StructureHub

…according to Lord Richard Rogers, just a misled dilettante bored with unemployment.

Rogers’ zinger was provoked by Prince Charles’ ”back door” advocacy against Rogers’ design of a major Chelsea development funded by Qatar Diar.  The prince was so successful in fact that Qatar Diar simply canceled construction - and apparently this is not the first time he has succeeded in throwing his weight in the right places.

Prince Charles may indeed have an unbecoming tendency to dabble as such, but then again, at least he is well-intentioned.  I’d rather him be interested in architecture than idly stand by as some monstrosity is put up or old building is torn down.  Besides, whenever he enters the fray, public interest/awareness of particular projects goes up, which reduces the risk of more scars being carved into the landscape (whether he wins the debate or not).

Plus he’s rather good at dishing zingers himself, deriding one project involving the National Gallery as “a monstrous carbuncle on the face of a much loved and elegant friend.”  I wish Americans were as eloquent with their insults.    Maybe we’d have less of these and more of these.

Via NYTimes

Image courtesy of hoder