All Letters to the editor articles – Page 6
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OpinionHampton Court controversy
The “carbuncle” speech, made when Charles Correa received his RIBA gold medal in 1984 ( Analysis May 17 ), was made at Hampton Court Palace (not the Mansion House) as the wonderful setting for the RIBA’s 150th anniversary.
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OpinionOld folks need to be coaxed
Your call to arms is so timely (“ Improving elderly care is an opportunity, not a chore ”, Leader May 17).
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OpinionKeep up the ribbing, RIBA
Hank Dittmar is wrong to suggest it is inappropriate for the RIBA to run campaigns ( Opinion May 3 ).
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OpinionPFI is the private fiasco initiative
I cannot believe the government is persevering with the PFI approach to the funding of public service construction — and only the large practices are going to get a look-in.
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OpinionClassicists were no craftsmen
Classical architecture of the Italian renaissance had already rejected many of the craft-reliant aspects of the architecture of the Middle Ages — Geoffrey Scott criticised the gothic revival for its demand for craftsmanship which had been lost due to the “simpler” construction required in classical architecture — so it is ...
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OpinionBig problems for small practices
There is a subtlety missing from Ruth Brennan’s quote from me in your Letters page last week.
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OpinionAn independent valuation of Arb
Can we know the identity of Mr W’s second architect (“Arb strikes off architect for trying to smear client”, News May 10 ), and are they now being investigated by the Arb to confirm the validity of their valuation?
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OpinionBattle lines drawn as architects join in the house-building debate
I’m afraid Dickon Robinson is correct and Simon Allford is wrong ( Debate May 3 ).
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OpinionSouthbank's leading question
Over 85% of people surveyed said they agreed with the approach to redeveloping the Southbank Centre ( News May 3 ) because the question asked is: “Our architectural approach is to retain, repair and refurbish the existing 1960s buildings whilst making better use of the indoor and outdoor spaces. Do ...
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OpinionLet Stirling echo the way we work
You state that at its peak on Channel 4 the Stirling Prize ceremony attracted 1.2 million viewers while just 280,000 watched its 2011 screening as part of BBC2’s Culture Show ( News May 3 ).
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OpinionSmall practices bridge the divide
There is no truth in Caroline Cole’s comments that a small practice cannot be a training ground for a large practice ( News April 19 ).
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OpinionProfession has ability to adapt
I was saddened by and sympathetic to Basil Rathbone’s reasons for leaving the RIBA ( Letters, May 3 ), but I was especially struck by his question: “What interest does it show in my struggle to win work against non-architects?”
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OpinionGove needs to learn his history
Michael Gove should read Catherine Burke’s recent book on Mary Medd to learn how our school designs evolved in a genuine effort to reduce child mortality and deliver utopian ideals that drew on ideas from America and Scandinavia ( Analysis April 26 ).
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OpinionWhere are these cash-rich firms?
We’ve worked with community land trusts trying to secure land and finance for local people to build their own houses, but — surprise, surprise — there was no finance available ( News April 26 ).
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OpinionWhat am I losing by leaving RIBA?
Although I do not have direct evidence, I firmly believe that small and sole practitioners in the vicinity of the major RIBA offices do indeed benefit — not just from the reflected glory that membership brings, but also from practical help and resources ( Debate April 26 ).
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OpinionProcurement is widening the gap
In the RIBA report Building Ladders of Opportunity the particular consequences of skewed UK procurement policy and practice were researched and evaluated.
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OpinionSchools fail to make the grade
It’s all very well talking about creativity and collaboration when designing schools ( Letters April 5 ), but all of this goes out of the window when we (teachers) are judged.
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OpinionDiscourse is key to understanding
The final paragraph of your editorial is chilling: “But the question she [Margaret Thatcher] posed — what are architects for and what is it they do? — is one governments continue to ask, yet one the profession has still failed to adequately answer” ( Leader April 12 ).
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OpinionWolf Prize needs a wider context
Some of our most eminent architects ( News April 19 ) are taking a “moral stand” in reprimanding Eduardo Souto de Moura for accepting an award from Israel, notwithstanding its government’s “escalating war crimes” — though which alleged crimes, which war or which escalation they do not say.
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OpinionEducation must include business
Architects need a good early grounding in business ( News April 19 ) in the hope that they do not undersell their skills, as is rampant at present.