Ugliness and Judgment: On Architecture in the Public Eye

In his book "Ugliness and Judgment," Timothy Hyde explores the role of aesthetic judgment in architectural debates and its social consequences across three centuries of British architectural history. He argues that arguments about architectural ugliness do not pertain solely to buildings or assessments of style, but intrude into other spheres of civil society. Hyde explores how accidental and willful conditions of ugliness have been debated in parliamentary committees, courtrooms, and public inquiries, and how architects have been summoned by tribunals of aesthetic judgment. He shows how aesthetic judgments have become entangled in wider assessments of art, science, religion, political economy, and the state.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 232 pages
Publication date: 31 January 2023
Publisher: Princeton University Press

When buildings are perceived as ugly, what are the implications? In his book "Ugliness and Judgment," Timothy Hyde delves into the significance of aesthetic judgment, particularly its focus on ugliness, in architectural discussions and their subsequent social repercussions throughout three centuries of British architectural history. Hyde uncovers a fresh narrative of aesthetic judgment, revealing that arguments regarding architectural ugliness extend beyond mere evaluations of style and buildings and permeate various aspects of civil society.

Hyde examines how accidental and deliberate conditions of ugliness, such as the gothic revival Houses of Parliament, the brutalist concrete of the South Bank, and the historicist novelty of Number One Poultry, have been debated in parliamentary committees, courtrooms, and public inquiries. He recounts how architects like Christopher Wren, John Soane, James Stirling, and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe have been called upon by tribunals of aesthetic judgment. Through his novel examination of libel lawsuits, shifting paradigms of nuisance law, and conventions of monarchical privilege, Hyde demonstrates how aesthetic judgments have become intertwined with broader assessments of art, science, religion, political economy, and the state.

By moving beyond mere superficialities of taste, "Ugliness and Judgment" sheds new light on the role of aesthetic measurement in our world. It prompts us to consider how architectural improprieties enable architecture to participate in social transformations and shape the built environment. This book offers valuable insights into the complex interplay between aesthetics, society, and the built environment, challenging our perceptions and prompting us to reevaluate the role of beauty and ugliness in our architectural and societal landscapes.

Weight: 288g
Dimension: 140 x 216 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780691243559