Mushroom clouds

This article lambasts the lamentable judgement of the Mies van der Rohe Award jury in shortlisting the Metropol Parasol in Seville by Jurgen Mayer H. Known locally as the "poisoned mushrooms" this trashy piece of kitsch is an awkward structure that destroys any sense of scale and vulgarises one of Europe's great historical cities. The award, in its own words, claims to "acknowledge and reward quality architecture" and to aid "clear understanding of the cultural role of architecture in the construction of our cities", a soothing text that should be amended now to read "obfuscation of the role of privatisation, financial interests and sensationalism in the destruction of our cities". (Quotes from original text)