Men used to build cathedrals...

The castles and cathedrals of Europe cannot be denied status as some of the greatest architectural achievements in the world. From the Sistine Chapel to the Palais de Versailles, the skill, dedication, and ornate excellence of old European architecture attracts millions of tourists each year. Most of the cathedrals and churches in Europe were built between the 11^th and 17^th centuries, begging the question of how modern architecture has become so boring despite the technological advancements of the last few centuries.

Modern architectural marvels are, in the majority, constructed of glass and metal. In the 21^st century almost all new buildings are feeding the pandemic of detail deprivation, with minimalism reigning supreme and millennial beige expanding its territory with each home renovation. The towers and turrets of cathedrals and castles have been removed from architects’ handbook as modern skyscrapers follow the same pattern of flat, glass facades. The ornate detailing, sculptures, and gargoyles that featured on every blueprint from the Middle Ages to the Victorian era have been neglected, and the modern love of glass is inarguably bland and unexciting in comparison to the stained-glass windows of old churches and cathedrals.

These buildings were created as a statement of man’s commitment to and fear of the glory of God, the spires extended towards the heavens and the time, money, and physical resources needed for the construction were an extension of this honouring of God. St Paul’s Cathedral took 35 years to build, and the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel alone took Michelangelo 4 years to paint. Now, it seems architects and construction workers are primarily concerned with the quantity and effectiveness of their productions and all character features are slowly dying out. Modern housing estates display large-scale uniformity and boring square houses, millennial ‘beige moms’ on social media are ruining pre-existing houses by tearing out all signs of historic character, and lists of 21^st century architectural ‘masterpieces’ consist of increasingly voyeuristic glass constructions. It feels like the art of crafted architecture may be lost to the passing of time, a tragedy for which we have no excuse or explanation only apologies to our ancestors who succeeded in the construction of such marvels in the absence of the technology we have since developed and prioritise ChatGPT over castles.