Monotonous and unaesthetic architecture and design

Other Names:

Over-conformity in building design
Unimaginative housing design

Nature:

The structure of a building not only determines the appearance and feeling of it, it also influences the behaviour of people within it, their sense of well-being, or their lack of it. Ill-considered architecture and design can aggravate social tensions, depression and boredom. As a financial asset, buildings have to be readily marketable. Funding cannot be easily be obtained from financial institutions for innovative projects because of the increased element of risk. With high land costs and rising interest rates, the developer wants to get construction, especially housing, completed and sold as quickly as possible. The more uncontroversial their appearance, the speedier the planning authorization is obtained. The trend to conformity is also influenced by the conservatism and lack of architectural sophistication of the general public. People like what they are familiar with. Public greed also has a role in that houses are increasingly a commodity to be traded. Judgements on their appearance, efficiency and comfort are secondary to their potential secondhand value. Pride in good design is not a primary concern.

Broader Problems:

Unimaginative city plan
Insensitive urban renewal
Deterioration of human environment

Narrower Problems:

Monotonous business buildings
Socially sterile rental accommodation

About the Encyclopedia

The Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential is a unique, experimental research work of the Union of International Associations. It is currently published as a searchable online platform with profiles of world problems, action strategies, and human values that are interlinked in novel and innovative ways. These connections are based on a range of relationships such as broader and narrower scope, aggravation, relatedness and more. By concentrating on these links and relationships, the Encyclopedia is uniquely positioned to bring focus to the complex and expansive sphere of global issues and their interconnected nature.

The initial content for the Encyclopedia was seeded from UIA’s Yearbook of International Organizations. UIA’s decades of collected data on the enormous variety of association life provided a broad initial perspective on the myriad problems of humanity. Recognizing that international associations are generally confronting world problems and developing action strategies based on particular values, the initial content was based on the descriptions, aims, titles and profiles of international associations.

About UIA

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Monotonous and unaesthetic architecture and design

About the Encyclopedia

About UIA