News on 17 November 2000
Quality has taken a backseat to cost cutting for too long
when it comes to our public buildings said Arts Minister Alan Howarth,
speaking at this week's PFI conference on design quality.
Lowest cost without a concept of value has led not only to poor and bland
buildings but ones which, in the long run, were more expensive to operate
and maintain, he added.
He challenged people to produce good architecture that encouraged a sense
of civic well-being. "An age of industrialised building has thrown
up dull repetitive public buildings which look bland, anonymous and cheap.
Investment in quality builds better, more attractive buildings. Investment
now is money well spent as it also helps keep running costs down. It takes
courage to invest in quality. I have great sympathy with anyone struggling
to justify a quality - but dearer - tender."
Mr Howarth argued that public buildings built cheaply are not always economical
or practical over their full life. It is no use producing an accountancy-led
solution which has fundamental design drawbacks, he said.
The Minister also outlined Government plans to ensure architectural merit
is central to the procurement process. In each Government Department with
leading responsibility for public buildings a Minister has been appointed
as design champion. The remit of the Ministerial design champion is to
ensure genuine, thoroughly thought through and sustained commitment to
good design in the buildings which are funded by their Departments. Public
procurement systems must encourage good design.
The Department for Culture Media & Sport has produced
a document, Better Public Buildings, advocating a step change in the quality
of building design in the public sector.
Better Public Buildings can be downloaded at:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/PDF/architecture.pdf
