Reply To: National Gallery Extension

I must also agree with BM’s remarks about the ‘random slits’, which I found completely distracted from the overall building. I felt sheer frustration that excellent simple spaces were left looking like a spotty teenager. Maybe they’re onto something I amn’t aware of, but I just thought Benson & Forsyth were trying to be too clever architecturally by half. The spaces are superb and should have been left to convey their power simply and modestly – like so many of Siza’s works. My great sympathy goes out to the contractor for his having to finish and deal with all these bits – though I don’t think he is, or should be, finished with them yet! Don’t get me wrong I still think it’s an excellent piece of work, and very importantly brings modern architecture ever more centre stage with public life in Ireland, but I feel that the spaces would have benefitted so much more from a ‘less is more’ approach.