House Architecture?
Discussion
Why is the architecture of British housing so dull? If I go and look at a new build estate I pretty much know what I'm going to see before I turn up and it's not very inspiring.
I've come up with 3 possible causes.
A) The buying public have very conservative taste, deviate from the norm and the property is going to be very difficult to sell.
I posted this 1960s house (Citroen SM in one of the pics) and the views posted were pretty negative.
The 1960s house as an alternative to a 1930s semi or a new 'executive' property I didn't think it was that bad!
B Planning permission is very difficult on anything outside the norm so it's not worth the trouble unless you are both determined and rich enough to fight the battle. Rowan Atkinson is struggling to get permission for a house he wants to build.
http://swns.com/rowan-atkinson-riles-neighbours-ov...
C It's much more expensive to build something unusual so they aren't popular on a value front to most buyers when compared to more typical properties.
Any house builders/architects want to give me the inside view?
I've come up with 3 possible causes.
A) The buying public have very conservative taste, deviate from the norm and the property is going to be very difficult to sell.
I posted this 1960s house (Citroen SM in one of the pics) and the views posted were pretty negative.
The 1960s house as an alternative to a 1930s semi or a new 'executive' property I didn't think it was that bad!
B Planning permission is very difficult on anything outside the norm so it's not worth the trouble unless you are both determined and rich enough to fight the battle. Rowan Atkinson is struggling to get permission for a house he wants to build.
http://swns.com/rowan-atkinson-riles-neighbours-ov...
C It's much more expensive to build something unusual so they aren't popular on a value front to most buyers when compared to more typical properties.
Any house builders/architects want to give me the inside view?
Edited by Fittster on Friday 16th July 12:56
Fittster said:
I posted this 1960s house (Citroen SM in one of the pics) and the views posted were pretty negative.
The 1960s house as an alternative to a 1930s semi or a new 'executive' property I didn't think it was that bad!
That looks like council accommodation. OK, it was 'architect designed' but the design looks old.The 1960s house as an alternative to a 1930s semi or a new 'executive' property I didn't think it was that bad!
People (and planners) want pitched roofs and brick construction as that is what they're used to. Depart much from this and the build cost goes up, so developers won't be interested.
The big house builders have various types of houses/ bungalows on their Pcs.
Its a simple drop & drag when it come to site layouts.
Every house type will be costed right down to the last light bulb!
Thats why all these new estates are the same.
Going outside conventional planning like RW is against policy! Simples.
Was it Jamie Redknapp that has just been kicked into touch recently for his Teletubbies ECO home?
Just because you have money doesn't give you the right to build what you want where you want!
I'm sure TESCOS have more money than them 2 put together and they struggle for years!
However, yes I agree, there is a lack of design on most new build projects that Wimpey/ Permissons etc propose!
Its a simple drop & drag when it come to site layouts.
Every house type will be costed right down to the last light bulb!
Thats why all these new estates are the same.
Going outside conventional planning like RW is against policy! Simples.
Was it Jamie Redknapp that has just been kicked into touch recently for his Teletubbies ECO home?
Just because you have money doesn't give you the right to build what you want where you want!
I'm sure TESCOS have more money than them 2 put together and they struggle for years!
However, yes I agree, there is a lack of design on most new build projects that Wimpey/ Permissons etc propose!
rsv gone! said:
Fittster said:
I posted this 1960s house (Citroen SM in one of the pics) and the views posted were pretty negative.
The 1960s house as an alternative to a 1930s semi or a new 'executive' property I didn't think it was that bad!
That looks like council accommodation. OK, it was 'architect designed' but the design looks old.The 1960s house as an alternative to a 1930s semi or a new 'executive' property I didn't think it was that bad!
I can buy lots of different styles of cars, clothes, gadgets but when it comes to the biggest purchase most of us will ever make there isn't a huge range of designs available.
Is it much better in the denser parts of Europe though?
I also think parts of the house-building industry over here are still in the '30, only sans-flair (think art deco).
Also, the quality of the builds in the UK is, imo, shocking.
Then there's Building Regs.
I think Mr Bean's proposal doesn't look too bad, but I wonder how it will wear, 20yrs down the road. I've seen some buildings which look great when new, but dreadful years on.
I also think parts of the house-building industry over here are still in the '30, only sans-flair (think art deco).
Also, the quality of the builds in the UK is, imo, shocking.
Then there's Building Regs.
I think Mr Bean's proposal doesn't look too bad, but I wonder how it will wear, 20yrs down the road. I've seen some buildings which look great when new, but dreadful years on.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/propertynews/7...
Even when you try and do something inspirational and exciting the NIMBYs get all arsey
Even when you try and do something inspirational and exciting the NIMBYs get all arsey
The planning system is abysmal, the government aren't interested in promoting good architecture, the large part of the population think that good design is what they do on Changing Rooms and think that real architects cost too much. On top of that, we have a NIMBY culture (coddled by the planning system) and big developers know that you don't loose orders by playing safe.
Just found an ace website for modern properties for sale in the UK.
http://www.themodernhouse.net/tmh/
http://www.themodernhouse.net/tmh/
You've pretty much got it with your original list.
a) For the same reason that you see several hundred Eurobox repmobiles for every really interesting car on the roads. People (and housebuilders) like to play it safe, particularly with something that reprsents such a massive investment for most people.
b) Planners often aren't brave enough to support more adventurous design, and Planning committees are usually populated by the lowest form of lowest common denominator, in the form of interfering busy-bodies with little or no architectural training.
c) When it comes to large-scale housebuilding, in particular, design is very cost-sensitive and there is a huge difference between the cost of standard components and solutions, and bespoke ones.
a) For the same reason that you see several hundred Eurobox repmobiles for every really interesting car on the roads. People (and housebuilders) like to play it safe, particularly with something that reprsents such a massive investment for most people.
b) Planners often aren't brave enough to support more adventurous design, and Planning committees are usually populated by the lowest form of lowest common denominator, in the form of interfering busy-bodies with little or no architectural training.
c) When it comes to large-scale housebuilding, in particular, design is very cost-sensitive and there is a huge difference between the cost of standard components and solutions, and bespoke ones.
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