37º IAHS World Congress on Housing: - Universidad de Cantabria

XXXVII <strong>IAHS</strong><strong>World</strong> <strong>Congress</strong> on HousingOctober 26 – 29, 2010, Santander, SpainCODE: 525THE AESTHETICS IN MASS HOUSINGDr. Vladimir BrezarFaculty of ArchitectureUniversity of LjubljanaSloveniaKey words: aesthetics, mass housing, tasteAbstractMass housing appears in two different forms: as organized, high-rise residential districts and as selfbuilt,suburban complexes of detached houses. The residents in high-rise blocks of flats maintain acritical attitude: they call their living environment “ugly, monotone, and dull” and yearn to acquire ahome of their own. The urban sprawl of detached houses is criticized constantly by architecturalprofessionals as being “ugly, self-imposing, and kitsch.” In both cases, the words they use to criticizeare words encapsulated within the simple term aesthetics. Aesthetics, a philosophy regarding beautyand good taste, is a human cultural invention. Classical styles of architecture were about designingbeautiful buildings, but the industrial revolution and the modern movements have put forward newdefinitions of beauty (similarly to other forms of art).In mass housing, there are several factors that contribute to the general aesthetic lack of appeal,described as ugliness:• The quantity and concentration of buildings;• The industrial construction methods;• The human needs being defined by measurable terms only;• The advanced technologies that allow for an “everything is possible” philosophy;• The worldwide media influence’s promotion of “globalization of taste.”37º <strong>IAHS</strong> <strong>World</strong> <strong>Congress</strong> On Housing Science 231