Is Prince Charles right to meddle in architecture?

[loz]

Prince Charles is under attack from architects this week after apparently using his influence to block a building project designed by Lord Rogers, a well known proponent of modern glass & steel, and inside out designs.

Whereas Prince Charles prefers a more 'classical' design.

BBC NEWS | UK | Prince under fire from architects

Meanwhile Lord Rogers has himself spoken out telling the BBC
BBC NEWS | England | London | Architect Rogers angry at Prince

there could be "a dangerous political clash" unless the power of the royals is re-examined.

Two questions?
1. Is Prince Charles right? Should classical designs be prefered to modern architecture? Which do you prefer?
2. What's it to do with Prince Charles anyway? When did he become the arbiter of architectural taste? His he overstretching his authority?

[IronGiant]

Originally Posted by loz

Prince Charles is under attack from architects this week after apparently using his influence to block a building project designed by Lord Rogers, a well known proponent of modern glass & steel, and inside out designs.

Whereas Prince Charles prefers a more 'classical' design.

When did he become the arbiter of architectural taste?

In his own mind quite a long time ago:

In the annual lecture at the Royal Institute of British Architects (R.I.B.A.) this year he referred to his previous lecture 25 years ago when he apparently gave many people the impression he wanted to start a "style war" between supporters of classic and modern architecture or "drag the world back to the 18th Century".

In a joke about giving another lecture in 25 years' time, The Prince said he would probably have "shuffled off this mortal coil" and they would not have to worry about his "inconvenient interferences", before saying “unless of course they prove to be hereditary!”

[MikeTV]

I am wondering if this is just sour grapes on behalf of the architect concerned. As far as I am can tell, he hasn't actually interfered in the process, other than to express an opinion. Isn't he allowed to express an opinion? It is the Quatari establishment and their company that has dropped the proposed design. It hasn't even got the local planning proposal stage yet.

[Decadence]

If I had Charles' influence and did not approve of something I would definitely have the project stopped in favour of something more to my taste. I think he is right. As for some "dangerous political clash" I am not sure if two posh people should abuse the British Government for their own ends...Lord Rogers should just shut his pie-hole and admit he was bested...it's a simple food chain scenario and Charles is at the top of the pile.

[loz]

Originally Posted by MikeTV

I am wondering if this is just sour grapes on behalf of the architect concerned. As far as I am can tell, he hasn't actually interfered in the process, other than to express an opinion. Isn't he allowed to express an opinion? It is the Quatari establishment and their company that has dropped the proposed design. It hasn't even got the local planning proposal stage yet.

The suggestion is that he did more than "express his opinion"

A former planning minister said the prince had set a "very dangerous precedent" by using his contacts with the Qatari Royal Family to intervene.

The Middle Eastern owners withdrew their planning application on Friday.

The decision followed a direct intervention by the prince, who wrote to the chairman of Qatari Diar, urging him to consider alternatives to the modern design created by Lord Rogers's firm of architects.

[Isobutane]

Considering some of the disgusting, gray, dilapidated architecture that is all too prevalent in British cities, I am glad he's got the balls to stand up to these stupid lefty utopian do-gooders who think the only way to create any harmony between different sections of society is to build ugly, repulsive concrete monstrocities.

I personally think classical arcitecture looks much nicer than this modernist stuff, why do town planners want everywhere looking like a council estate?

[eric pisch]

he should mind his own business and stick to talking talking to trees and using the services of the royal privy

its no wonder in the insular and ultra privileged lifestyle that he leads that he cant stand anything that's less than 1000 years old

he hates the gherkin, well i love it, i see everyday driving into London and it looks great and its a giant middle finger up to elitist snobs.

[loz]

Originally Posted by Isobutane

Considering some of the disgusting, gray, dilapidated architecture that is all too prevalent in British cities, I am glad he's got the balls to stand up to these stupid lefty utopian do-gooders who think the only way to create any harmony between different sections of society is to build ugly, repulsive concrete monstrocities.

That's true. But I don't think "ugly, repulsive concrete monstrocities" is something Lord Rogers is famous for...

[eric pisch]

Originally Posted by loz

That's true. But I don't think "ugly, repulsive concrete monstrocities" is something Lord Rogers is famous for...

exactly

i think the phrase some of the most amazing and interesting buildings of our time would be more apt

Work

[Decadence]

None of those are my cup of tea...looking at them all together, "one trick pony" springs to mind.

[Foebane]

No, he's not right to meddle! In fact, I'd tell the big-eared chump to eff off - right to his face as well.

[eric pisch]

Originally Posted by Decadence

None of those are my cup of tea...looking at them all together, "one trick pony" springs to mind.

thats why they have other architects

like Sir Norman Foster

Foster + Partners

[loz]

Originally Posted by eric pisch

thats why they have other architects

like Sir Norman Foster

Not many architects designing Space Ports
Spaceport America

[Decadence]

Originally Posted by eric pisch

thats why they have other architects

like Sir Norman Foster

Foster + Partners

Some of that stuff is good, some of it is similar to the other guy...I should have been an architect, reckon I could do better if I knew more about how buildings are put together.

[loz]

You can see Lord Rogers and the Prince Charles commissioned design for Chelsea Barracks side by side here

From the pictures I have seen, I don't particularly like either of them...