Comments on: On Facadism

By: John McHale

John McHale — Sat, 30 Nov 2019 17:41:56 +0000

This whole practice is a criminal application of the subversive technique of repurposing [le détournement] first given theoretical expression by avant-garde artistic groups in Paris throughout the 1950s. According to these Letterist and Situationist groups, language and urban space could be endlessly re-used, re-directed, deflected, re-contextualized, re-configured and re-ordered away from the purposes for which they were originally intended in order to unlock their emancipatory potential. Via a slew of particularly insidious architectural sleights of hand, facadism ensures that nothing much changes, that the market stays in charge and that the iron heel of economic exploitation gets one upgraded boost after the other.

By: Ozymandias

Ozymandias — Sun, 03 Jun 2018 14:07:52 +0000

PA/18/01285/NC | Request for an Environmental Impact Assessment ….. for a commercial development comprising up to 50,000 sqm GEA (gross external area) of office (Class B1), retail (Class A1-A5), non-residential institution (Class D1) …… The proposed development area will be across 19 storeys and two basement levels. The application includes demolition of some buildings currently on the site with the intention to retain sections of the existing building facades along Whitechapel High Street and Commercial Street, r…….| 2-6 Commercial Street, 98-105 Whitechapel High and Canon Barnettt Primary School

By: Marcia Howard

Marcia Howard — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 20:58:30 +0000

Parts of this post and images are so depressing. There is some wonderful ‘new’ architecture in London, but retaining some of these facades like this is farcical and an insult. The blame has to lie in the Local Authorities planning departments and Developers ignorance and greed. There are many good Architects who must cringe at what is happening on their doorsteps, but who trying to make a living is going to turn down a lucrative assignment. It’s enough to make this non-drinker take to the bottle!

By: the gentle author

the gentle author — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 17:01:10 +0000

In reply to sberris. The current issue of Architectural Review has some successful examples of architects working to reconfigure old buildings in sympathetic and imaginative ways.

By: sberris

sberris — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 16:11:20 +0000

All praise to you and to The Architectural Review for publicising this dreadful pervasive blight. Perhaps , as well as continuing to campaign, you could post some innovative and pleasing examples of recent commercial and social architecture to cheer us up.

Perhaps a street poster campaign of before and after images would spread the message – a task for Alan Sugar’s apprentices?

By: Peter Holford

Peter Holford — Mon, 01 Jan 2018 21:14:40 +0000

It’s the blatant dishonesty of the developers and the gullibility of the planning authorities that beggars belief. The facade is often kept simply to persuade the planners that the ‘brilliant’ new building can proceed because it is hidden behind that facade. Johnson, the wrecker, should be locked in the Tower.

By: Andrew Boddington

Andrew Boddington — Mon, 01 Jan 2018 21:13:40 +0000

Facadism was a battle fought in the 70s and 80s, and so it underlines the bad practice even more that is has returned. To all writers and those contributing to the arguments: dig out the arguments used then, for they are still as valid. Although some of those involved have died, there are still many experienced writers and fighters alive. Councils, government, developers and architects are more cynical and slick than then, so there is much to be done to make the public aware and what is going on.

By: Sheila Crowson

Sheila Crowson — Mon, 01 Jan 2018 11:50:52 +0000

Some people know the price of everything but the value of nothing! Money talks loudest, doesn’t it?

By: Michael Harkins

Michael Harkins — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 19:20:57 +0000

The disparate architectural elements are jarring to the eye and an affront to one’s aesthetic sensibilities.

One does not know whether to laugh or weep.

Simply disgraceful, this is…

By: Carolyn Dugdale

Carolyn Dugdale — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 17:45:57 +0000

Thank you GA for sharing this article. I have been troubled for some years by the disgraceful activities of investor/developers – aided and abetted by the Mayor of London and local councils – in despoiling and degrading the London streetscape. This valuable article identifies some truly egregious examples of the absolute disregard for any sense of civic responsibility – let alone aesthetic considerations – which holds sway over the whole of Greater London now. Each is a block in a wall of ugliness inflicted on Londoners who no longer seem to have any meaningful say in what happens to their streets and to their public spaces. I would be interested to know if there are any organisations or groups trying to fight against this and – if there are – to find out how to support them.