The Irish Times

Architecture is a continuing event, its record written into the slowly changing landscape of our daily lives like growth rings in a tree trunk. It is, nevertheless, worthwhile to draw up a balance sheet from time to time, to step back a little and consider what we are doing - because we are all involved, whether we like it or not. Architecture, more importantly than being a profession, is a primary social need and this supposes that its cultural value is recognised by society. In Ireland, however, low levels of expectation of new buildings - and also of architectural awareness - are exacerbated by a lethal language gap between the professionals and the public that makes debate and communication almost impossible. Whatever the public's critical attitudes to new development, they are not expressed or heard in an effective manner. There is only so much that can be done by Frank McDonald in the The Irish Times In other countries reputable newspapers are expected to carry a weekly architecture page in their culture or review sections. When will one of our other newspapers take the public and social discussion of architecture and urban design to this next level?