We made this "Scrutonesque" piece for a series I presented on Italian TV called Sense of Beauty back in 2017, but it never made the final cut. I always thought it was rather good, so I persuaded the director to give me the footage - and here it is. Some food for thought on a contemplative Sunday morning.
I read an article in The Guarfian, last week, defending Brutalism. It's a left wing mental ilness, a reflexive hatred of anything that has a sense of place, history or local culture.
Badly deployed private money is bad enough, but for me, the greatest crimes of all, were committed by our political class, how they spent our money, shaped our dystopian society, whilst enriching themselves.
Straight after the war, the "Homes For Heroes" rebuilding programs, actually not only started with good intentions, they erected some quality houses, flats & communal areas - many of them still desirable today.
Sadly, it didn't last long, before housing programmes were hijacked by politicians & shed loads of bribery and corruption (do not underestimate the role this played in our concrete future slums - lots of money sloshing around - same old story).
The councils (certainly up here in Glasgow), are in the process of destroying the worst evidence e.g. Red Road Flats. I even remember when I was a boy, we would pass through Darnley (late 70s) where Glasgow City Council had been building a large flatted development, decided to demolish the last phase - which was 80% complete - i.e. STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION!
UNFORGIVABLE waste! Now we just have to pay the debt & make do with what could have been a lot better.
I feel there is a reciprocal relationship between people and the architecture of their environment. Just look at the old Soviet blocks, and the misery writ large on the faces of those forced to live there.
I read an article in The Guarfian, last week, defending Brutalism. It's a left wing mental ilness, a reflexive hatred of anything that has a sense of place, history or local culture.
Like it...here is Roger in a nightclub in Swindon ( mine and my father's to be
transparent...) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1ocZe8GysQ&t=865s
Very thoughtful. Thank you, Dominic!
Succinct, but so true.
Badly deployed private money is bad enough, but for me, the greatest crimes of all, were committed by our political class, how they spent our money, shaped our dystopian society, whilst enriching themselves.
Straight after the war, the "Homes For Heroes" rebuilding programs, actually not only started with good intentions, they erected some quality houses, flats & communal areas - many of them still desirable today.
Sadly, it didn't last long, before housing programmes were hijacked by politicians & shed loads of bribery and corruption (do not underestimate the role this played in our concrete future slums - lots of money sloshing around - same old story).
The councils (certainly up here in Glasgow), are in the process of destroying the worst evidence e.g. Red Road Flats. I even remember when I was a boy, we would pass through Darnley (late 70s) where Glasgow City Council had been building a large flatted development, decided to demolish the last phase - which was 80% complete - i.e. STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION!
UNFORGIVABLE waste! Now we just have to pay the debt & make do with what could have been a lot better.
I feel there is a reciprocal relationship between people and the architecture of their environment. Just look at the old Soviet blocks, and the misery writ large on the faces of those forced to live there.