More Opinion – Page 160
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Opinion
Learning from the past
As politicians and programme managers struggle with cutting investment in school buildings they should remember that we have been this way before, and learn from the mistakes of the past
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Opinion
Simple lessons
Toby Young and Jonathan Ellis-Miller (Debate October 1) are after the same things: a dignified, cultured environment where children feel safe, confident and happy in their surroundings, an environment that need not be over-designed or costly. What’s striking is the inability of the profession, and potential clients, to communicate what’s ...
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Opinion
Time will tell
Your report “Architects take heat for high cost of BSF” (News October 1) shows how incredibly weak the profession is. In other European countries, people with the views preached by Michael Gove and Toby Young are marginalised as raving lunatics.I simply refuse to believe there is no scientific material available ...
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OpinionCareless talk
The idea that a school should have won this year’s Stirling Prize to send out “the right message” is wrong (just as Accordia winning was a message-sender). The social aspect of architectural practice is overplayed nowadays.Teachers know more about what makes a great school than architects ever will. When DRMM’s ...
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OpinionRegaled/rejected
You might be interested to compare these images of the Stirling-winning Maxxi and the recently-rejected-for-listing South Bank Centre. If I was using the Private Eye format, I might switch the names.The RIBA website today calls the Maxxi “a building for the staging of art”. Don’t we have one of those ...
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Opinion
Every crowd has a silver lining
East London has lost out through Locog’s decision to re-route the marathon, but the news may not be all bad
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OpinionCan building in the desert ever be sustainable?
Arup’s Mike Beaven is optimistic about the potential for zero-carbon development in arid landscapes, while Rab Bennetts says such efforts are absurd
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OpinionDeath rattle
Boots had a somewhat awkward Stirling Prize dinner with Cabe executive member, Sarah Gaventa sat on the other side of the table
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OpinionOf dormice and men
Kent County Council’s decision to put dormice before development demonstrates the humaneness that should inform our planning
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OpinionFixing the regeneration game
The London Plan should adopt measures to stop regeneration failing the very people it is intended to help
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Opinion
Time off studies for good behaviour?
The imminent spending review will force architecture course providers to get creative.
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OpinionDon’t monkee with South Bank
The new generation of MPs could do with a solid grounding in architectural principles
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OpinionWhere to draw the line?
Last week’s news that the King Abdullah Sports City project has been slashed may have been a calamity in terms of fees for the practices involved, but as someone who worked on the project (and resigned) it came as a relief
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Opinion
Building blocks
In response to your report on Libya (“Author urges architects to reconsider Libya work” News September 17), I lived in Libya for most of 2005, working on Great Man-Made River pumping stations projects. I lived in Sirt, about halfway between Tripoli and Benghazi. I may have been the only UK ...
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OpinionShaky principles
I can’t look at MVRDV’s Balancing Barn without humming that tune “This is the Self-Preservation Society” or, for that matter, wanting to blow a little more than the bloody doors off it
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Opinion
Clocking off
I support all Tom Ball says on the 2012 countdown clock in Trafalgar Square (Letters September 24)
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Opinion
Capital notion
I have often used the anecdote of Cedric Price at the 1978 ArtNet event (Archive September 24) as an illustration of how architecture can enable and assist human behaviour (for better or worse)
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Opinion
Vintage harvest
John Pawson serving 2003 Chateau Margaux at his private view (Boots September 24)?
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OpinionIs bespoke school design a good investment?
Yes, says Jonathan Ellis-Miller, bespoke design can improve attainment without breaking the bank; but Toby Young finds more evidence for investing in teachers than buildings
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OpinionLabour of love for Levete
Amanda Levete may be Michael Gove’s favourite architect, but her heart belongs to another. The politician’s pin-up was spotted at this week’s Labour Party conference where she was hoping to celebrate her friend David Miliband’s election as new Labour leader.Alas, it was not to be and after his defeat she ...