The “Catastrophe” of Boring Modern Architecture

I totally get this book, I totally get Thomas Heatherwick – I’m also a non-architect designer and builder who happens to own an architecture practice. When you're outside the walled city of architecture, it's hard to find your way in. If you're inside the walled city, you know that outside there are mythical treasures, but it's not safe to be outside the walls.

Heatherwick has helped me understand the constrained world of architects and their bizarre indoctrination that empowers them to follow each other like lemmings while simultaneously patting each other on the back and making themselves feel good about what they’re doing.

In my own practice, Ballast Point, I am continually frustrated by the lack of ability to divert from the well-trodden modernist path and take some risks to create the exceptional.

Heatherwick argues that design should prioritise human needs and emotions rather than purely functional or aesthetic concerns. Buildings and spaces should create connections between people and foster a sense of belonging. I don’t see any evidence that this is a focus of most architects.

I posted on LinkedIn: 'In his book Humanise, Thomas Heatherwick describes Modernism as a human catastrophe. I love this book. If anyone in #architecture would like to discuss the topics, I'd love to invite you onto my podcast Buildipedia.'

No architect has responded so far.

Heatherwick’s office also declined my request to chat.

If you're interested in discussing these topics further on the podcast, feel free to get in touch!