More Opinion – Page 373
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Opinion
Chinese see red
London-based Weston Williamson is down to the final three for a new train station in Beijing. But the practice had some interesting feedback from the Chinese client on its original design. The station was originally a bright shade of Communist red, a colour the practice thought the client might appreciate, ...
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Opinion
Embracing the 'bulge'
Look out for references to architecture in John Prescott's next speech following his love-in with architecture's cream of the crop last week. After showing them around the modernist refurbishment at his Admiralty House HQ last week, Prescott sat down over a hearty dinner of beef pastries and talked about architecture. ...
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OpinionConstructive arguments
James Woudhuysen's new book is opinionated, clever and has hit a raw nerve with architects.
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Opinion
Holyrood and a question of trust
Never before has the role of the architect come under such intense public scrutiny as at the Holyrood inquiry over the past five months. The business and design practices of both RMJM and Enric Miralles' Barcelona firm have been picked over as though they were the subject of a ...
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OpinionBinding contracts
Detailed contracts and tight deadlines mean less time for creativity and more distrust between parties
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Opinion
Offending Arb
I was recently prosecuted for contravening the regulations of the RIBA and Arb. Quite right, too. I was guilty of such contravention and given a conditional discharge with £200 costs.This cost the RIBA and Arb a considerable sum for sending a barrister to Bedford, supported by an expensive central London ...
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Opinion
Gehry’s star pupil
When Frank Gehry makes a presentation for his next project, don’t be surprised if Hollywood movie star Brad Pitt pipes up. Fresh from his heroic role as Achilles in his latest film, Pitt is now believed to be serving an informal apprenticeship at Gehry’s Santa Monica office. Pitt’s work placement ...
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Opinion
Noisy celebrations
Young Architect of the Year, Austrian practice Querkraft got a lesson in British boozing after the awards ceremony last week. After the formal proceedings, architecture’s great and good decided to take the winners to a nearby pub to continue the celebrations. But, Querkraft partners Peter Sapp and Jacob Dunkl looked ...
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Opinion
The gates of history
A very interesting argument in favour of designing gated communities was this week put forward by architect John Thompson, who is working on a huge new scheme in Moscow. Thompson said he felt comfortable designing gated communities because, historically, all communities were gated. He argued that all towns and cities ...
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Opinion
Host with the most
SMC Gower Architects has to be applauded for thinking big. The practice recently sent out an invite for the launch of its new offices in Leeds with the proud boast that other invited guests included Tony Blair, George Bush, the Queen and, just to add a touch of glamour, supermodel ...
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Opinion
Basildon bonds
Basildon residents have taken umbrage with Terry Farrell after he pledged to prevent the “Basildonisation” of Edinburgh. It may have made a nice line for Edinburgh’s most famous architectural Sassenach just weeks into his reign as the city’s design tsar, but bridges already need building in Essex – or perhaps ...
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OpinionThe new revolutionaries
Aspiring Russian architects are increasingly frustrated with the state of design in Russia as the oligarchs call the shots and formal training is pushed aside. But there is hope, say José Esteves de Matos and Angus Morrogh-Ryan after a visit to Moscow
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Opinion
A lack of training
Your report "Design law at last" and leader (March 26) reported good news for all architects. All those who used their influence to amend the Planning Bill should be congratulated. It should be understood, however, that those working in the public sector have given their wholehearted support for ...
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Opinion
Poor precedents
One good thing that good design “at the heart of planning legislation” could bring is its equal opportunity in rural as well as urban areas. But let’s not get too excited; we might well view the new planning legislation with some foreboding. When not all architects agree on what constitutes ...
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Opinion
Bill is bad news
Far from being pleased that "good design" is to be an additional factor that planning authorities will now have to take into account when considering planning applications, I fear it may well prove to be a poisoned chalice. The term is impossible to define and its interpretation will therefore inevitably ...
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Opinion
A-level exposé
Damn it! Ian Martin has rumbled me (March 26). No A-levels and an architectural education in a metal shed that morphed into a polytechnic and a university years after I left. Will any planning department ridden with Channel 5 newsreader lookalikes and lawyers ever understand my statement on concept and ...
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Opinion
Not quite so tall
I am writing in relation to your article “Airport’s challenge to tallest tower” (News March 19). I would like to put the record straight in relation to several errors and omissions contained within this piece by your journalist Chris Mugan. First, the project’s architects should have been credited as DMWR ...
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Opinion
Defending Arb
Jack Pringle's comment about an RIBA-administered register (News March 19) is not new. It was mooted previously when the Architects Act was being debated. Current thinking in government and consumer circles is that professional and regulatory bodies ought to be separate to avoid conflicts of interest. Members look to their ...