Decline in the importance of urban aesthetics.
By alokn99
@alokn99 (5717)
India
August 24, 2008 5:20am CST
I do agree that aesthetics is a philosopical notion of beauty and is subject to personal interpretation.
At the same time I do strongly get the impression that there is a decline in the importance or value given to urban aesthetics while assessing the present status and development in my community with respect to the buildings, the surroundings, the landscaping , the visual pollution and of course the overall planning and maintenance.
This may not hold true for everyone and each may wish to interpret it differently and according to thier sensibilities and experiences with thier urban surroundings.
Please share your thoughts.
1 person likes this
2 responses
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
28 Aug 08
The challenge is not just ensuring feasible and cost effective development; it is in also trying to promote a sense of community and an ownership of what is beyond a person's private residence. Back in my home country I used to see park after park after park with absolutely NO people in them whatsoever. And to be honest it used to make me sad. You don't just whack in a basic park because the council covenants state that there must be XYZ open areas per square whatever..... You should build a park to encourage community activity. Same goes with maintenance etc of an estate. Home owners are charged for the upkeep of the surrounding area yet how many of them actually feel a sense of ownership of anything outside their properties? There needs to be a much smaller focus on maximizing profits by squeezing the largest number of properties and the smallest number of services/amenities by law onto packages of land; and a far stronger focus on livability and community engagement as a whole. Would this not encourage higher pricing anyway? I would pay more to live in a location with a community spirit and feel rather than less to exist in a basic environment with no character!
1 person likes this
@alokn99 (5717)
• India
28 Aug 08
James, You have expressed your viewpoint from the other perspective and i really appreciate it. It's precisely why i mentioned at the time of starting the discussion that it's subject to a personal interpretation. I am in agreement here, especially on the community spirit.
Having said this, I did read in one of your posts that you stayed in Bombay for some time. So having this perspective at one end and your home country at the other, would you not agree with my concerns ?
Thanks
1 person likes this
@alokn99 (5717)
• India
28 Aug 08
The relevance was always there. You've now hit it from all the perspectives. The Rome example is a great one. Although I have not been there have read,seen images and have also heard a lot about from friends who have visited it.
Thanks again.Really appreciate it
1 person likes this
@James72 (26790)
• Australia
28 Aug 08
Maybe I missed your base point as well so let me state my opinion further from a Bombay experience perspective..... Firstly, a place like Mumbai has a varying number of cultural inputs that have shaped it into what it is today. You have the British waltzing in and erecting monuments and buildings all over the place with no real concern for future growth at all. Then you have the British removing themselves and the locals moving to make their lives as comfortable and efficient as they can using someone elses foundations. The end result is that Mumbai is arguably a nightmare from a sustainable and future development perspective. For example, they have now had to resort to a road built on a bridge OUTSIDE of the land available and are doing it at great expense in the Arabian Sea! Yet there are other regions or cities that have masterfully found a way to blend the old with the new such as Rome. Rome in my opinion is a wonderful example of development that has been undertaken with a strong conscience behind it.
The issue is that covenants ensure that certain guidelines are indeed followed; (such as no building in Washington DC being allowed to be taller than the Capitol Building) yet there is little or no restrictions on creativity. The end result is zealous designers and architects wishing to make their mark by coming up with more and more unique buildings that make a statement rather than blend in with what is already there around them. You can however ALSO argue that this is actually a good thing because it inspires individuality in a city rather than uniformity. Have you ever seen those housing estates where each and every property is almost a mirror image of each other? Is THIS a better way to approach it?
I HOPE I have been a little more directly relevant to the context of your topic this time! lol.
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
27 Aug 08
This is so pertinent. I wonder how this is without any response! Declining urban taste?
Alok, even I have been noticing this. The whole urban scenario is designed as to cater to the changing human mind which is so full of concretes and cement, little or no values and little emotions! Most of the big 5 star hotels look like petrol pump stations from Mars!! Little green, little beauty and little empathy. All full of mechanical show. A perfect robotic excellence and less of soft touch of human hands!
And also, its alarming how the high rises are architechtured with precision. Most of which are glass and like a stanalone colored, transparent pillars. Can you imagine how those are affecting global warming! All glass structures which trapping in more heat and light ending up consuming more power to heat or cool the insides!! No windows, no extensions, no openings!
Where are we heading alok? Beauty in the name of urban aesthetics is certainly declining!
Sorry for the rant! Hope you understand.
1 person likes this
@alokn99 (5717)
• India
27 Aug 08
No it's not a rant Mimpi. I certainly undertand the strong feelings behind this subject. It's also partly to do with my long experience in this field and my understanding of it. I totally agree with what you have expressed and further feel that the way we even maintain or care about the spaces around us is deteriorating, whether it be buildings of historical value or the broken glasses ,tainted and faded paint of the buldings,and the condition of the green spaces around us.
It sure is an extremely sorry state.
Thanks for the great response
@mimpi1911 (25464)
• India
28 Aug 08
It feels so sad to see the heritage buildings being pulled down! And that also in the name of civilisation. No space to breathe, no parks, no breathers!
The urban architecture today reflects what we are becoming largely - heartless and robotic!
