This article features a letter to the editor expressing deep concern over the Irish government's decision to prioritize cost over design aesthetics in public infrastructure projects. The author, Ian D'Alton, considers this statement "one of the most depressing statements ever made by a Government Minister," citing its philistinism and one-dimensionality.
D'Alton argues that good design doesn't necessitate exorbitant costs, pointing to examples of aesthetically pleasing infrastructure in other European countries like Austria, Denmark, and the Netherlands. He contends that attractive surroundings enhance wellbeing and national pride, asserting that Ireland's wealth allows for investment in beautiful architecture. He highlights the inefficiency in public projects as a more pressing issue than aesthetic concerns.
The letter cites Dublin City Council's offices at Wood Quay and Kildare County Council's headquarters in Naas as examples of poorly designed public buildings, criticizing their lasting negative impact. The author emphasizes that "design standards" are crucial for functional infrastructure, not mere optional extras.
D'Alton suggests that the Minister focus on improving the planning and public procurement systems to address cost overruns, rather than sacrificing design quality. He concludes that prioritizing cost over aesthetics is a short-sighted approach with long-term negative consequences.
Sir, – If the State is to prioritise “cost and efficiency over design standards and aesthetics” according to Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers (“Cost to take priority over ‘aesthetics’ in future State infrastructure projects,” June 27th), this surely rates as one of the most depressing statements ever made by a Government Minister.
It is breathtaking in its philistinism and extraordinary in its one-dimensionality.
Good design needn’t cost a fortune – other European countries such as Austria, Denmark and The Netherlands seemingly have had no difficulty in constructing beautiful and interesting buildings.
An attractive environment also carries with it feelings of wellbeing and national pride. We are one of the richest countries in the world and can afford to build beautiful.
We are also one of most incompetent and inefficient when it comes to public projects, and that has little or nothing to do with the costs of aesthetically pleasing design.
The Minister might consider that public buildings have long lives and the ugliness that men do will inflict it on many generations to come. Dublin City Council’s offices at Wood Quay and Kildare County Council’s headquarters in Naas are just two carbuncles about which one has to apologise to bemused foreign visitors.
And these excrescences will be with us for a long time. Finally, “design standards” are absolutely critical to the provision of proper and workable public infrastructure – they are not an optional extra.
If the Minister is worried about costs (and he should be – see the national children’s hospital, for instance) he would be more productively employed sorting out the not-fit-for-purpose planning and public procurement systems, and the seemingly complacent attitude of many public authorities to tolerating vast cost overruns for all sorts of projects. – Yours, etc,
IAN D’ALTON,
Naas,
Co Kildare.
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