thank you for posting this, tosh K, very interesting piece.
I just wish the writers would spend less time chasing vacuous golden oldies (‘the spirit of the place” !!oooh! How profound and novel – NOT) and more time just describing the designs. It is like they have forgotten how to review. I think a greater level of detail would be appropriate even for a non-trade publication, and also would just avoid some of stupid pitfalls of designers having to pretend they have vision. The ‘vision” part is also probably the part the reviewer or non-professional is least likely to ‘get.’ Additionally, good design, even innovative design, does not necessarily require one to be annointed by god with light. It does require detail, however, and these reviewers just can’t be bothered doing something that should be fun for them- just tell us what you see! Ask the designer for concrete details, like where is it failing, or what is your watering schedule….
the brits are so much better at writing than we are.
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