Let's all say which buildings can stay - Scottish Architecture News

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Let's all say which buildings can stay

Archiseek / UK / Scotland / News / 2005 / February 24

There are some buildings we love and those we hate with a passion. Edinburgh has some fabulously designed buildings, but there are some buildings where many would like to see the demolition ball do its deadly deed. The likes of the St James shopping centre and, for some, the new Scottish Parliament spring to mind. As an architect, this stimulated some obvious thoughts and interest on the subject of design, especially with regard to who decides what is, and what makes "good" design. In April the Royal Fine Art Commission for Scotland will be replaced with a "modernised" organisation, Architecture and Design Scotland (ADS), and Sir Terry Farrell has been appointed as the City Design Champion for Edinburgh, the first in the UK. With the principal aim of the ADS being to champion and inspire better quality in design and architecture, and the appointment of a design champion this is, I believe, an ideal opportunity to stimulate a national debate on what is actually meant by the often-used phrase "good design".

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