Poundbury

On Tuesday I visited my elderly aunt in Dorchester and then had lunch with my cousin Jane. What was remarkable was the “urban” village where we had lunch, Poundbury. This is on the fringe of Dorchester and is a development where Prince Charles had has a huge say in the architecture. It is a curious place that is difficult to describe.

 It is a hodgepodge of styles, many reminiscent of a sort of Eastern European faded grandeur. To me the centre lacks any coherence, the buildings are probably fine individually, but do not work when put together. Indeed they seem a little brutalist.

To me also it does not harmonise with the Dorset landscape, it shocks rather than delights. My cousin said that from a distance it reminds her of a prison. I would not go that far. The problem with architecture on this scale is that it has an impact on life, in a way that a painting or sculpture does not. So perhaps we should consider such experiments more carefully. Still I urge you to visit yourselves and make up your own mind.

Besides the sandwiches and coffee in the café were excellent.