In this week's comments update, readers are discussing the news that Thomas Heatherwick's Humanise campaign is developing a master's degree at Loughborough University.
The degree aims to challenge conventional architecture education and to foster a generation of architects who will "inspire joyful architecture", in line with the goals of the movement.
Thomas Heatherwick's Humanise campaign launches "joyful architecture" degree
"A potentially noble, mostly naive goal"
Some readers were far from convinced. "Architecture education is already a joke, adding another punchline doesn't change anything," wrote Rob Rohena.
Michael Michael couldn't pass up on the opportunity for irony, pointing out that "joyful architecture is an interesting entry point coming from someone who has made some of the most depressing subjects we have in NYC." Commenter Weetbix was in the same boat, writing "gawd, the emotions that spilled over me when I read this article ? joy was not one of them."
In a comment that was upvoted 13 times, butnotreally suggested the degree represents "a potentially noble, mostly naive goal being addressed by the wrong people in the most nonsensical, self-serving way."
More balanced in their assessment was Tony M, writing "contentious is the word that springs to mind here". They continued "Heatherwick may not always get everything right, but some of the naysayers are missing the point"...