In this week's comments update, readers were united in their objection to Patrik Schumacher's suggestion that deregulated capitalism was the solution to the global housing crisis.
Unfettered chatter: Patrik Schumacher, the principal of Zaha Hadid Architects, was again criticised by readers. This time it was for his recent essay titled "Only capitalism can solve the housing crisis", which called for the removal of space standards and rent controls.
Myles Cummings was in direct opposition to Schumacher's ideology:Â "Unfettered capitalism is what caused the housing crisis. So long as housing is prioritised as a commodity rather than basic human right then this problem isn't going anywhere"
"The danger with Schumacher is not what he says, but the support he receives from people who believe that he represents 'fresh thinking' and an antidote to the post-war mindset," pointed out Charles CU.
Chris Becket was not impressed in the slightest:Â "It seems that Schumacher has ripped a few pages out of Reagan's trickle-down economy playbook, the essence of which is p*ssing on my leg and telling me its rain."
"I think Schumacher would be welcome in Trump's cabinet," joked JB Moses.
Mr Shallcross felt that there was an ulterior motive at play: "An unstoppable narcissist using essays as adverts for winning corporate clients, the only people who benefit from increased urban density. All that removing living spaces does is encourage people to spend unethical amounts of time at work."
Some just couldn't believe that history was repeating itself.
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"Marketing": IKEA unveiled part of its upcoming Markerad furniture collection, designed by Off-White fashion label founder Virgil Abloh, but readers felt the range was nothing more than a publicity stunt.
"Is this IKEA's idea of a joke?" fumed Bmanic.
"Why doesn't IKEA commission young designers or collaborate with small to mid-size design companies, instead of this pathetic marketing ploy?" wondered Yh.
Derek Elliot suggested the collection was a sign of an internet-obsessed market: "It will sell, but I don't like it."
"This is sad. Marketing is greater than talent nowadays huh!" added Mo.
"Quote marks, plastic thingies. Why is design and lifestyle media so crazy about Abloh? I don't see any substance in his work," asked Hype.
But Sorperdida defended the designer and his current elevated position: "He is the interface between black American youth striving to emancipate itself through fashion, art and architecture, and the industry seeking to expand its markets (and legitimise itself) within various subcultures."
One reader thought they knew why IKEA had chosen Abloh for the collection.
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Spinning plates: Jean Nouvel's near-complete National Museum of Qatar was captured in new images by Dutch photographer Iwan Baan, but readers suggested the project looked like dirty dishes rather than a museum.
"This is the kind of mess I'd write my flatmates a note above the kitchen sink about," sneered The Huey
"Seriously, looks like a pile of dirty dishes. Major thumbs down," agreed Archi.
"The vulgar result of an architect enslaved to digital form-making and a future poster-child for the stylistically inconsequential architecture of the early 21st century," cringed HeywoodFloyd.
But Dr Cardwell went against the grain to defend Nouvel's work: "Unlike most of the pouting, spluttering and venting contributors, I have actually seen this building. It is wonderful, poetic and imaginative and absolutely right for its time and place."
This reader showed their appreciation in a slightly different manner.
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A quiet place: graduate Lilach Borenstein's proposed multi-storey park tower, which is designed to act as a sanctuary from hectic urban living, seemed to induce stress in readers.
"I'm having a hard time taking this seriously," said Rthko.
"This is typical of design lunacy. Create computer generated graphics, stack them together and then try to justify architectural function. This is not what good architectural practice is about," agreed Hugh.
"It looks like a damaged tooth," spat out Nicole D.
"The individual levels, if dismantled and set up as room-size installations in a museum somewhere, could be interesting art pieces, but as an architectural project, it is a folly in all senses of the word," judged Jon.
For this reader, the concept failed at the first hurdle.
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