微密圈

To a packed house of designers and industry figures, Prince Charles delivered a quiet, low-key speech that sought to repair ties with the RIBA and emphasise the importance of sustainable, humanist architecture.

But it did include a pointed jibe at Lord Rogers, the designer of the planned Chelsea Barracks redevelopment. Charles highlighted the fact that 鈥淧ritzker prize-winning鈥� modern architects often live in classical buildings, as Lord Rogers does. It was Charles鈥� decision to write to the backers of the Chelsea Barracks scheme that did much to fuel the controversy behind the speech.

However, he started with an apology 鈥� of a sort. Referring to his famous 鈥渃arbuncle鈥� speech to the RIBA in 1984, he said: 鈥淚 am sorry if I somehow left the faintest impression that I wished to kickstart some kind of 鈥榮tyle war鈥� between classicists and modernists.鈥�

However, he soon returned to his favourite theme 鈥� the creative poverty of the 鈥渕odernist experiment鈥� when compared with traditional architecture. It was left to RIBA president Sunand Prasad to deliver a respectful riposte (see below).

The reception to the speech was muted, but generally positive. Robert Adam, the neo-classicist architect, said he was 鈥渧ery pleased鈥�. He said: 鈥淗e reached a hand out to the industry. It was a very positive speech, and really showed up those saddoes who didn鈥檛 turn up.鈥�

He reached a hand out. It really showed up those saddoes who didn鈥檛 turn up

Robert Adam

However, Bill Dunster, designer of eco-home BedZed, found the prince鈥檚 criticism of 鈥渆co-bling鈥� old-fashioned. He said: 鈥淭he 鈥榖ling鈥� he dismissed can play a major part in helping this country reach its obligations in achieving Code for Sustainable Homes level six. His comments were extremely unhelpful and poorly researched.鈥�

Richard Steer, chairman of event sponsor Gleeds, said he felt it was a 鈥渃onciliatory鈥� speech. He said: 鈥淚t went down well, even though it wasn鈥檛 as exciting as it might have been.

He is 25 years older than when he made the last speech, and I think architects too have moved on since then. They鈥檙e not as precious as they once were.鈥�

It was also announced that the RIBA Trust and the Prince鈥檚 Foundation for the Built Environment would collaborate on a series of seminars next year. Whether they will reap as much press attention as this speech remains to be seen.