> It’s also because their rise has been so sudden, an outcome of changing codes, improved economic fortunes, and pent-up demand in the wake of the Great Recession more than a decade ago. And it is true they sometimes tend toward being architecturally bland or downright ugly.
They have so many other advantages that they don't need to be attractive, and developers hate to pay for anything they don't need.
Also, this moment where they're breaking out and popping up like weeds to fill pent-up demand is an awkward moment, design-wise, because you need a lot of new designs quickly without a long history to look back on and draw from. Compare that to high-rise office buildings or single family homes, where you have a century and more of variations in countless different styles, where you have not only countless iconic examples but decades' worth of reaction to many of them. Some of the 5-over-1 buildings going up now will turn out to be iconic, style-defining precedents. Most will be trash, but will still serve the functional purpose.
Personally, I love seeing these go up near me. It means more housing supply and more businesses near me that cater to foot traffic, in the same package.
They have so many other advantages that they don't need to be attractive, and developers hate to pay for anything they don't need.
Also, this moment where they're breaking out and popping up like weeds to fill pent-up demand is an awkward moment, design-wise, because you need a lot of new designs quickly without a long history to look back on and draw from. Compare that to high-rise office buildings or single family homes, where you have a century and more of variations in countless different styles, where you have not only countless iconic examples but decades' worth of reaction to many of them. Some of the 5-over-1 buildings going up now will turn out to be iconic, style-defining precedents. Most will be trash, but will still serve the functional purpose.
Personally, I love seeing these go up near me. It means more housing supply and more businesses near me that cater to foot traffic, in the same package.