Letters

摘要

The intervention of the Rt Hon John Hayes MP, minister for transport, should be welcomed for its central message: that the quality of design in transport infrastructure is important and should be improved ('Minister attacks Cult of Ugliness', AJ 10.11.16). In the UK we value our architectural heritage, especially our transport infrastructure, because it was mostly well-designed in the first place. Mr Hayes uses the 2012 extension to King's Cross Station as an example of good, modern design. However, because of its proximity to Cubitt's historic 1852 building, the award-winning design by John McAslan + Partners and Arup was afforded the budget, ambition and scrutiny that is frequently missing from projects of lesser heritage importance. Often creativity, aesthetics and good design are understood to make an important difference, but only where there is an existing environmental, heritage or social sensitivity.