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 it may be. "In today's political climate of the UK it's pretty brave to overtly support the idea of free-market capitalism or anything related to it," wrote a user called Blobface.

Patrik Schumacher took to the comments thread several times to defend his position and flesh out his key arguments:

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Throwback: Apple has released a coffee table book chronicling 20 years of its products, which has prompted a fresh debate over the relevance of the tech giant.

"They really have run out of ideas," wrote a user called Calvin.

Other commenters chose to poke fun. "Is the smaller one light enough for fanboys to hold in one hand?" asked Stutelf. "Is it compatible with other books?" said Heywood Floyd.

One reader hinted that money would be better spent on a new product by tech rival Microsoft:

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Scratch the surface: just as architects and designers seem to be suffering from Apple fatigue, Microsoft is attempting to draw them in with Surface Studio, a hinged computer designed to turn from a desktop into a digital drawing surface.

"Interesting that Apple was listed second on the Dezeen Brands Hot List, yet hasn't launched anything as innovative as Microsoft has with the Surface Studio," said Roberto Sideris.

"Has potential but this is another Microsoft fail that will open the idea to other companies to do it right, and cheaper," said Yep.

Not all readers were convinced, stating that a shiny new screen won't redeem the PC's outdated hardware:

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