What dreams may come?

As we move forward towards a future where may come, and many new designs are being realised with many talented individuals working hard it is important to understand how far we have moved forwards and also to be aware of areas went we should see as more of a concern. In recent times our society is becoming more design aware. But it is clear that certain buildings of the past are not well made, and some have no architectural merit whatsoever. There is a strange dichotomy in our built environment a build-in inequity and a lack of really good sustainable ideas, recently, some buildings are cheaply made and are not very pleasing to look at, it's subjective but we need to have well-designed spaces, well-thought through and not tired old buildings that serve no purpose. There are far too many examples of unsuitable design that came from a very lax attitude towards the arts, and the result is all the more disturbing because buildings are generally thought to be permanent buildings. How can you have a permanent building that no-one thinks is beautiful? It is clearly unsustainable, the previous eras had art critics such as John Ruskin who was well-educated and tried to solve this problem in his time, and suggest a direction for design, partly based on theories and easy to understand concepts, truth to materials, is as old as time, and yet we don't always find this playing out. Theorists I think have a lot to offer and can provide a basis for a discussion, of concerns that people may have about their environment, also to empower the public and make them more aware of what's going on in our colleges and universities. for instance is it all short-term thinking rather than something more like Architecture?

I have time for all theorists and architects, we need to thresh these ideas out a little more is what I'm arguing, because we are ending up with a very cosmetic and dangerously mediocre townscape. Let's be frank a lot of the decisions that were taken recently have not helped to create a better community and foster a sense of place, many projects are expensive and badly conceived. Theorists such as Rem Koolhaus, Le Corbusier in architecture and William Morris and William Robinson, tried to warn us that the future was going to be quite a different place, a utopia, but could also become quite the reverse if neglected. Looking around the neighbourhood I actually wonder more about the choices we make and how to learn form the mistakes of the past for instance.

There are some green spaces but this blog if anything goes o show that the demand for recreational space and other areas such as community centres is growing now, and was anticipated by Ruskin and Morris as well as Mies and Le Corbusier. People even talked about now in high places. But the ability to design a house or garden doesn't mean we should do that at all costs, it comes with greater responsibility, both to the natural world and our fellow citizens. Whilst I applaud and revere the ability to build it is clear that we must temper that instinct just to create insipid new designs, but rather search for inspired spaces and common ground, where as many people's view are represented as possible. A democracy such as ours demands projects that reflect the interests and aspirations of all it's citizens. And also although modernism is lauded to the skies and virtually sacred to the establishment I can understand that some see them as flawed ideas, undemocratic, and a waste of space as some critics have pondered. In my experience what this comes down to is that in the field of design we are all beginners. We should all be as humble as pie. There are many, many grey areas, and the problem is that people already populate these places, We need to find a way forward, for everyone, for the many not just the elite. (That was my reading, it may sound fairly Marxian but there you go.)

Marx was an idealist and his religion is widely followed today. He studied philosophy, was German and spoke many languages. His work speaks to millions, and his blueprint for a new society has moral conviction, although I don't think it practical as way of life as a way of seeing I think it has validity. The problem with it was the Orwellian nature of the big state, it is also very barbaric to set up as in Russia, because a lot of people fall outside of its high ideals. But as thinkers and workers we should be aware of it, certainly and the effect that this has on our lives is very profound. There are other interesting thinkers, but for now I will try and read more Of the Stones of Venice, by John Ruskin, or Libra Deci by Vitruvius, though I haven't read them in full I am at least aware of them, and the key to understanding such works is to imbibe the knowledge they have to offer and to use it to improve on the past, not simply emulate past mistakes, but to elevate ourselves to an extent and to ameliorate society.

Studying horticulture as I am it is also about seeing as many things as you can, looking a the world from a different angle and trying things out such as composition, but don't worry too much if you haven't heard of these things because, in time you will do well, look at Getrude Jekyll, Ruskin and Morris, time has been kind, they didn't go in for any short-term thinking, yet influenced millions of people. One way was through the medium of writing, so there are also plans in libraries skills one can develop in the painting or pottery studio, I recently read Sue Smith's Gardening for the Well-balanced mind but you might like Coleridge or Keats, or Turner, all of who, are visionary artists.

Overall if you are thinking about studying design in depth please be aware of the importance of the built environment and what it can say about our sense of community, and the connection we have to our planet. I refer you to William Blake's great maxim;

' to see a World in a Grain of Sand and Heaven in a Wild Flower.' 'Amen'

Appendix

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43650/auguries-of-innocence

Which comes from 'Auguries of Innocence' There was a very good exhibition on him recently at Walsall Art Gallery. https://thenewartgallerywalsall.org.uk/

I hope you enjoy this subject as much as I do if not more, and that we can do more to improve our understanding of these themes and dreams anon.