Traditionalist lunatics have succeeded in taking over the asylum. Reactionary ideas hostile to the cosmopolitan, to Modernism, to modernity itself, are in the ascendant. — The Art Newspaper
The UK is one of many countries currently besieged by a right-wing movement to force parochial worldviews onto society via their integration into the built environment. The race-baiting views about architecture and city planning have extended into draconian laws punishing those caught defacing public monuments (although recently some have been more fortunate) in an echo of similar controversies including Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s appointments to the British Museum and BBC, which is now under pressure by conservatives to once again play the national anthem on a daily basis.
Bevan traced the popular movement from America to France and back again, stating that it has roots in the design fundamentals championed by Prince Charles for sometime.
“Traditionalist city-making ideas have been brewing for some time, now pushed by right-wing think-tanks such as the Policy Exchange and Legatum Institute, who are hostile to both public housing and fetters on the market, and whose adherents are now in government. Policy Exchange reports inspired the government’s Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission, headed by the late Sir Roger that pushed a traditionalist architectural agenda. Among the outcomes are proposed design codes for areas that would make it hard for council planners to resist developers who tick the codes’ boxes. A key figure is Scruton acolyte Nicholas Boys Smith, a former financier and adviser to former UK Prime Minister David Cameron, who succeeded Scruton at the Building Better Commission. He set up Create Streets, which champions traditional city-making, and is now an Historic England commissioner as well as heading up the government’s new Office for Place.”
9 Comments
"cuntries" haha spell check that! but also keep it i like the pun
"Traditionalist city-making ideas have been brewing for some time...."
For ten thousand years, give or take. Minus the last 150.
Yes, when I look at traditional architecture I see racists, nationalists, and little devils holding traditional pitch forks. The philosopher king as a neo-puritan...
how avant-guarde!
...right on time.
Happy New Year Sneaky! Missed your insightful commentary :-{)
Last I checked sarcastic straw men were still straw men. Physician, heal thyself!
The people who choose to live in historic urban neighborhoods tend not to hold "Reactionary ideas hostile to the cosmopolitan",
See: "Gentrification"
Oh they most certainly do. Have you ever been to a neighborhood meeting about any building proposed anywhere?
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