LEADER

摘要

Last month I spent a few days in Cape Town to interview Thomas Heatherwick about his Zeitz Museum of Contemporary African Art. If it proves a success, it will cement Heatherwick's place as not only a great designer, but as a master builder. After talking to him about his work, it became obvious that Heatherwick (pictured) has a propensity for making the most of opportunities. He doesn't sit and wait for the commission to come, but works to make things happen. His award for contribution to the profession at the AJ120, voted for by the employees of the practices on the list, should come as no surprise, but I wonder if the spectacular nature of his work hides a greater lesson to be learned from the designer - that of exploiting the opportunity. Currently, there are two huge opportunities for the architectural profession to reassert itself at the heart of the construction process and also as a considerable force in the eyes of the government and public - BIM and housing.