Why does this make me feel so depressed?

[Nigel Watts]

http://www.homebuilding.co.uk/awards

 

[Nigel Watts]

The navigation on the site is very poor. You need this page as a starting point id you want to look at details or comment:

http://www.homebuilding.co.uk/awards/2010-awards-shortlist

The classical building is particularly ghastly.

 

[Tom]

It's possible it makes you feel depressed because you're so passionate about what you see as a 'nice' house that you dislike as passionately what others see as 'nice'. It's never going to be possible for us all to like the same thing. This is why there is often discord on this forum (in recent times mostly aimed at me). Sometimes this is caused by what some see as blatant disregard for properties. Sometimes it's caused by incorrect second-hand information being passed around (as in my case). Either way, you will never be satisfied with what happens with property; and that includes what happens all around the world. It's the same with animal cruelty, child poverty, the slave trade etc etc. As sad as it is, there is nothing we can do about it*. So, you have a choice. Either, take it all on board, depress yourself even further and have it dampen your enthusiasm for what you enjoy. Or, concentrate your energy on things you can have an impact on, enjoy your life and be happy. It's a cruel choice; a bit like putting your head in the proverbial sand but, honestly, I don't know what else we can do when faced with things we feel uncomfortable with.


*Yes, we can donate money, try to educate etc etc but, in reality, we will only ever be able to reduce the incidences/impact. No amount of money will ever fully address some issues.

 

[CatherineB]

Or it depresses you because these people have finished their houses?!

 

[Tom]

Or it depresses you because these people have finished their houses?!

Good point, CatherineB :lol:

 

[Nigel Watts]

I find most of these prize-winning projects pretty horrid. The depressing thing is the thought that most people probably think they are wonderful.

 

[Tom]

The only one that really grabs my attention is Philpott House but I suspect that has a lot more to do with the setting than the house itself.

 

[Jill]

I find most of these prize-winning projects pretty horrid. The depressing thing is the thought that most people probably think they are wonderful.

At a quick glance I actually like most of them, only the kitchen extenison on the victorian house looks odd. Nigel we all have different tastes. What do you think the people on that Forum would make of your elaborate painting and curtains. You like your style, other people have there own, none of us are wrong and it isn't something to get depressed about, there are more important things in life than what somebody else has done to their house.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Oh Nigel, I think they're all pretty ghastly as well, and am equally depressed.

I just think design decisions are made, all over the country, by people who have non existent knowledge of the grammar of taste, and those of us who need beauty in our lives have to suffer the hideous visual result of their misguided experimentation.

 

[Pford75]

'the tin shed' seems fairly attractive to me....but I've never really felt that my opinion on these matters is relevant. As others have said....many people would dislike some of the things we have all done to our houses and I'm not arrogant enough to see myself as a universal arbiter of taste.

 

[Tom]

'the tin shed' seems fairly attractive to me....but I've never really felt that my opinion on these matters is relevant. As others have said....many people would dislike some of the things we have all done to our houses and I'm not arrogant enough to see myself as a universal arbiter of taste.

Here, here!!

 

[Nigel Watts]

I like the tin shed too but that didnt make it to the final list of prizes.

The points you make about taste are very valid, but these competitions are making such judgments and will no doubt set examples others will wish to follow.

A more positive thing to do perhaps is find an example of awards one has more sympathy for.

 

[Tom]

....The points you make about taste are very valid, but these competitions are making such judgments and will no doubt set examples others will wish to follow....

Quite possibly, but isn't that how houses have evolved over the centuries? Whilst we may not agree with the latest styles or designs, it does at least mean that we have a choice in the type of house we live in. Further, it means that some people are willing to pay a premium to live in a particular type of house. Whilst there are people out there building state of the art houses, there are also people searching to buy houses of other periods. Neither of these would be possible if all the style of houses remained the same.

