"It’s Official: British People Do Not Like Modern Architecture"

From Building Design Online: Architecture Poll Reveals Public’s Modern Malaise

25 June 2004

It’s Official: British People Do Not Like Modern Architecture.

By Damian Arnold

A Mori poll of nearly 2,000 people from all over the UK found that most people think modern architecture “lacks character” and is “not beautiful”.

Thirty eight per cent of all those questioned agreed with the statement “I do not like most modern architecture”; 29% had no view; and only 33% disagreed.

Even in areas where a landmark building has been a catalyst to tourism, such as Future Systems’ Selfridges building in Birmingham, local people still opposed modern architecture.

In the West Midlands, 40% do not like modern architecture, while in the North-east, which has been graced in recent years with modern designs such as the Gateshead Millennium Bridge, 52% of respondents were against modern architecture.

The results of the poll, commissioned by London-based practice Chetwood Associates for the London Architecture Biennale, make grim reading not only for northern and Midlands cities, but in the South-east, where 42% said they did not like modern architecture and only 32% said they did.

But RIBA president George Ferguson claimed, despite the findings, the public still appreciated major modern landmarks.

“I think there is a real appreciation of modern architecture like Swiss Re, Tate Modern and the London Eye,” he said. “But when it comes to applying modern design to their own living spaces, a certain conservatism creeps in. We as a profession need to be very sensitive and responsive to that.”

The poll goes on to show that the only groups comfortable with modern design are younger people from London and Wales. But even in London, only 38% said they liked modern architecture, while 29% disagreed. In Wales 39% agreed and 29% disagreed.

More detailed analysis of the figures drew up a picture of the kind of person likely to be in favour of such architecture. It is a broadsheet-reading, single male from the ABC1 socio-economic group. The report points out that woman are less accepting of modern architecture.

The pollsters received a more positive response from the statement “I think architects make a positive difference to my local town or city”: 45% of all those surveyed agreed, compared with 28% who disagreed, while 23% had no opinion.

In Yorkshire and Humberside and the East Midlands, up to one-third of respondents did not believe that architects were improving their towns and cities.

Mori said an “unusually high” number of people couldn’t take a position and preferred to sit on the fence.

“It’s a great shame that so many people feel so ill-informed or confused by the output of architects that they cannot even say if they like it or not,” said Chetwood Associates chief executive Laurie Chetwood.