Radio killed the architect star
The architectural profession has rightly been quick to condemn the BBC’s Today programme and its presenter Sarah Montague for its inept and disrespectful handling of the corporation's interview with Dame Zaha Hadid.
The interview presumably instigated to celebrate Dame Zaha’s receipt of the RIBA Gold Medal for Architecture (the first woman to receive the award in her own right) descended into a mauling interrogation of the irrelevant credentials of two of her most recent projects.
Is this line of questioning in the public interest?
Perhaps the interviewer should have focused on the extraordinary career of this ground-breaking woman architect who in a profession and industry dominated by men has achieved so much.
Dame Zaha handled herself with dignity and resilience, although I was disappointed she ended the interview I understand her frustration with the belligerent sneering contempt expressed by the badly briefed Ms Montague. I suppose the Today programme is just another demonstration of the floundering beleaguered BBC.
The corrosive effect of the style of interviewing promulgated by John Humphries on the Today programme normally reserved for the UK’s ducking and diving grey politicians has a lot to answer for. Namely terrible defensive political spin-doctoring which has fortunately yet to wholesale invade the architectural profession.
Hopefully the groundswell of support for Dame Zaha will further cement her position as a leading light in world architecture and encourage those patrons in the UK who have done their best to overlook her extraordinary talents to embrace her.
My multilingualism is a catalyst for success, innovation and adaptability, in business and entrepreneurship
9 年Stephen Pimbley thank you for your post. I always find it interesting how a woman tries to openly slap another woman's face in public. What was the journalist's purpose? Here we are with an interview that was not really well conducted and under pressure (time on radio!): overall very gauche as we say it in French. No other male architect has ever been asked that sort of questions. (Or maybe I missed it?) So before to crucify Dame Zaha Hadid on the Qatari, Chinese funds or the Japanese investors' subject, let's get more architects around the table to open a real debate. I would also suggest to invite to the table the local councils and politicians as they play a big part too. Shall we start with the Earls Court development as a first case study Mr Boris Johnson?
CEO at PTAH
9 年Forget the work at least Dame Zaha inspired and employed many many talents and architects in UK... this is an economical achievement in its own right