More Comment – Page 347
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Opinion
Good example
We read with interest the news of your 50/50 campaign to recruit and retain greater numbers of female architects.
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Opinion
The young hold key to community vision
In these days of high-speed urban renaissance, with its emphasis on social inclusion and desire for high-quality architecture, how do we successfully address the gap between vision and delivery?
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OpinionConcrete Boots
Neighbourly artThere are many ways to get to know your neighbours but, in the 21st century, it would seem that the traditional act of popping round to borrow a cup of sugar no longer measures up. At a residential block in Glasgow designed by CZWG, local artist Daphne Wright has ...
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Opinion
Ian Martin
Naturally, there will be the usual moaning from small practices, shuffling around irritably in their dressing gowns
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Opinion
Planners could yet be the solution
Here’s a test for the planners. The new national planning policy, unveiled on Tuesday, demands right at the beginning that “design which fails to take the opportunities available for improving the character and quality of an area should not be accepted”.
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Opinion
Commercial story gets in the way
The Houston in Euston piece (Works January 28) contained an entirely predictable comment by your reviewer. He was clearly rather troubled by the Wellcome Trust building as it has a very straightforward, client-friendly, rectangular plan-form clothed in a relentlessly logical elegant exterior — in short an immensely satisfying piece ...
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Opinion
Live by the code
I understand there is scepticism about the need for design codes (News January 28). We hear that they “stifle” creativity, but this argument originates from two camps — those architects whose work far exceeds any design code aspiration, and those who think only in terms of objects and not of ...
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Opinion
Fixing costs
It was intriguing to read your article, “Housing’s quick fix” (News Analysis January 28), regarding the viability of a £60,000 house and PRP’s “affordable house” designs (pictured left), not least because it is possible to build a straightforward family home for that cost. The crux of the situation is the ...
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Opinion
Perfect professor
The sudden death of Professor Ross Jamieson is a very sad loss. I am indebted to him for teaching me and setting me up in my career. He always had a kind word, patient ear and extensive knowledge. A perfect teacher.
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Opinion
Dont blubber
Congratulations to BD’s Ellis Woodman for having produced two balanced and thoughtfully critical reviews of buildings by high-profile architects (Works January 7 and 14). We need critics who are not afraid to reveal the flaws in the buildings they review and question their architectural qualities beyond the reputations of their ...
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Opinion
Wheres the love?
Graham Towers is right to point out that Wells Coates’s Embassy Court is a bad neighbour to Brighton’s Regency architecture (Letters January 28). But it’s there now, it’s listed, and poor old Wells Coates only really did about three buildings, so may be Towers could try to love it a ...
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Opinion
Empathy myth
Malcolm Fraser’s article (News Analysis January 21), though interesting, is flawed. You only have to look at the work of Zaha Hadid, Kathryn Findlay and Amanda Levete to know that the myth of the “empathetic” female architect is just that, a myth. Also, his analysis of Corb’s theory is oversimplistic: ...
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Opinion
We want to design
The debate about women in architecture has to move away from spatial ability. Not all women are empathetic and not all men can read maps: 50% of female architects leaving the profession is not due to a sudden recognition of spatial inferiority.We did not study for so long to introduce ...
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Opinion
Ancient heroes
I was delighted that Malcolm Fraser’s article drew attention to Ancient Egypt. It is to Egyptian civilisation that we may look as an example of Fraser’s empathetic approach, with its high status and appreciation of women, property and marriage rights protected in law. This set the context for many achievements, ...
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Opinion
Teaching trade-off
Perhaps the architectural and teaching professions should do a trade-off. At our local primary school of eight teachers, all are female. Teachers do the necessary long hours, the environment could only improve, and our
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Opinion
Narcissists who cant take criticism
Will Alsop’s anger last month that anyone dare criticise his work illuminated a widening rift in architectural culture.
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OpinionConcrete Boots
Car crimeWriter and English Heritage commissioner Bill Bryson has warned that Britain is in danger of becoming as reliant on cars as the US. As an illustration, he told a story about his neighbours when he lived in New England. They used to drive to his house from two doors ...
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Opinion
Ian Martin
Text from R peeps in: ‘Any1 mention Thames G8way yet? NB must put qual design @ LOVE of procURment process’
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Opinion
Brits must grasp Gateway nettle
If the 2002 Urban Summit was anything to go by, the 2,000 delegates at next week’s second leg in Manchester will witness a smoothly executed exercise in New Labour propaganda.
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Opinion
Arrogance of the would-be radical
A feeble attempt at humour scarcely disguises the petulance of Will Alsop’s response to criticism (Letters January 21) by questioning the credentials of your excellent buildings editor in daring to comment on his Goldsmiths building.