MetaFilter posts tagged with PrinceCharles

The dead hand of neo-traditionalism

acb — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 04:39:49 -0800

Controversy has erupted in Britain after it emerged that Prince Charles used his personal influence with Qatari royalty to sack modernist architect Richard Rogers from a development in London. Charles has been an outspoken critic of modern architecture and advocate of neo-traditionalist styles, and even created a model village to showcase his ideas about "proper" architecture. Charles' preferred replacement for Rogers is Quinlan Terry, known for his neo-classicist leanings. There is more at stake than the question of Charles' architectural tastes. For one, Britain's constitutional monarchy is meant to refrain from exercising powers over the day-to-day business of government, and the possibility of the future king having used his influence to bend the planning process to his tastes raises a troubling precedent. Some are saying that such interventions on his part are specifically unconstitutional.

Hugh, Pugh, Barley, McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble, Chuck

fearfulsymmetry — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 10:34:21 -0800

Prince Charles has been a notable critic of architecture over the years. Now he's had a go himself, designing a fire station in the village of Poundbury. Whilst the reception to the Prince's efforts has not been overwhelmingly positive at least the commentators at the Daily Mail like it

Uncomplimentary about complementary.

Phanx — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 08:22:18 -0800

A leaflet on alternative medicine produced by the Prince's Foundation for Integrated Health has been condemned by Britain's first Professor of Complementary Medicine. Prince Charles has exerted great influence in favour of alternative medicine in the UK, leading to the creation of the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council ('Ofquack'), due to begin work shortly. Now Edzard Ernst, in a letter to the Times, has called for the withdrawal of an FIH leaflet which he says is misleading: the FIH indignantly refuses, and counter-accuses Prof Ernst of seeking publicity for his forthcoming book.

Nikos Salingaros, Architecture Theorist

jayder — Sun, 05 Nov 2006 09:38:52 -0800

Nikos Salingaros is a mathematics professor and architecture theorist. His career has crossed disciplines: after starting out as a painter, Salingaros earned a Ph.D. in theoretical physics and published work in mathematics and physics. In 1983 Salingaros helped edit Christopher Alexander's book The Nature of Order (here are Salingaros' notes on the book), and thereafter began a career as a noted architecture theorist in his own right. Salingaros is an advocate for "new urbanism" in architecture, and he champions the ideas of architect Léon Krier (the "godfather of new urbanism") with the "pattern language" theory of Christopher Alexander ^(wiki). The excellent arts blog 2Blowhards conducted a fascinating five-part interview with Salingaros: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Salingaros just published a new book, A Theory of Architecture (2Blowhards discusses it here) with a preface written by HRH the Prince of Wales ^(wiki).

Prince Charles adding to the gaiety of nations

Mocata — Fri, 21 Mar 2003 06:32:09 -0800

As everyone knows, the Bush and Windsor families are linked by (reptilian) blood. Could it be that George Bush fils has engineered this war to distract the world’s media from the shitstorm which could be about to engulf his distant cousin, Prince Charles? A man, we’re told, who requires the services of a valet even when providing a urine sample…

HTuttle — Thu, 13 Dec 2001 02:38:46 -0800

Prince Charles attacks soaring egos of skyscraper architects "Prince Charles also called for the squares beneath skyscrapers to contain real public amenities such as restaurants and shops instead of incomprehensible pieces of art."..."what [the American novelist] Tom Wolfe entertainingly described as 'a turd in every plaza'."
Does plaza art provide anything for you but direction landmarks? Are there any that you like/hate -d (now) ? I enjoy seeing large works here, but also enjoy coming across a nice city piece by surprise.