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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />WHAT PRICE AESTHETICS? <br /> <br />Abstract <br /> <br />Donald H Godi. F.A.S.L.A. <br />Donald H, Godi & Associates, Inc. <br /> <br />Since the advent of flood plain design and management man has attempted to provide functional <br />solutions to design problems in the most cost effective methodology. Times. they are changing! <br />Aesthetics now are a part of the equation. <br /> <br />With today's projects requiring more and more pUblic involvement and a range of project consultants <br />more apt to consider "aesthetic" solutions. there is an insidious creep of aesthetic criteria into design <br />concepts. This is a far cry from the commonly promoted general concept of turning our backs on <br />floodplains and drainageways and creating functional water transporting alleys. <br /> <br />Aesthetics involves the sense or perception of the concept of beauty or artistic theory and requires a <br />judgement of value. Truly, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" and what we perceive as "aesthetic" <br />is very subjective. How hard is it to think of beauty in the design of floodplain elements? This question <br />becomes even more difficult to answer when we apply value engineering and construction budgets that <br />seemingly have no room for any design elements other than the least costly (often believed to be purely <br />functional) . <br /> <br />Nobody has ever undertaken a floodplain design problem with the intent to make it ugly. Has there <br />ever been a Request for Proposal concerning floodplain design that spflCifical/y fIfIumflratfld the complex <br />aesthetic criteria to be followed in the design? This indeed would be more than unusual and closer to <br />rare. How has the perception of function verses aesthetics in engineering professions been perpetuated <br />and maintained when early engineering solutions so consistently produce some of the world's greatest <br />works of art? Have clients been conditioned to expect only a functional SOlution without any <br />expectation of aesthetic value? <br /> <br />The price with aesthetics may not be as great as we imagine. The cost of projects without aesthetics <br /> <br /> <br />may be more than we are willing to pay. What is the price, who will pay and will we be happy with <br /> <br /> <br />the results? <br />