More Comment – Page 368
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Opinion
Pringle matchless
In the race for the presidency, no other candidate can match Jack Pringle for breadth of experience across the RIBA spectrum. He has been prominent in issues that will dominate the next presidency, such as PFI, a fair deal for small practices, sustainability and education.
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Opinion
Charlie’s angle
Just a note to say how good your article on the Prince Charles 20th “anniversary” was (Special report May 28) — much better than some of the other stuff that’s been published on this subject recently.Just for the record, I’d like to reiterate two points that I made in the ...
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Opinion
New world vision
In the light of a report on race in architectural education, which found that many students from ethnic minorities feel alienated at architecture schools, you rightly (Editorial May 21) argue that one necessary step is to “introduce architecture courses that deal with architecture from places such as India, the Caribbean ...
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Opinion
The ruling elite
As a black student I have never experienced direct discrimination from individuals or even racist tendencies (BD May 21). What I do find, however, is that the architectural profession in general is elitist in its outlook. This is evident in the type of work that architects aspire to do (commercial ...
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Opinion
Ignored resource
Cabe's disappointing findings in its study of race are sobering. Why should a profession that celebrates originality, creativity and difference in its buildings and products be so poor at encouraging this richness in its people ?All professional services rely on people as their greatest and most valuable resource. It makes ...
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Opinion
Applauding Schosa
We write to clarify Archaos’s position regarding the declaration on education by the Standing Conference of Heads of Schools of Architecture (News and Editorial May 14).The current system of education has great failings, which will be exacerbated by tuition fees and the current professional situation. We welcome Schosa’s declaration as ...
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OpinionStone age methods
What do some architects find so attractive about gabions (News May 21)?Gabions plus wire cutters equal a heap of stones plus nasty sharp wires. Gabions plus rust equal a heap of stones plus a nasty rusty sharp wires.Gabions with small stones equal a home for small brown furry creatures with ...
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Opinion
Brighton breach
While it is true that Brighton’s part II received a minor condition from the RIBA in November, the context in which it appeared in BD (News May 14) was perhaps misleading. For information, Brighton has recently achieved prescription from Arb for all its courses, including a full four years for ...
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Opinion
Access denied
We don’t just report the news — sometimes we make it. The banning of our Scottish correspondent Peter Wilson from the media tour of Holyrood reached the chamber of the Scottish Parliament, and the news and leader pages of the Scotsman. MSP Margo MacDonald demanded an explanation, declaring “it’s an ...
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Opinion
Own goal for FA
Great excitement this week when it seemed the enormous arch at the new Wembley Stadium had finally been heaved into position. An image on the Football Association’s web site, with the headline “Big arch lift begins”, showed the arch at a 45 degree angle. But a call to the FA’s ...
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Opinion
Tell it like it is
New architectural terms could be seeping into common usage. Our own Ian Martin’s web site www.spa.uk.net/lexicon.htm lists Designosaur, an architect who uses a drawing board instead of a computer; Designosaurus Rex, a member of the royal family with 20th century views; Islingtundra, a vast plain of cool minimalism, the natural ...
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Opinion
Singled out
Meanwhile, Tory candidate Steve Norris wins the prize for best quip at last week’s London mayoral debate on architecture. When Ken Livingstone mentioned his re-entry into the Labour fold, Norris swiftly congratulated the mayor for being “the only person to join the Labour Party in the last year”.
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Opinion
It doesn’t add up
Unfortunately, many members of the audience found the candidates’ agreement on issues such as the Thames Gateway, the green belt and skyscrapers unconvincing.A heckler shouted: “You’re not all supposed to agree — there’s an election in 20 days”. Sadly, she had got her sums wrong and the candidates all agreed ...
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Opinion
Ian Martin
Practitioners who continue to 'sport' bow ties and cravats put other team members at risk
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Opinion
Fees need to fund better planning
Should you or your client be made to pay for pre-planning discussions?
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OpinionEva Jiricna
The government has invited the cream of young eastern European architectural talent to workshops on practising in the UK. Jiricna, who hails from the Czech Republic, will talk at the V&A next week about the emerging talent
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Opinion
Staying silent is not an option
Architects, like the 50 diplomats in the UK and US, must stand up as a profession and take on the politicians, who, as usual, are not able to admit their policies have failed, and thereby change them. If not we will all be complicit with an amoral policy that, in ...
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Opinion
Ripe for details
While not wishing to cast aspersions on the laudable aims of the recent study of race (News May 21), it is worth noting that there is a broad spectrum of socio-economic, geographical and temperamental characteristics covered by the term “white male”. At the risk of appearing flippant, a fruit and ...