"... the last decade has witnessed a sharp rise in the number of buildings whose design seems motivated not primarily by any functional goal but by a desire to enhance the status of the cities or countries that have commissioned them. But to imply that this strays from architecture's historical goals is to deny history."
"Although we talk of the "Bilbao effect" - how one remarkable building can change the way in which a city is perceived and boost its economy - there is little evidence to suggest that architecture in the form of a single gesture can really have such restorative powers. Without easyJet, it is far from certain that the small economic gains in Bilbao would be measurable at all. But now every failing town or institution is considering some sort of architectural makeover. A smart new building can have the opposite effect of showing up those areas that are struggling."
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- bill 7-11-2004 5:31 pm
"Although we talk of the "Bilbao effect" - how one remarkable building can change the way in which a city is perceived and boost its economy - there is little evidence to suggest that architecture in the form of a single gesture can really have such restorative powers. Without easyJet, it is far from certain that the small economic gains in Bilbao would be measurable at all. But now every failing town or institution is considering some sort of architectural makeover. A smart new building can have the opposite effect of showing up those areas that are struggling."
- bill 7-12-2004 6:51 pm [add a comment]