Prince Charles' ever-forthright views on architecture aren't just getting him in trouble with modern practitioners. He's stepped down as patron for the London-based Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings after they rejected a foreword he wrote on the subject of house restoration.
Going against the Society's policy, which encourages the use of modern practises, Charles wrote that old houses should always be refurbished in their original style. The Society, none too pleased by this, asked for a re-write, but were swiftly told that it was an all-or-nothing proposal. Seeing this as an issue of censorship, the Prince ended his relationship with the Society.
Restoration in period style is an interesting idea, but one that leaves the Prince with some work to do. His official residence of Clarence House was extensively modernised when he took it off the cold hands of his late grandmother in 2003, and the interior was redecorated by Robert Kime who, to our knowledge, was not alive in the early 19th century. Charles is presumably negotiating with electricians and plumbers this moment to ensure the prompt removal of insulation, electricity cables and flush toilets.
Ironically, as Charles falls out with those of a classical bent, he's had something of a positive effect on contemporary architecture: his influence in the Chelsea Barracks scheme, which saw the developer dump Richard Rogers' firm's plan, has now received over forty new applications. Judging by the interest, it seems the ultimate in architectural cachet is to have your modernist masterpiece poo-poohed by our future head of state.
