Terms like "Banned" and "crackdown" are a bit extreme for simply specing out an economical and practical building.

Building an economical and functional building is at the lowest of priorities for most architects in my experience. Many act as though they're competing for the cover of a design magazine or building a monument, attempting to make a name for themselves.

Makes sense in a country that is broke with little chance of recovery in the near or far future. Called the "kiss" program. Now if they could only apply that principal to the nanny state,their green at any cost programs and their immigration policies which are really draining the coffers they would actually have a fighting chance of survival as a non Muslim country.

it makes perfect sense. Curves make decorating more difficult. Furniture is harder to fit and building cost quadruple. Public money should always be frugal and rational. Leave the esthetic coasts to private sectors.

This is good. Soon England will match the timeless post war architecture of Eastern Europe and the EU will be one homgeneous bland asthetic wasteland....

Actually, I an kind of conflicted on this one. My cheapness as a taxpayer is cheering. Pictures of ugly Soviet-era architecture and my memories of old, musty Saskatchewan schools is saying "Ugh". Moderation is the key, I guess. You can have well lit, modern schools without spending a fortune on a vanity project.

The Cameron Gov't wants to start spending money, as though it was somebody else's money? Well it's a start.

Brick and mortar schools run by a government.....man, that's so XX century.

On the subject of education: BC teachers federation opposition to Northern Gateway Pipeline presents as a lesson in critical thinking. Apparently critical thinking is the same as being critical. Logic? Nah....we don't teach that anymore.

I doubt Newton and Einstein were educated in spacious, well lit schools with curved walls and rooftop playgrounds. What you learn is more important than what the building you learn it in looks like. Now if the Education Ministers in western civilization could scrap the progressive, multi-culturalist, socialist curriculum and the education experts who support it, that would be an accomplishment.

The high school I attended (British) was housed in a run-down house (albeit of some historical associations - it has now been restored).
The teaching was good, the Headmistress a doughty old Scot (M.A. Oxen.), the students mostly enjoyed themselves,
we all learned good stuff, and the facilities were rudimentary.

I'd use Quonset huts as classrooms, myself.

Al_in_Ottawa at October 5, 2012 4:28 PM

"Now if the Education Ministers in western civilization could scrap the progressive, multi-culturalist, socialist curriculum and the education experts who support it, that would be an accomplishment."

Indeed. But if wishes were horses..then beggars could ride......

Commonly called the "Industrial Brutal" school of architecture...

Where's the story here? There's nothing unusual about a client setting specs.

my only question is "what" will they spend the money on that they save??????

Boy! That's really tough!

I mean, there go the turrets on the state-funded islamic schools.

Right?

'Bout time. I was up at Vancouver Island University on Tuesday and noted that the 'offices' of the International Student's building featured washrooms with showers.

Yet students are complaining about tuition increases.

Unless staff members are busy bonking their co-workers, why do they need showers in an office environment? I'm betting they'd claim it's because many of them bike to work, but anyone who is familiar with the topography of Nanaimo and the University would know that biking is likely not a widely used mode of transportation.

Someone put the showers in because they had a generous budget and it seemed like a neat idea. It's the kind of thinking that generally goes into bureaucracy/administration planning.

Curves? How do you make a kid stand in the corner?

"my only question is "what" will they spend the money on that they save??????"

Posted by: NME666 at October 5, 2012 7:40 PM

They spent the money they saved many years ago. Now they are spending money they don't have.