!

"#$%&

!"#$%&"'()(")

What’s dangerous about the idea of ‘beauty’ in

architecture?

OPINION: Right-wing think tank Policy Exchange is using design

principles to push a wider traditionalist agenda

*+,-./01-234

5063473.809:9;<09=:>?@
 AB+CCDEFG+7E-0HC3EEIHIE@J%0'+74K,7.80I40B+.E-/0L0#+4IH30M-CCE0N0OC3@8&P/+HQ0'G+/+

!
-37/80@380R3@+7EC80,-0I40/G-0-8-0+R0/G-0,-G+CK-.<0,7/0/G3/0IE4S/0E/+??I4T0I/
,-I4T0U-3?+4IE-K0I40/G-0H7C/7.-0U3.E=

(403.HGI/-H/7.-034K0?C344I4T0-E?-HI3CC8<0V,-37/8S0IE04+0C+4T-.0EI@?C8030?+EI/I2-
K-EIT40+7/H+@-<0,7/030W.+X340G+.E-0U+.K07E-K0,80/G+E-0+40/G-0.ITG/0/+0KIEH.-KI/
/G-0#+K-.4IE/F/I4T-K0?+E/FU3.0E-//C-@-4/0Y0-E?-HI3CC80I/E0?7,CIH0G+7EI4T=&

B-E?I/-0,-37/80,-I4T0E+0+,2I+7EC80E7,X-H/I2-<030K-H3K-EFC+4T03T-4K30/+0?.+@+/-
/.3KI/I+43CIE/0K-EIT4034K03.HGI/-H/7.-074K-.0/G-0H+2-.0+R0V,-37/8S03??-3.E0/+0,-
Z43CC80?38I4T0+[=0(40/G-0\]<0I/0IE0,-I4T0K-?C+8-K0/+K380,80304-/U+.Q0+R
H3@?3IT4-.E<0/GI4Q0/34QE034K0T+2-.4@-4/03??+I4/--E03I@I4T0/+0HG34T-043/I+43C
H7C/7.3C034K0G-.I/3T-0?+CIH8=&
#IHG3-C0^+2-0.-H-4/C807E-K0V,-37/8S0I40.-C3/I+40/+0GIE03//-@?/E0/+074.32-C0/G-
?+E/FU3.0?C344I4T0E8E/-@0I40R32+7.0+R030)3/I+43C0#+K-C0B-EIT40_+K-034K
K-2-C+?-.FR.I-4KC80`+4I4T0/G3/0UICC0I4H.-3EI4TC80,8?3EE0C+H3C0K-@+H.3H8=0"4C80C3E/
U--Q0G-0U3E03T3I40?7EGI4T0/.3KI/I+40I40GIE0R+.-U+.K0/+030.-?+./0,80/G-0'+CIH8
$aHG34T-0/GI4Q0/34Q0H3CCI4T0R+.0304-U0VPHG++C0+R0'C3H-S0/G3/0U+7CK
AUG+C-G-3./-KC80.-2I2-0/.3KI/I+43C03.HGI/-H/7.-J=

Get our free Daily Email

!!"#$%!#&'$(!#)"$*+,#-.*!/"#"$#+$0*#.%1$2#!3!*+#&!!4-5+6

!" #$%&'%$()

WG-0E/34H-0G3E0I/E0+.ITI4E0I40C3/-0bcd:E0U.I/I4T0+403-E/G-/IHE0,80.-3H/I+43.8
3H3K-@IHE0E7HG03E0B32IK0M3/QI4034K0PI.0*+T-.0PH.7/+4<0UG+0CI4Q-K0@+K-.4I/80/+
I@@+.3CI/8=0_G3.C-E<03E0]I4TFI4FU3I/I4T<0?.+@+/-K030EI@IC3.C803/32IE/IH0,-37/8
3T-4K30I40/G-0R+CC+UI4T0K-H3K-E0/G.+7TG0GIE0EHG++C0+R03.HGI/-H/7.-034K0,8
H.-3/I4T0GIE0K+CCSEFG+7E-0HC3EEIHIE/0E7,7.,03/0'+74K,7.80+7/EIK-0B+.HG-E/-.0Y
+2-.E--40,803.HGI/-H/0ef+40].I-.<03403K@I.-.0+R0)3`I03.HGI/-H/0OC,-./0P?--.=&

