A Speculation Around Follies
— 18 August 2025 by Nick Lomax
2 years ago, we speculated on whether we could obtain planning consent for a traditional Folly on the Greentrees Estate, and described the difficulties we were experiencing. Now we are pleased to announce that we not only have that consent but that our client has built it.
When we received the instruction to proceed well before Covid we considered it an unusual commission, but in the last few years it has become evident that Follies are having a revival, and that they may still have a contribution to make to our environment.
Stylistically our Folly is based on a traditional concept, a client request, but in solving the brief the various elements of the design have been put together with whimsical proportions. Some will consider this a pastiche but its whimsey hopefully reflects the best traditions of a Folly.
It also reflects the resurgence of follies, which perhaps are not so much considered relics of the past, transcending style, taste and function, but more “instagrammable” buildings, that relate back to their historic precedent but overlayed with a new social commentary. Historically, Follies were generally ornamental structures on large estates used as incidents in the landscape, providing focal points on walks, and often used as a form of celebration, in this case the appreciation of views of both the North and South Downs from one spot.
Has this now morphed into something more meaningful that engages with the surrounding environment and community? Is its “habitat” more likely to be urban than rural, used in a completely different context to revitalise areas, add visual interest and foster a sense of community engagement?
One thing is certain, a modern Folly either must have a use, otherwise there is no policy route to gain a planning consent, or it must be designated officially as a piece of public art. This Folly has both a traditional look and developed as a celebration but also has a use, both as a backcloth to weddings, with the necessary under cover space for solemnising the ceremony and for wedding parties to enjoy its setting whilst also providing a wider community potential for open theatre.
It seems that the concept of the “Folly” is here to stay, albeit driven by different motivations - more public than personal, less imposing and reflecting contemporary architectural, social and cultural trends.
Greentrees Estate:
