A Question Of Protocol

摘要

A year after he labelled an award-winning university building designed by Patel laylor a "dustbin", the Prince of Wales has once again graced us with his views on architecture. His latest intervention is on Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners' design for Qatari Diar's Chelsea Barracks scheme, and it took the form of a letter to the emir of Qatar calling for the job to be given to neoclassical architect Quinlan Terry. This comes a week after the RIBA announced Charles had accepted its invitation to give the RIBA Trust lecture in May, which must be galling to those who hoped that, 25 years after the carbuncle speech, the prince and the institute could make friends. Although they are unpalatable to the modernist lobby, the prince's views are shared by many and have a right to be heard. But by going over the heads of Westminster's planners, he is exploiting his privileged position.