The properties of reinforced concrete presumably play a part. And the desire of architects to become starchitects. Plus the general Marxist hatred of mankind.
The world population is now estimated to be 8.3 billion, at an average density of 56 people per square kilometer. Back in 1804 when the fine buildings and so on were built the population was 1 billion and the density 7 people per square kilometer.
It is foolish to think the two times are comparable. We might yearn for the beauty of times long gone (only two centuries!) but I guess today's heaving crowds are not prepared to pay for it or wait for it.
I don't hold with any plans to reduce the size of populations by force, but I do wonder if the decrease in fertility rate (all continents except Africa) may not be a course correction to be welcomed.
dearieme - yes - "What can we do cheaply in concrete which the planners will accept?" For many modern buildings, it's not easy to accept that architects were involved at all, creativity isn't there.
DJ - maybe denser populations and collective politics together have had an effect on behaviour towards aesthetic display, not only architecture. We see what may be related behaviour in the arts, but also in the way we seem to accept uninteresting uniformity in many areas of life.
dearieme - I find ugly female voices can be a problem with YouTube. They can be modified artificially these days and in some cases that would be a good idea.
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The properties of reinforced concrete presumably play a part. And the desire of architects to become starchitects. Plus the general Marxist hatred of mankind.
The world population is now estimated to be 8.3 billion, at an average density of 56 people per square kilometer. Back in 1804 when the fine buildings and so on were built the population was 1 billion and the density 7 people per square kilometer.
It is foolish to think the two times are comparable. We might yearn for the beauty of times long gone (only two centuries!) but I guess today's heaving crowds are not prepared to pay for it or wait for it.
I don't hold with any plans to reduce the size of populations by force, but I do wonder if the decrease in fertility rate (all continents except Africa) may not be a course correction to be welcomed.
I might add that the first architect I met was colour blind.
I had to abandon the YouTube because the first two women to speak had such ugly voices. Was this intended as irony?
dearieme - yes - "What can we do cheaply in concrete which the planners will accept?" For many modern buildings, it's not easy to accept that architects were involved at all, creativity isn't there.
DJ - maybe denser populations and collective politics together have had an effect on behaviour towards aesthetic display, not only architecture. We see what may be related behaviour in the arts, but also in the way we seem to accept uninteresting uniformity in many areas of life.
dearieme - I find ugly female voices can be a problem with YouTube. They can be modified artificially these days and in some cases that would be a good idea.
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