Readers are reacting to a keynote speech delivered by Patrik Schumacher in this week's comment update, in which the architect called for the scrapping of public housing and deregulation of markets.
Schumac-ernomics: speaking at the World Architecture Festival in Berlin, Zaha Hadid Architects director Patrik Schumacher mapped out a solution to London's housing crisis that involved privatising all public space ? creating a storm in Dezeen's comments section.
Some readers compared the architect to US president-elect Donald Trump and outspoken UK newspaper columnist Katie Hopkins.
"This is Trumpism essentially ? for architecture. Veering into social engineering, weeding out the poor and a blueprint to make London playground for the rich," wrote Steve R. "Sounds like he just got out of bed with Margaret Thatcher, not realising the 80s ended like thirty years ago," said Samb0363, prompting Schumacher to reply, saying "We urgently need a new Thatcher!"
"Schumacher appears quite happy to accept artificial government interventions in the financial markets that serve to benefit his target clientele ? namely QE/shadow banking and artificially low interest rates ? but at the same time is calling for the abolition of any form of state intervention to protect the poorest in society or preserve basic standards of living," argued regular commenter Ralph Kent.
But some applauded Schumacher for laying out an alternative vision, however unpopular ...