Here is an interesting moral dilemma for architects. The forthcoming competition to redevelop the British Museum will be amongst the biggest, most interesting and most prestigious not just in the UK, but in the world. But in my experience, architects are more concerned and more aware of the relationship between buildings and climate change than most, as reflected in the declaration Architects Declare UK, which was instigated by Haworth Tompkins, one of the best and most thoughtful UK practices which might – and should – be considered. So, this may subtly influence and limit the field of practices who are considered to the British Museum’s detriment. Herzog & de Meuron are available because they haven’t signed the declaration. But most UK practices have.
Before someone points it out on my behalf, I worked very happily with BP as a sponsor in the 1990s, but times are changing, in a way that the trustees of the British Museum have chosen rather aggressively to ignore.
| Charles | Saumarez | Smith | 