Distant Venture
Frustration is so much a part of the creative architect's lot today in this country that one feels a vicarious pleasure in the unique opportunity suddenly presented to Peter and Alison Smithson. I congratulate Mr. Geoffrey Rippon and the Ministry of Works on their enterprise in inviting this talented pair to design our new embassy in Brasilia. Mr. and Mrs. Smithson have their ardent followers and their strong critics among archi- tects. It is a reflection of our times that two such vigorous talents have made their mark so far largely thi.ough words and theories rather than by means of actual buildings. Just before their touter for The Economist began to take shape in St. James's, they said that this would be virtually their first major enterprise to be translated into reality. The irony of this is that their names have been internationally known for years. They will probably produce something controversial for Brasilia. At the very least we will be spared the humiliation of making some dull and stodgy contribution to that architectural Brave New World. It is slightly comical, nevertheless, that an official flirtation with modernity should have to be conducted at a safe distance on the other side of the Atlantic.
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