Status

摘要

Malcolm Millais has penned the following response to recent contributions from Andrew Gregg and David Brett regarding status. As I was mentioned in your column (2 November) by your correspondents Andrew Gregg and David Brett, may I be allowed a few more words? The points they make are linked. Andrew Gregg thinks that engineers can't be lead designers due to the 'inherent limitations of the profession.' This means, apparently, that they are unable to give projects a 'culturally motive force1, which only architects can. Hence the Albert Hall, the Dorchester Hotel and the Forth Bridge, all designed by engineers, lack cultural motive forces, whereas the Gherkin, the Shard (of Glass) and numerous, now demolished, tower blocks all have this rare commodity.