Aesthetic traditionalism, sometimes seen as part of the natural

order, o!en has links to the hard and far right

_C3EEIHIE@0IE04+/0I4G-.-4/C80.ITG/FUI4T03480@+.-0/G340#+K-.4IE@0IE0I4G-.-4/C8
?.+T.-EEI2-=0(/0IE0/G-0I4/-4/034K07E-0/+0UGIHG0E/8C-0IE0?7/0/G3/0IE03/0IEE7-0Y034K
+R/-40/GIE03-E/G-/IH0/.3KI/I+43CIE@<0E+@-/I@-E0E--403E0?3./0+R0/G-043/7.3C0+.K-.0Y
-2-40^+KFTI2-40Y0G3E0CI4QE0/+0/G-0G3.K034K0R3.0.ITG/=0"R/-40/G-0K-EIT40E+C7/I+4E
?.+?+E-K03.-0I4R+.@-K0,80KIEH.-KI/-K07.,340/GI4QI4T0E7HG03E0V,.+Q-40UI4K+UE
/G-+.8S<0CI4Q-K0/+0E+@-/I@-E0K-3KC80g-E?-HI3CC80R+.0?-+?C-0+R0H+C+7.h0`-.+F
/+C-.34H-0?+CIHI4T0I40/G-0\P=

WG-0/.3KI/I+43CIE/03T-4K30IE0?.+@+/-K0,80X+7.43CIE/E0E7HG03E0WG-0P?-H/3/+.SE
B+7TC3E0#7..38=0eIQ-0PH.7/+4<0#7..380G3E0HG3@?I+4-K030_G.IE/I340$7.+?-03E03
H7C/7.3C0E/IHQ0UI/G0UGIHG0/+0,-3/0@IT.34/E<0-E?-HI3CC80#7ECI@E<0R+.0/G-I.0KI[-.I4T
.-CITI+7E023C7-E<0UGIC-0,-@+34I4T030U-3Q0M-E/SE0I43,ICI/80/+0?.+K7H-
H+4/-@?+.3.803.HGI/-H/7.-03QI40/+0/G-0E/.-4T/G0+R0@-KI3-23C0H3/G-K.3CE=
(4R3@+7EC8<0!74T3.8SE0R3.F.ITG/0?.I@-0@I4IE/-.0iIQ/+.0".,j40?+E/-K03
?G+/+T.3?G0+R0GI@E-CR0+40k3H-,++Q0G+CKI4T030H+?80+R0#7..38SE0,++Q0VWG-
P/.34T-0B-3/G0+R0$7.+?-%0(@@IT.3/I+4<0(K-4/I/8<0(EC3@S=

P7HG03T-4K3E0G32-0,--40CI4Q-K0/+043/I+43CIE/0?.+X-H/E0(40^-.@348034K0-3E/-.4
$7.+?-0/+0.-H+4E/.7H/0C+4TF234IEG-K0-KIZH-E0E7HG03E0/G-0.+83C0?3C3H-E0I401-.CI4
34K017K3?-E/<03E0U-CC03E034/IFI@@IT.34/0H3@?3IT4E03T3I4E/0@+El7-0,7ICKI4T0I4
M-E/-.40H+74/.I-E034K<074K-.0W.7@?<0340-a-H7/I2-0+.K-.0K-@34KI4T0R-K-.3C
,7ICKI4TE0,-0,7IC/0I40_C3EEIH3C0E/8C-=

(40/G-0\]<0/.3KI/I+43CIE/03.HGI/-H/7.-0IE0E/ICC0.3.-0,-8+4K0I4KI2IK73C0?.I23/-0G+7E-E<
,7/0'+CIH80$aHG34T-0g'mh0IE03/0/G-0G-3./0+R030K.I2-0/+0HG34T-0/GIE=0(/0U3E0PH.7/+4SE
U+.Q0R+.0'm0/G3/0C-K0/+0/G-0W+.80T+2-.4@-4/SE017ICKI4T01-//-.<017ICKI4T01-37/IR7C
_+@@IEEI+4<0UGIHG0PH.7/+40gUG+0U3E03U3.K-K030@-K3C0,80".,j40R+.0GIE0H7C/7.3C
E-.2IH-Eh0HG3I.-K0,-R+.-0GIE0K-3/G0I409:9:=0WG-0H+@@IEEI+40G3E0I4R+.@-K03
T+2-.4@-4/0,-37/803T-4K30/G3/0IE0Z4KI4T0I/E0U380I4/+043/I+43C0?C344I4T
T7IK34H-0Y0/G-0VPHG++C0+R0'C3H-S0IE0+4-0+R0I/E0.-H+@@-4K3/I+4E=

