What has the Prince Given Architecture? ; the Prince of Wales May No Longer Be the Most Influential Voice in British Building Design but His Latest Intervention Over Chelsea Barracks Is to Be Feared for a Different Reason

Evening Standard - London › April 21, 2009

Linked as:

Summary

NICE PLACES: 20

TWENTY-FIVE years ago next month members of the Royal Institute of British Architects sat down to dinner at Hampton Court. It was the institute's 150th anniversary and they were expecting the customary bromide congratulations from their guest of honour, Prince Charles. Little did they expect the spirit of Henry VIII to seep from the palace's ancient brickwork, causing his heir to declare, in effect, "off with your heads".

See the full content of this document

Extract

What has the Prince Given Architecture? ; the Prince of Wales May No Longer Be the Most Influential Voice in British Building Design but His Latest Intervention Over Chelsea Barracks Is to Be Feared for a Different Reason

Now it's all coming around again. The Prince is trying to pull strings with fellow royal the Emir of Qatar to stop the modernist design for Chelsea Barracks by Rogers Stirk Harbour and Partners, which the emir is funding.

Some columnists, politicians and local activists are applauding, while leading architects are objecting to his intervention in the planning process.

The RIBA, meanwhile, admirably openminded, has invited the Prince back to speak again, for its 175th anniversary...

See the full content of this document