In short: there is a considerable body of empirical studies that confirm exactly what you say. Even though there are multiple potential solutions for this issue and much has to change in the architecture academies as well, what I view as the best and most viable solution is akin to what you propose. If developers and investors are cognizant about this issue, the market is much more likely to provide the solution than the architecture academies or governments. Government solutions in this space have lead to rent-seeking (see same article, VIII) and the academies are oblivious to the aesthetic preferences of the public (https://casualrealism.substack.com/p/architecture-and-evolution-vii-the?s=w).
Great blog by the way! What's your day-to-day involvement in the startup cities/competitive governance/etc. space?
Really well done as usual. Another example of "owned is beautiful": college campuses.
Hi Zach,
Great article again. It's an interesting topic that many in the competitive governance space seem to be passionate about.
I recently also wrote an article about the economics of archicture and beauty that you might find interesting: https://casualrealism.substack.com/p/architecture-and-evolution-viii-the?s=r
In short: there is a considerable body of empirical studies that confirm exactly what you say. Even though there are multiple potential solutions for this issue and much has to change in the architecture academies as well, what I view as the best and most viable solution is akin to what you propose. If developers and investors are cognizant about this issue, the market is much more likely to provide the solution than the architecture academies or governments. Government solutions in this space have lead to rent-seeking (see same article, VIII) and the academies are oblivious to the aesthetic preferences of the public (https://casualrealism.substack.com/p/architecture-and-evolution-vii-the?s=w).
Great blog by the way! What's your day-to-day involvement in the startup cities/competitive governance/etc. space?
This is a super interesting take, particularly the part about the materials a city is built from! Thanks for sharing.