Right-wing ideas in the heritage sector

'+CIH80$aHG34T-0IE0?3./0+R030UIK-.0.ITG/FUI4T04-/U+.Q0?7EGI4T0I/E0IK-3E0I4/+0/G-
G-.I/3T-0E-H/+.=0n-UKI/70^-,.-8+G34-E<030'+CIH80$aHG34T-03C7@430UG+0U3E
.-H-4/C803??+I4/-K0/+0/G-0,+3.K0+R0/G-0ioO0#7E-7@<0.74E0*-E/+.-0W.7E/<0/G-
+?3l7-C80R74K-K0T.+7?0+R034/IFU+Q-03H/I2IE/E03EE3ICI4T0/G-0)3/I+43C0W.7E/034K
H3E/I4T0W.7@?FCIQ-0K+7,/E0+40/G-0.-CI3,ICI/80+R0/G-0W.7E/SE0.-H-4/0.+74K0+R0+4CI4-
-C-H/I+4E=
PH.7/+4SE0E7HH-EE+.03/0/G-0,-37/80H+@@IEEI+4<0)IHG+C3E01+8E0P@I/G0Y0UG+0G3E
3CE+0U+.Q-K0UI/G0'+CIH80$aHG34T-0Y04+U0G-3KE07?0/G-0T+2-.4@-4/SE0"pH-0R+.
'C3H-<0UGIHG0KI.-H/E043/I+43C0K-EIT40?+CIH8=&W+.80?.+?+E3CE0/+0TI2-0G+7EI4T
K-2-C+?-.E0UG+0,7ICK0V,-37/IR7CC8S030R3E/F/.3HQ03K234/3T-0G32-0,--40H7./3IC-K<03/
C-3E/0/-@?+.3.IC8<0R+CC+UI4T04I@,8IE/0,C7-0U3CC0,8F-C-H/I+40,3HQC3EG-E0Y0,7/0/G-
KI.-H/I+40+R0/.32-C0IE0HC-3.=

O0R+.@-.03K2IE+.0/+0B32IK0_3@-.+4<01+8E0P@I/G0G3E0,--40@3K-030H+@@IEEI+4-.
3/0/G-0G-.I/3T-0,+K80!IE/+.IH0$4TC34K034K0IE0+40/G-03K2IE+.80,+3.K0+R0/G-0*+T-.
PH.7/+40e-T3H80k+74K3/I+4<03C+4TEIK-0HC3EEIHIE/03.HGI/-H/0*+,-./0OK3@=01+8E
P@I/GSE07.,340K-EIT403T-4H80_.-3/-0P/.--/E<0UGIHG0IE0G+E/IC-0/+0#+K-.4IE/0?7,CIH
G+7EI4T0-E/3/-E<03CE+0G3E0'+CIH80$aHG34T-0+.ITI4E=

"/G-.0?C38-.E0I40/G-04-/U+.Q0G32-0CI4QE0/+0/G-0T.+7?0+R0.ITG/FUI4T0+.T34IE3/I+4E
,3E-K03/0550W7R/+40P/.--/0I40M-E/@I4E/-.=0*-E/+.-0W.7E/SE0KI.-H/+.E0I4HC7K-0)-IC
*-H+.K<0HG3I.0+R030W7R/+40P/.--/0/GI4Q0/34Q<0/G-0(4E/I/7/-0+R0$H+4+@IH0O[3I.E=
O4+/G-.0W7R/+40P/.--/0T.+7?0IE0/G-0)-U0_7C/7.-0k+.7@<0UGIHG0G+E/E0E?-3Q-.E
E7HG03E0#7..38=

The legacies of empire

*3/G-.0/G340/G-0C-R/<0I/0IE0/G-0.ITG/0/G3/0IE0I42-E/I4T0I4030@3/-.I3C0H7C/7.3C03T-4K3
/+03K234H-0I/E0^.3@EHI340U3.E0+R0?+EI/I+4=

_7C/7.3C0IK-4/I/80G3E0,--40-a?CIHI/C80U-3?+4IE-K0,80E+@-0UGI/-0E7?.-@3HIE/
T.+7?E0E7HG03E0(K-4/I/80$7.+?3<0R+74K-K0I409:b>0I40/G-0\P<0UGIHG07E-K0I@3T-.8
+R0_C3EEIH3C0E/3/7-E0/+0?.+@+/-030$7.+H-4/.IH034K0?7.?+E-R7CC80-aHC7EI+43.8034K
.3HIE/0H7C/7.3C03.T7@-4/0/+0UI40.-H.7I/E<0-E?-HI3CC80+40H3@?7E=0A]--?0q+7.
BI2-.EI/80M-0M34/0(K-4/I/8J0U3E0+4-0r8-.0EC+T34=0g(/0G3E0EI4H-0.-,.34K-K034K
@3Q-E07E-0+R0_+CK0M3.0O@-.IH343=h

WGIE0IE03CE+030.-E?+4E-0/+0/G-0T3I4E0+R01C3HQ0eI2-E0#3//-.034K0/G-0H3CCE0/+0.-@+2-
_+4R-K-.3/-0@+47@-4/E0/G3/03.-030@3/-.I3C0-a?.-EEI+40+R06I@0_.+U=0)+
E7.?.IE-E<0/G-4<0/G3/0/GIE0,-37/80@8/G03T-4K30T+-E0G34KFI4FG34K0UI/G
/.3KI/I+43CIE/0+??+EI/I+40/+0HG34T-E0/+01.I/3I4SE0H+@@-@+.3/I2-0C34KEH3?-=

