The article on Frank Gehry (The Argus, September 7) began, "the designs for the King Alfred Centre would have been laughed into the sea long ago, had it not been for the reputation of Frank Gehry." Precisely.
In ten or 20 years from now, when Mr Gehry is long gone, Hove will still have to live with this devlopment.
But this isn't about Frank Gehry, or his architectural "personality".
It's about massive towers, insanely oversized for their small-scale Hove setting, which they will completely overwhelm.
The comparisons with Gehry's Bilbao museum, a low-rise structure which in no way overwhelms any of its surroundings, are inappropriate.
It didn't bring thousands of new residents (and traffic) into an area already suffering depleted services.
In the same article, it was shocking to read that several of Gehry's buildings in Los Angeles are already to be pulled down.
The Santa Monica Place Shopping Mall was "unpopular with many Santa Monica residents because it did not mesh with the city's beach environment".
Sound familiar? Gehry's University College Irvine Campus building is also being demolished because "the roofs leak, the ventilation systems are failing and the structures have dry rot".
Is this what Hove must look forward to, only on a massive scale?
It is not that people doubt Mr Gehry's talents but this is about a mammoth, radical development being unsuitable for its Hove site, regardless of who is involved in its design.
Please, let's look at the development and not the name. After all the fuss, the name will quickly fade from memory. The development won't.
-C Wunderman, Hove
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article