"Warum hat es moderne Architektur so schwer?" - Ruairí O'Brien gives talk on understanding and misunderstanding contemporary architecture

Contemporary architecture - Zeitgenössische Architektur

Why do so many people dislike modern architecture? 

My first question is…Is that so?

Which period of modern architecture is the subject of so much discontent?

The description Modern architecture is difficult for one, in English this can mean relating to recent times or the present, but more often than not some think of a style closely linked to the Bauhaus tradition which makes “modern” almost historical. Very quickly the jump is then made to anonymous cold glass objects which contribute very little to every day street life or the brutal drab and dreary concrete blocks that popped up everywhere in the 60’s and 70’s all over the world. One does not have to talk with lay people very long to notice that for all the good and great architecture that can be found in the world, the sheer mass of ugly and soulless buildings we have to live within our everyday life’s outweigh any positive feelings that one would like to associate with the word architecture. The “bad buildings” have left their mark on the public memory to such an extent that the perception of architecture as being something essentially good for society is almost impossible to argue.

 However interestingly enough the label “modern architecture” is very attractive for public debates and discussions. People do love to hate it; this is a challenge for us all. It was wonderful to see that 150 interested citizens came to the event organized by Creative Chemnitz” last week to discuss this big subject.

I enjoyed it very much and the positive reception inspired me to have another look at my old texts and cartoons on this subject with the intention of a possible publication. 

So watch this spot for further developments.

Thank you Chemnitz!