^-,.-8+G34-E0IE03403K2IE-.0/+0!IE/+.80*-HC3I@-K<030?.-EE7.-0T.+7?0R+H7EI4T0+4
E7??+E-K0@-KI30KIE/+./I+4E0+R0/G-01.I/IEG0?3E/<0-E?-HI3CC80I40.-T3.K0/+0EC32-.8=0(/
3CE+0+??+E-E0/G-0.-?3/.I3/I+40R.+@01.I/IEG0@7E-7@E0+R0C++/-K0H7C/7.3C0+,X-H/E=
"/G-.03K2IE+.E0I4HC7K-0/G-0.ITG/FUI4T0GIE/+.I340)I3CC0k-.T7E+4034K067E/I4
PG7,+U<0B+43CK0W.7@?SE0/.3KI/I+43CIE/0R+.@-.03.HGI/-H/7.-0HG3@?I+4=&

P32-0"7.0P/3/7-E<0@-34UGIC-<0IE0301.I/IEG0?.-EE7.-0T.+7?0E-/07?0,80R+.@-.
\]('-.E0'-/-.0MGI//C-034K0*IHG3.K01I4TC-80/G3/0G3E0,--402+H3C0EI4H-0/G-0/+??CI4T
+R0/G-0$KU3.K0_+CE/+40E/3/7-0I401.IE/+C=0(/03CE+0+?-.3/-E0R.+@0W7R/+40P/.--/034K
-4X+8E0G-3./80,3HQI4T0R.+@0/G-0CIQ-E0+R0WG-0B3IC80W-C-T.3?G=

"4-0+7/H+@-0+R0/GIE0.-EIE/34H-0/+0.-2I-UI4T0/G-0@3/-.I3C0.-?.-E-4/3/I+4E0+R
-@?I.-<0IE04-U0C3UE0?.+?+EI4T0E-4/-4H-E0R+.0K-R3HI4T030@+47@-4/0/G3/0H340,-
C+4T-.0/G340/G+E-0R+.0.3?-=

MGIC-0K-EIT40H+4E-.23/IE@0IE0I/E-CR0340IEE7-<0I/0IE0/G-0K+TFUGIE/C-0l73CI/80/+0/G-
/.3KI/I+43CIE/ES03.T7@-4/E0/G3/0IE0+R0HGI-R0H+4H-.4=0$EE-4/I3CC8<0/G-0H7C/7.-0U3.ES
3.HGI/-H/7.3C0R.+4/0IE03403??-3C0/+043/I2IE@<030E/34H-0/G3/0H7C/7.3C0?C7.3CIE@0IE03
`-.+FE7@0T3@-0+R0V@80G-.I/3T-0+.08+7.ESs030K34T-.+7E0R34/3E80/G3/0/G-
@7C/IH7C/7.3C0@+E3IH0+R0/G-0?+E/FU3.0HI/80H340,-074K+4-=

We've got a newsletter for everyone

7'5"!3!*#+$08*!#.%"!*!)"!-#.%,#"'!*!8)#5#9*!!#$:!%;!<$/*5/+
%!&)(!""!*#9$*#+$06

*+,-%+%.((/
 *-3K0@+.-

!"#$

Will the weather eventually provoke radical action on

climate?
'37C0*+T-.E
 "\*$_")"#q

BlackRock says we’re all doomed. It’s being optimistic

63@-E0#-3KU38

5:=5:
Airbnb host caught on camera threatening to ‘smack’ guest
in face
e37.-40_.+E,80#-KCIH+//

5:=5:

Amnesty International accused of gender discrimination by

former sta"
P+?GI30OQ.3@

!"#$%&''%"(%)*+#

Had enough of ‘alternative facts’?

 openDemocracy is di!erent
Join the conversation: get our weekly email

$@3IC03KK.-EE

kI.E/043@-0g+?/I+43Ch

e3E/043@-0g+?/I+43Ch →

!"##$%&'
We encourage anyone to comment, please consult the oD commenting guidelines if
you have any questions.

active
Comments

Join the conversation REGISTER SIGN IN

Post a comment

! " # $

Sign in and Join the Conversation

Sort by Newest %
All Comments 0

There are no comments yet. Why don't you write one?

& Top of comments ' Top of article

Related

!"#$%&!'$%( 0 )*+!*,'+&-.+#!#)( 0 *$#!/0&%#$10.2

This article is published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International licence. If you have
any queries about republishing please contact us. Please check individual images for licensing details.

OCC0+7.0?.+X-H/E

t0+?-4B-@+H.3H809:9;

O,+7/
 '-+?C-

_+4/3H/

M.I/-0R+.07E

6+,E

'.I23H804+/IH-

_++QI-E