--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At any point in the world's history most…" description: "\"At any point in the world's history most architecture is going to be bad but I think there's been a collective mentality since the late Conservative ye..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/096/jonathan-meades-15966_architecture_at-any-point-in-the-world-s-history-most_222097.jpg" --- # At any point in the world's history most architecture is… ![“At any point in the world's history most architecture is going to be bad but I think there's been a collective mentality since the late Conservative years - the end of Thatcher/start of Major and certainly continued throughout New Labour and continuing now - that new is necessarily better, so…” quote by Jonathan Meades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/096/jonathan-meades-15966_architecture_at-any-point-in-the-world-s-history-most_222097.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/096/jonathan-meades-15966_architecture_at-any-point-in-the-world-s-history-most_222097.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/096/jonathan-meades-15966_architecture_at-any-point-in-the-world-s-history-most_222097.jpg) > “At any point in the world's history most architecture is going to be bad but I think there's been a collective mentality since the late Conservative years - the end of Thatcher/start of Major and certainly continued throughout New Labour and continuing now - that new is necessarily better, so there is this neophilia which isn't the vanguard of progress, it's just the vanguard of the construction industry enjoying itself.” [Jonathan Meades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-meades/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He critiques the belief that newer architecture is inherently superior, noting a cultural trend that equates novelty with progress, which he sees as driven by the construction industry rather than true innovation. **In simple terms:** New buildings aren’t always better; novelty isn’t progress. Key Takeaway Beware of assuming newer equals better. Themes architecture criticism cultural trends progress myths Mood critical analytical Type critical observational When to use this quote - urban planning - building design - heritage preservation - policy making Key Concepts modernism neophilia industry influence Questions to Reflect On - What criteria truly define architectural progress? - How can we balance novelty with lasting value? A Different Perspective Innovation can be superficial, serving industry interests over societal benefit. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Architecture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/architecture/) [Conservative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conservative/) [Construction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/construction/) [Construction industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/construction-industry/) [Engineering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/engineering/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [Industry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/industry/) [Labour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/labour/) [Mentality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mentality/) [Progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/progress/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [When the collective mentality of any organization is self and self-preservation first, it's a sure sign of pending doom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-fussell/when-the-collective-mentality-of-any-organization-is-self-and-self/) [Chris Fussell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-fussell/) > [The construction industry likes nothing more than a blank canvas onto which they can impose a brand new building, because that way they can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-meades/the-construction-industry-likes-nothing-more-than-a-blank-canvas-onto/) [Jonathan Meades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-meades/) > [In 2006 it was a horrible election year, and, you know, I lost. 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Here began the history of architecture. Here people learned to measure time by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-cronkite/when-moses-was-alive-these-pyramids-were-a-thousand-years-old-here/) [Walter Cronkite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-cronkite/) > [“The centuries of capitalism were held to have produced nothing of value. One could not learn history from architecture any more than one could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/the-centuries-of-capitalism-were-held-to-have-produced-nothing-of/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [“Defense Minister, General Militaru was definitely from the latter category. Iliescu wanted terrorists and he was about to provide them. The whole country wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/florin-grancea/defense-minister-general-militaru-was-definitely-from-the-latter/) [Florin Grancea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/florin-grancea/) > [“Applied Building Conservation Training is the training division of HSR (SA) Group offering training and professional services within the conservation and restoration industry. ABCT…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abc-training/applied-building-conservation-training-is-the-training-division-of/) ABC Training ## More by Jonathan Meades > [If you have slightly pathological interest in all the components of places, it forces you to engage with them in a way that perhaps…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-meades/if-you-have-slightly-pathological-interest-in-all-the-components-of/) [Jonathan Meades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-meades/) > [If you believe in the existence of fairies at the bottom of the garden you are deemed fit for the bin. 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If stuff has a meaning then why do \[writing\] about it? If you're trying to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-meades/i-don-t-think-things-necessarily-should-have-a-meaning-if-stuff-has-a/) [Jonathan Meades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-meades/) > [Conversion requires a subtler mind. Architects don't like it, architects want to create their own landmark buildings so that people a few years hence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-meades/conversion-requires-a-subtler-mind-architects-don-t-like-it/) [Jonathan Meades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-meades/) > [You always have to find something to say about the subject and in seven cases out of ten there is nothing to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-meades/you-always-have-to-find-something-to-say-about-the-subject-and-in/) [Jonathan Meades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-meades/) > [As a driver I have come to believe that the person just in front of me and the person just behind me are always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-meades/as-a-driver-i-have-come-to-believe-that-the-person-just-in-front-of/) [Jonathan Meades](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-meades/) > [I'm a very, very unreckless person. 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