Letter: Architecture class

Sir: I have some sympathy with the view expressed by Professor Michael Wickens (Letters, 11 December) that financial incentives should encourage architecture of higher 'quality' for future generations. However he makes the all too common assumption that those who seek to cut costs in buildings understand what they are missing, or failing to provide.

Alone among activities vital to the well-being of our society, the creation of its built environment is deemed to be a subject in which the public at large have no need to be educated, in which they will automatically know what they require. The study of architecture must take its proper place on the national school curriculum. Until then the relationship between architects and everyone else will remain fraught, and the standards attained by those who commission, construct and design buildings will remain as lamentably low as they now generally are.

Yours faithfully,

ANDREW WILLIAMSON

London, N5