JIM STEPHENSON
After some fairly bad press in the second half of the 20th century, contemporary extensions have enjoyed a renaissance over the past several decades, becoming more popular with homeowners and planners alike. However, the recent appointment of philosopher Sir Roger Scruton as the chair of the government’s Building Better, Building Beautiful Commission is a clear declaration of support by the UK government for his oftenstated belief that only traditional or classical architecture is worth building. The initiative is intended to promote good design and Sir Roger is in no doubt that the only way to achieve it is by looking to the past. So if you are intending to add an extension to your home, is this the right design solution or is it better to choose a style that reflects 21stcentury innovations?
The answer to this question is that neither is better – because truly beautiful architecture transcends style, and this is just as true now as it was 100 or 1,000 years ago. Countless dreadful buildings have been built throughout history, but the advantage very old properties have over the new is that the ugly ones have long been demolished, leaving only the very best examples for us to admire.