The folly is often described as an extravagant building more for artistic expression than practicality. I remember a conversation with two architects where they maintained that the folly, due to it's diminished practical function has not generated the best architecture, perhaps adding fuel to the idea that the free space created by art might not in the end be that useful to the architectural discipline that is defined by its functional requirements. On one hand of course this is an interpretation what constitutes good/interesting or valid architecture, and I think part of the problem is that follies are associated with the classical, and gothic revival (and the odd georgian pyramid), seen as a frivolity that is out of touch with most peoples lives.
In the past the folly has reflected the value system of the landed elite, through the exterior classical, gothic symbols/motifs. The landscaped gardens of the large houses where like crafted Arcadias displaying man's control over nature and relatively small scale food production with often specialized crops such as pineapples or even tea, all for private consumption. The folly in it's surroundings expressed the importance of the individual and Laissez-faire economics through creating a stage for and reference point within the consumption of this controlled visual landscape. (Interestingly despite this predominantly private ownership it is a little known fact in the Georgian period that any member of the public could make an appointment with such a mansion to be shown around the picture galleries and gardens).
The private Folly is analogous with the small buildings of a similar nature in civic/state landscaped parks such as band stands, and also those in landscaped new towns and redevelopment projects - for instance the Apollo Pavilion in the initially landscaped grounds of Peterlee new town, or Bernard Tschumi's strucutres (below) in the public Parc de Villette in Paris, both place symbolic or intellectual function over practicalities.
It is interesting to explore how a contemporary folly could communicate and reflect the issues of private land development/ownership today, the commercialization of ideological space to a point where architecture and public space have become about consumerism.
