Contemporary architecture needs to reacquaint itself with the creation of beautiful and people-friendly spaces, argues columnist E. Thomas McClanahan.
"What makes some public spaces lively and some devoid of life? Many architects have only minimal interest in such questions, and judging by the projects they turn out, it's as if they believe contemporary architecture is above such concerns.
In Kansas City, for example, the streets adjoining the recently completed addition to our convention complex are utterly dead."
"The Los Angeles Times' architecture critic, Christopher Hawthorne, recently published a meditation on issues raised by ugly buildings, prompted by a local contest to name the city's ugliest structure.
He hinted that perhaps, as in the world of painting, it may be time to back away from the notion of "ugly-chic" and "start talking again about beauty."
Beauty in architecture? What a concept. We now pause as many of the architects in the room run screaming for the exits."
