Historical architecture stolen by The Blitz 1940

[Yorkshire 53]

Dannyno, I accept some misunderstanding of your more knowledgeable points, and I will admit that I am being subjective and basing my opinions on emotion to a large extent. However, you have spurred me on to check further and I came up with the following:-

 

On the distinction between 'Modern' and 'Modernist'. 2blowhards.com is worth a read :

Modern vs. Modernist....' Modern = current or recent , Modernism is an IDEOLOGY' Modernism is also called 'The international style', bearing out my point that it is not a natural progression of British ( or other countries ) accepted and identifiable national styles. Internationalism again being associated with left wing ideology.

 

Lara Fiegel in the Guardian of 11.9.2011. " When Berthold Lubetkin arrived in London in 1931, Classicism prevailed, interrupted by the odd flourish of Art Deco. British architects did use steel and concrete, but covered them over with Portland stone."

"Art Deco sprang up in Britain in the 1920's, but as a decorative style RATHER THAN A TEMPLATE FOR A NEW SOCIETY.*In the 1930's, the white concrete boxes morphed into a more British version of Modernism,clad in brick and timber. For all the lofty dreams of two generations of Utopian architects and planners,much of Britain remained ensconced in earthbound homes,gratefully burrowed in provincial sleep." ( My 'tradition soul' kicking in ? Lubetkin, btw, who "pioneered Modernist design in Britain in the 1930's", studied in Moscow at the time of the Russian revolution and served in the Red Army.)

 

Reading up on Le Corbusier, probably the High Priest of Modernism, I found his earlier, traditional work quite pleasing e.g. Villa Fallet and the Villa Favre-Jacot in Switzerland and the Maison Blanche in France, as they are in those countries traditional, national styles, whilst allowing experimentation with his inner space theories. However, he later progressed to stating "The religion of beautiful materials is in its final death agony." In 1928, he took a major step to establishing Modernist architecture as the DOMINANT European style. He proposed to demolish a large part of central Paris (!) and replace it with a group of 60 story cruciform office towers." This idea SHOCKED most, as it was certainly INTENDED to do."

 

I do like some modern/ist examples. Charles Holden's London Transport architecture being one example ( Arnos Grove tube station etc.), and Thos. Bilbow's Stockwell bus garage, they fit in well. I agree with you that there was 'rubbish' Edwardian building, particularly in lower grade housing, but the majority of all Edwardian buildings have lasted over 100 years now, and still enduring well.

 

I'm coming at this not just from the fact that most ( I agree not all ) Modernist buildings are ugly, but that it is rooted in the Left's internationalist ideology and linked to their failed, or failing, social engineering. As two examples of the saying that 'those who push such policies as this and 'Diversity' usually 'don't live the dream' themselves, the Smithsons' who designed the hideous Robin Hood Gardens in London " didn't give up their Victorian house." , and didn't you say you were still living in an Edwardian terraced house ?

 

My stating 'Soviet republic' instead of 'Socialist' is nit-picking when they actually flew the Red flag from the Town Hall. I also mistakenly said 'of Sheffield' instead 'of South Yorkshire'. Yes, my memory is bad, but I think most would understand my meaning.

[Ridgehill1]

Many fine comments for and against modern and old architecture displayed here and I'm gratified to read them.

One of my main gripes are the planners. Who in their right mind allowed the, to be Chines Centre, tower to overshadow St Mary's Church tower. Whatever happened to symmetry.

[TORONTONY]

Many fine comments for and against modern and old architecture displayed here and I'm gratified to read them.

One of my main gripes are the planners. Who in their right mind allowed the, to be Chines Centre, tower to overshadow St Mary's Church tower. Whatever happened to symmetry.

 

It probably went the way of monetary