More Comment – Page 347
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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.
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Opinion
Take it on the chin
Alsop’s letter only helped to confirm the public’s impression that architects are arrogant egomaniacs.
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Opinion
A critical debate
Are we losing architecture? Foster, it seems, is suffering from the same affliction as indie rockers and rappers once they become rich and successful.
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Opinion
Space and time
With acknowledgments to the principles explained in Sir Banister Fletcher’s book, The History of Architecture on the Comparative Method, I suggest architecture of all ages is: space, with a face, for a race, in a place, built with grace. So, see to it you modern version of the great ...
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Opinion
Which weather?
Bill Gething issues a weather warning (Solutions January 21), exhorting architects to take a lead in response to climate change.
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Opinion
Hes only just begun
How bitter is Clifford Bannister’s letter (January 7). Adjaye has got a phenomenal amount of good PR and press.
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Opinion
Modern manners
Wells Coates’s Isokon may deserve a small place in history, but Embassy Court certainly does not (Works January 21) .