3rd December 2017

Yesterday my new friend Adrian Goldberg, a well-known broadcaster, was on BBC Radio 4 interviewing a Birmingham architect in his inner-city home.  What was interesting was how the architect had modernised his old house to incorporate new technology.  He had left the exterior as it was, in keeping with the rest of the street and area, but had then totally modernised the interior.  There is a closed FB site called Old Photos of Birmingham where contributors continually lambast town planners for destroying the city's heritage and culture, but still the wholesale destruction goes on, in the name of progress.  When we lived in France I was continually struck by how the French never seem to knock anything down, so retaining the original character of the country.  Similarly, when I visit charming places like Bath or even London, I see whole rows of Regency houses, giving a flavour of the city's past. Obviously we can't expect people to live with outmoded facilities - I remember all too well my grandparents' house in the old back-to-back courtyards of Birmingham - but why decimate our heritage?  So, Adrian: did you give a hint, yesterday, to the nation's builders and town planners on the way forward?  Yes!  Retain the characterful exteriors of our buildings - reminding everyone of our history and culture - but bring the interiors completely up to date with all that modern technology can provide.