SIR,—It would be a great pity if the open architec-
tural competition system were to come to an end. As a result of such competitions held since the war we have had the advanced housing schemes at Churchill Gardens, Pimlico, and at Golden Lane in the City of London and Coventry Cathedral. Further promising competition buildings now under construction include Sydney Opera House, Liver- pool Roman Catholic Cathedral and Trinity College Library, Dublin. Most of the architects of these buildings were largely unknown.
The success of a competition depends on the client working out his requirements in advance and choosing an assessor whose judgment is trusted by competing architects. The competition regulations impose a strict discipline with regard to requirements and cost. In an important competition there would probably be well over a- hundred designs to choose from.
II Charlotte Street, WI PAUL A. HAMILTON
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