Bland Designs?

I spend most of my working day looking at buildings - either plans, or photographs or the real thing. It can be quite dispiriting when the majority of the new buildings we deal with are bland, run-of- the-mill or down right poor. And that got me to thinking about buildings that do inspire and really make a positive contribution our towns and countryside. In terms of historic buildings I love places like Clevedon Pier (surely the finest pier in the country now that the West Pier in Brighton is no more) or the Chapel at Lancing College (above), High Cross House near Totnes (left), the whole railway village in Swindon (everything from the works buildings, offices, railway workers houses and the magnificent Mechanics Institute), or the World War I airfield at Yatesbury, Wiltshire (complete with its hangars and officers barracks and mess).

But most of my work is dealing with new buildings and there are some great things being done (even in Wiltshire and Gloucestershire). Three of my favourites are in Chippenham - the County Records Office:the office where I work and this pair of houses right in the town centre:

Despite the local press criticising it I think the new offices for 'St James Place' in Cirencester are great (certainly a whole lot better than the leisure centre it replaced or the new leisure centre that has been built alongside).

I hasten to add I had nothing at all to do with any of these buildings - I specialise in the bland and downright poor.

With so much in our environmment to be a bit glum about these days its heartening to see buildings that can still lift the spirits and inspire. Kevin McCloud eat your heart out!