Why do developers not build in historical styles?

Sapphire

AFF8879 wrote: »

I'll admit my perspective is going to be biased from a London perspective, but I'm sure this can apply to other cities and regions all across the U.K.

Around the world, Britain is renowned for its architecture. Cities like Oxford and Cambridge dominate the traditional postcard images in tourist shops and here in London, a flat in a converted Georgian townhouse would command a huge premium over a "modern" purpose built flat in the same area of exactly the same proportions.

From a developer perspective, surely this premium would outweigh any additional costs especially given technological advances / abilities to substitute cheaper materials that still give the same look/effect.

From a social perspective, such grand buildings are pleasing to the eye and could definitely improve the feel of an area.

I just think it would be lovely to be surrounded by such elegant buildings as opposed to the glass and steel magnolia boxes / towers that are popping up everywhere :T

Because they want to build everything as cheaply as possible, in order to cram in as many individuals as possible and earn the most money. The advertising emanating from the wealthy individuals and companies behind new 'housing' is designed to brainwash people into thinking that a generic glass-and-metal fronted edifice, shaped into a massive ugly block, is a wonder of design. Unfortunately, people are very susceptible to brainwashing.

It takes a great deal of money to erect something gorgeous and lasting, in terms of employing good architects, who will add beautiful and original details to a building, as well as using fabulous materials and the sort of hand-made techniques that were used in the past.

economic

lot of the purpose build or new build blocks charge a ridiculous amount for services charges etc. some have quite high ground rents too. i think a lot of the service charges are due to having lifts in the building and sometimes a concierge. but still. service charges should also be factorered into the cost as it is another way for the freeholder/developer to extract money from the leaseholder. thats why i avoid all blocks. just go for conversions, dont mind if they are smaller etc. its nice to own sometime they dont build anymore. makes it more valuable.

stator

What I can't stand is the mix-n-match style developments where they have one modern house next to a mock tudor next to a feux victorian.
They should stick to one style and do all houses in the same.

elsien

Because we're not living in a time warp and not everyone wants historic looking?

zagubov

I don't mind modern design when it's practical like in this new high-density development of flexible-use low-rise courtyard houses with parking but no gardens. A lot of other new housing is about as aesthetically inspiring as a shoebox.

glasgowdan

A new historical build is a silly idea.

I have always thought one of the nicest new places I've been in was this self catering cottage. It was comfy, warm, great light and views and I'd love to have the gumshin to do a build one day! http://www.cottages.com/cottages/maybank-25443

padington

The problem with the historical styles of the very grand buildings is that the builder didn't get to enjoy the profits as he would be dead before it was finished.

Now places pop up before helicopter pilots get their head ariu dthe changed city scape shape.

No doubt with 3D printing however old fashioned style shells will be added on, if that's to people's liking.

fewgroats

Most of our heritage is about trying to rebuild what was there before. What we think of as Shakespeare's birth house is in fact a recreation. Renovations on houses like Ightham Mote practically meant demolishing (if not using a demolition ball or dynamite) the old edifice and starting again. Historic buildings are more trouble than they're worth.

ThemeOne

Old styles look best on old buildings - simple really. To me new buildings built in an old style just look fake and plastic.

I agree a lot of new builds are uninspiring, but then so were a lot of old buildings, it's just most of them have been torn down now.

kabayiri

Do you think that key workers in London care about style? What does a Polish plumber; Romanian car washer; or Malaysian nurse care about olde worlde English style?

Be inventive. You just need a box, and if it doesn't have outside windows probably air conditioning. That might be a bonus feature, because it could keep out the air pollution.

London just needs to look pretty in the tourist areas. Wembley is quite a nice stadium with a shopping complex, but the area around it is pretty scruffy really. That doesn't bother visitors to Wembley much.