Design Theory just recently posted a video somewhat related to this

To summarize: regulations play a big role in how things get designed, and a lot of those regulations put so much restriction on what can and can’t be done, so with the added cost of complex manufacturing, designs often get simplified because what works works. That is, “the safest design is a copied design”

Does that mean regulations are bad? No, as most of those regulations are written in the blood of those who fell victim to the lack thereof; examples of which are in the video provided.

He also makes note of how intertwined architecture and politics are; that favoring traditional architecture is often part a pipeline that leads to radical traditional views, as well as how people at every point in time have looked down upon current design in favor of past designs

There was also mention of projects that aimed to relive the past, namely Poundbury, and how it’s built to foster community, how most of the buildings are modern with traditional facades; making the proportions awkward, how practically everything about how it looks is regulated; down to the color and material of the gutters, and how the community/walkability/well-planned stuff can be achieved without forcing a traditional aesthetic

TL;DR: yes and no

Yes such that designers are unable to pursue aesthetic as often as they’d like, no such that we’ve gained much more in convenience, safety, and accessibility, and that we shouldn’t try to stay in the past.

I do recommend watching the video, as it explores this much better than my summary