Which is why it was so important to establish good design at the heart of the Neighbourhood Plan.
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It is a couple of years ago since we last heard from architect Thomas Heatherwick on Why Boring Buildings Are Bad for Us on BBC Radio 4 – which was in turn covered on these pages suggesting that ‘Boring urban environments cause serious stress’
A lot of research has been done looking at the relationship between architecture and mental health. And indeed, long-term member of the VGS Graham Cooper has been professionally interested in the interplay of nature, health and design, and bringing nature nearer to the patient, as his pages on health care design and hospital design on his website show.
In fact, Graham was the main consultant for the therapeutic garden at Sidmouth Victoria Hospital created a decade ago – as reported when Sidmouth Hospital’s therapeutic garden opened after years of waiting Here’s the original design from Graham of the Victoria Hospital Sidmouth project:
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Graham has just let it be known that there is a new Radio 4 series on Building Soul with Thomas Heatherwick – Rational People Making Irrational Buildings:
Designer Thomas Heatherwick returns with a bold proposition – it’s time to cure the ‘blandemic’. This series isn’t just about what’s gone wrong – it’s about how we fix the modern scourge of soulless urban landscapes. Thomas explores how rethinking building design, reviving craftsmanship and reigniting public passion can transform our cities to bring us together and inject joy into our cities. It’s not just an architectural challenge – Thomas argues it’s a cultural movement.
Graham has also sent in links to people and places included in the programme – with whom he has himself been personally involved in, including the Besançon Art Center and Cité de la Musique in France, designed by Kengo Kuma (whom he worked with in Japan), the fabulous modern but beautiful Edgewood Mews from Peter Barber Architects and the stunning new Kop Stand plans for the football stadium in Wrexham (aka ‘Terracottapolis’, reminiscent of the historic Ruabon red brick from the local area).
In other words, we should not be afraid of ‘modern architecture’ if it is done in such a way as to inspire and to actually improve the spirit of our townscape.
At least Sidmouth has not been landed with the white elephant of £23m luxury flats in Seaton – or of a block of flats in earlier council plans for Port Royal. Which is why it was so important to establish good design at the heart of the Neighbourhood Plan for the Sid Valley…
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