Re: Re: The unique amongst the ubiquitous- The modern house in suburbia

The latest “Global Report on Human Settlements” says that over half the world’s people now live in cities. A recently announcement highlighted this historic change and increased urbanisation of our world. The report came out this week from U.N. Habitat, a United Nations agency.

Unlike most of our European counterparts, however Irish families still seem to prefer their version of the Garden City ideal; the desire to live in low density housing, one/two-storey houses with front and back gardens.

My dissertation, which begun last year as a study on the ubiquity of contemporary housing in Ireland, has since evolved to be more focused on the issue of Irelands rural contemporary housing.

Travelling throughout Ireland and witnessing the homes of flab and ostentation, it is clear we have lost our way. Irelands homes have become closed temples to worldliness, rather than places of intimacy and privacy.

Having researched many issues surrounding this complex topic; The History of our Nation, Irelands complex relationship to the land, Politics, corruption and our Planning Authorities, i am now trying to understand a question which was first risen by Walter Gropius back in 1919 and can be raised again today in the context of housing in Ireland….

Why so ugly? …Is there any architecture today? Are there any architects? …Are not we, who are at the mercy of all-devouring society..that knows no architecture, wants no architecture and therefore needs no architects!
(49) Bauhaus Founder Walter Gropius (1919)

With only 10 to 12 percent of housing in Ireland being designed by architects..what is the reason for the public’s rejection of our profession in creating one of the most valuable assets to any household?:confused: