grammaticus replies to Jonathan Meades article in the Guardian:
Architects make buildings which are conceived in terms of flow and movement, for all that they are static entities. Buildings have a hydraulic quality to them, so many sluices and locks and dams regulating the flood that will purify the city. All architects are, in the end, spatial hygienists, impatient of the squats and shanty towns and cardboard cities of the mind.” http://anatomyofnorbiton.org/anatomy_pages/architectural.php#resupportingwall
—
We found it more interesting reading the comments to the article than the article itself. Meades writes strongly to sensationalize or make a point, but it doesn’t mean it’s all that balanced or accurate an account. It seems Mr. Meade views urban design, landscape architecture, public realm and place-making as being the role of architects - this is only sometimes the case (even then, he doesn’t take into account the complicated relationship between an architect and his client, the developer: rightly or wrongly, the one with the money usually has more of a say).
Jonathan Meades: Architects are the last people who should shape our cities.
via The Guardian
