While on the subject of Bond Street, I should point out that the redevelopment of Cork Street is nearing completion. This was originally controversial because it involved the eviction of some long-standing small galleries. But the buildings themselves were of no significance and they have been replaced by Rogers Stirk Harbour in a scheme which is admirably and perhaps surprisingly well mannered, a gentlemanly intervention complete with the first arcade for maybe eighty years. The question is whether Pollen Estate can attract the big international galleries. I very much hope so.
| Charles | Saumarez | Smith | 
Jonathan Meades on Rogers’ recent spate of building for the London super rich: “Quite why the greatest architect of his age, who has campaigned for equality, social housing, lifestyle-size street furniture, improved cities, community communities, multicultural handshake sheds and countless other right-on causes should all but shred his reputation by designing obscenely expensive and very ugly flats is a mystery.”
I dont think this building falls into whatever category Jonathan Meades may have been talking about. It is an elegant and restrained intervention on Cork Street and Old Burlington Street with a new mall between the two, and will hopefully support the future success and good fortune of the many wonderful galleries in the area, as well as the new galleries it is designed to house.
It will also provide stimulating things for the public to look at, not least a wonderful and ever changing display in one of the spaces of works by students from the RA schools