It may actually be a good thing that people are allowed to build new state of the art houses because, if that's what they desire, it surely must be better than allowing them to alter period houses to suit their modern taste?

 

[Nigel Watts]

I don't object to modern architecture or, within certain limits, to innovative adaptations of old buildings. These awards were for self-builders and seemed to be more about the scale of their achievement than the aesthetic quality of the result.

Each person may have their own taste but I dont agree with the subjectivist extension of this argument that anything goes and everything is equally valid.

Take the classical house. The best that can be said of it is that it is within the tradition of a certain brand of nouveau-riche classicism, such as one might see in St George's Hill in Weybridge, The Bishop's Avenue in Highgate or certain parts of Cheshire. Such buildings have all kinds architypical classical features applied to them but show no understanding of proportion and detailing. Classical architecture, like grammar, has rules. Rules can sometimes be broken or even reshaped with great poetic effect by great architects, but in the vast majority of cases the rules are breached through ignorance and the result is crude and incoherent.

 

[JoceAndChris]

I think that's very well put Nigel. Respect ought to be paid to rules of proportion, harmony, and coherence of design - that has nothing to do with taste at all, but everything to do with more knowledgeable builders of the past.

And I wonder if some of the posters, above, would like it if, for example, I bought a plot of land within view of their properties and built a giant silver Pyramid house with illuminated flashing palm trees all around a bright pink drive. There should be limitations.

 

[Tom]

.....Each person may have their own taste but I dont agree with the subjectivist extension of this argument that anything goes and everything is equally valid.....

I'm sure many people have thought like this throughout history. This is what causes people to fight for what they think is 'right'. But it's unfortunate, for people who care enough, that change thoughout history is inevitable. For others, who embrace change, it's a great thing.

As another example, I hate the way some people speak these days. Even people who read the news, who at one time had to speak the Queen's English or they wouldn't have got the job, can't pronounce simple words properly. It grates on my nerves every time I hear it! Similarly, I hate how people say things like "It got more bigger" but, apparently, that's perfectly acceptable in schools nowadays :shock: For others, it's a perfectly acceptable way to speak and, no doubt, will become the norm very soon. It's the parents choice whether or not to allow their children to speak like that and, whilst it doesn't mean that it's an equally valid way to speak, there's bu**er all we can do about it

 

[worms]

I hate the way some people speak these days. Even people ... who at one time had to speak the Queen's English

Did you see Camilla on the news describing the engagement as "Wicked"? :roll:

 

[Nigel Watts]

Of course values change but at given points in time we all take stands on all kinds of issues and it would be very odd if we didn't. The vast majority of people's views today on women's rights and the abuse of children, for example, are very different from those of the ancient Greeks but few, I think, will be seized with doubt on such matters when pondering our cultural relativism.

Architecture hardly ranks so highly but being a public art which affects everyone certain standards of behaviour and respect are called for. Planning laws require us to respect the past and can also accommodate innovation and new ideas. Bullying and crass bad behaviour however need to be discouraged in this as in other walks of life.

 

[Tom]

Of course values change but at given points in time we all take stands on all kinds of issues and it would be very odd if we didn't. The vast majority of people's views today on women's rights and the abuse of children, for example, are very different from those of the ancient Greeks but few, I think, will be seized with doubt on such matters when pondering our cultural relativism.

Architecture hardly ranks so highly but being a public art which affects everyone certain standards of behaviour and respect are called for. Planning laws require us to respect the past and can also accommodate innovation and new ideas. Bullying and crass bad behaviour however need to be discouraged in this as in other walks of life.

But how would you achieve that without dictatorialism? Discouraging something will make a certain percentage of the population want to do it all the more. And the more they do it, the more will follow, as it becomes 'fashion'. The only logical next step is to make it illegal, as with anti-social behaviour. But how on earth would you make it Law that no one can build an 'ugly' house? If no one is harmed and no one has died, what's really wrong with someone building a house someone else doesn't like?