A few days ago, in “Poundbury a tourist mecca?,” I posted on Sophie Campbell’s brave article in the Telegraph. I applauded a piece written by someone disinclined to like Prince Charles’s idea of a town, but who found it largely irresistible and was honest enough to admit it. Now comes an even more delicious piece, also from a reluctant admirer. It is Oliver Wainwright, who has written “A royal revolution: Is Prince Charles’s model village having the last laugh?” for the Guardian.
But there’s a shocker at the end – hit me right in the solar plexis. Go see what I mean. … Can you believe it? I, for one, cannot. I’m sure Léon Krier can do it. I’m sure a third-grader could do it. But doing so might blow back against the classical revival by helping to undermine traditional architecture’s chief competitive advantage – the thick black line in the public’s mind between traditional and modern architecture? Am I wrong? What do you think?
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About David Brussat
This blog was begun in 2009 as a feature of the Providence Journal, where I was on the editorial board and wrote a weekly column of architecture criticism for three decades. Architecture Here and There fights the style wars for classical architecture and against modern architecture, no holds barred.
History Press asked me to write and in August 2017 published my first book, "Lost Providence." I am now writing my second book.
My freelance writing on architecture and other topics addresses issues of design and culture locally and globally.
I am a member of the board of the New England chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art, which bestowed an Arthur Ross Award on me in 2002.
I work from Providence, R.I., where I live with my wife Victoria, my son Billy and our cat Gato.
If you would like to employ my writing and editing to improve your work, please email me at my consultancy, dbrussat@gmail.com, or call 401.351.0457.
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- Nikos Salingaros, mathematician at the University of Texas, architectural theorist and author of many books.
Architecture Here and There 