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'The Alf Garnett of architecture': Roger Scruton to chair buildings commission 'The Alf Garnett of architecture': Roger Scruton to chair buildings commission
(2 months later)
A philosopher who has criticised modern architecture and some of its leading exponents has been appointed to chair a commission that champions beautiful buildings.A philosopher who has criticised modern architecture and some of its leading exponents has been appointed to chair a commission that champions beautiful buildings.
Roger Scruton, described by the Guardian’s former architecture and design correspondent as “the Alf Garnett of architecture”, has been charged with ensuring new developments are attractive and engage with, as well as reflect, local communities.Roger Scruton, described by the Guardian’s former architecture and design correspondent as “the Alf Garnett of architecture”, has been charged with ensuring new developments are attractive and engage with, as well as reflect, local communities.
Scruton, author of The Classical Vernacular: Architectural Principles in an Age of Nihilism, has criticised Daniel Libeskind, Richard Rogers and Norman Foster, accusing them of building monuments for themselves and indulging in overblown discourse to justify buildings that will be torn down in 20 years’ time.Scruton, author of The Classical Vernacular: Architectural Principles in an Age of Nihilism, has criticised Daniel Libeskind, Richard Rogers and Norman Foster, accusing them of building monuments for themselves and indulging in overblown discourse to justify buildings that will be torn down in 20 years’ time.
Criticising Scruton’s views, former Guardian writer Jonathan Glancey wrote in 2011: “Scruton might like to tour any number of Foster buildings – some 40 years old – that have stood the test of time. Yes, architects may make mistakes, but many contemporary buildings are built just as well and even better than those dating from Scruton’s beloved 18th century, when shoddy workmanship and fast-buck building was common.”Criticising Scruton’s views, former Guardian writer Jonathan Glancey wrote in 2011: “Scruton might like to tour any number of Foster buildings – some 40 years old – that have stood the test of time. Yes, architects may make mistakes, but many contemporary buildings are built just as well and even better than those dating from Scruton’s beloved 18th century, when shoddy workmanship and fast-buck building was common.”
Scruton, who received a knighthood in 2016, has long been a colourful and polarising figure.Scruton, who received a knighthood in 2016, has long been a colourful and polarising figure.
At the height of the Thatcher regime, Scruton worked as professor of philosophy and aesthetics at Birkbeck College in London. During his tenure, he was derided by liberal academia for publishing a volume of essays entitled Thinkers of the New Left. The essays attacked what he saw as the prevailing fundamentalism of his world: the grip of Marxist and post-Marxist thinking within Britain’s universities.At the height of the Thatcher regime, Scruton worked as professor of philosophy and aesthetics at Birkbeck College in London. During his tenure, he was derided by liberal academia for publishing a volume of essays entitled Thinkers of the New Left. The essays attacked what he saw as the prevailing fundamentalism of his world: the grip of Marxist and post-Marxist thinking within Britain’s universities.
A revised version of the book was republished in 2015 and included new targets for criticism such as the late historian Eric Hobsbawm and Slavoj Žižek, the international director of humanities at Birkbeck.A revised version of the book was republished in 2015 and included new targets for criticism such as the late historian Eric Hobsbawm and Slavoj Žižek, the international director of humanities at Birkbeck.
In 2002, Scruton was dropped as a columnist by the Financial Times after leaked emails showed he had offered to place pro-smoking stories in the press for a fee from Japan Tobacco.In 2002, Scruton was dropped as a columnist by the Financial Times after leaked emails showed he had offered to place pro-smoking stories in the press for a fee from Japan Tobacco.
He has authored more than 40 books and is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and the British Academy. In 2016, he was recipient of the Lech Kaczynski Foundation’s medal for courage and integrity.He has authored more than 40 books and is a fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and the British Academy. In 2016, he was recipient of the Lech Kaczynski Foundation’s medal for courage and integrity.
The philosopher and writer will chair the Building Better, Building Beautiful commission, which aims to expand on the ways in which the planning system can encourage and incentivise a greater emphasis on design, style and community consent.The philosopher and writer will chair the Building Better, Building Beautiful commission, which aims to expand on the ways in which the planning system can encourage and incentivise a greater emphasis on design, style and community consent.
The government said the commission will raise the level of debate regarding the importance of beauty in the built environment.The government said the commission will raise the level of debate regarding the importance of beauty in the built environment.
The communities secretary, James Brokenshire, said: “This commission will kick start a debate about the importance of design and style, helping develop practical ways of ensuring new developments gain the consent of communities, helping grow a sense of place, not undermine it.The communities secretary, James Brokenshire, said: “This commission will kick start a debate about the importance of design and style, helping develop practical ways of ensuring new developments gain the consent of communities, helping grow a sense of place, not undermine it.
“This will help deliver desperately needed homes – ultimately building better and beautiful will help us build more.”“This will help deliver desperately needed homes – ultimately building better and beautiful will help us build more.”
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