penarth bloke wrote:First of all, this is not a criticism, but I see a common theme for most of the designs existing or proposed. They are boxes, straight lines, sterile and very unimaginative. I've visited cities around the world during my lifetime and I know Cardiff can do better. Better? By that I mean fewer straight lines, more curves, a greater variety of materials used, more use of trees, plants, water, obviously there are costs involved, sometimes substantial and that's the balance isn't it?
I understand what you're saying and I partially agree. I've always said that Cardiff (and Wales in general) can and should do better. There needs to be more of an emphasis on quality and variety. But, architecture typically goes through phases, much like wider fashion.
It's really easy to spot buildings from the 1950s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, etc., as they tend to have similar characteristics. What we are seeing in Cardiff is arguably its greatest expansion and development since the 1930s. So, it's unsurprising that many of the buildings proposed and being built share similar characteristics because they're being designed at the same time.