions from the real issues at hand. Although <em>the Guardian</em> article references the housing crisis in the UK, issues of government influence in ...</p>