From Alex King’s blog, which is linked below. I think it riffs off the blog that riffs off Dwell.

Here is an interesting rant from the architect Alex King:

I like what [James Howard] Kunstler says about ‘the new urbanism’ in his TED talk but think that part of the problem is not just with architects not appreciating the past but planners procrastinating until the project “falls out of bed.” I attach an image board of a scheme [see below] that we have spent eight months trying to get through planning and in the end the elderly Client will probably just walk away. Then the site will be sold to a developer and as there are 5 very tall buildings in close proximity, the developer will try to maximize the profit on the site by going up.

Our design might not be the best design in the world, [but] it is very low key and, yes, we have tried to introduce what Kunstler calls “nature band-aids” as the planners would not accept our offer of planting trees along the street edge as it might ruin sight-lines for cars. But at least we maintain the historic scale within one urban block and the little courtyard – with existing tree retained – which gives some respite from the hard concrete facades along the street.

It is not a design likely to get the architect’s name published in a magazine and it doesn’t scream “look at me, I’m exciting,” and yet 8 months and no decision when the legal period should be 8 weeks! I think that there could be a good post written  about how the planning process does not necessarily deliver a well-balanced human environment, but through procrastination encourages maximum profit options as perseverance will be linked to how much the developer has to gain.

You’ve got it, Alex! And here, readers, is a link to a short column Alex sent from his blog a while back that I wanted to post and now have done so. Then at the bottom of that post follow the link to his “The Naked Architect” post. Very stimulating!

Here is the image board Alex refers to above. Alas, it is worse than hopeless. Not only is it a pdf but when you finally open it, it is sideways. Still, here it is. I am asking Alex to send me a “not pdf” version, which I will add on when it comes in.

belmont more visuals