Patrik Schumacher said tenents in prime London sites were 鈥渇ree-riding鈥�
The man widely considered to have been Zaha Hadid鈥檚 right-hand man has been rebuked by the practice after he criticised protecting social housing in the capital while supporting the development of second homes for the wealthy.
Patrik Schumacher made his comments at an event in Berlin earlier this month at which he described social housing tenants living in prime central London neighbourhoods as 鈥渇ree-riding鈥�, proposed giving over 80% of Hyde Park for redevelopment as 鈥渁 new city鈥� and staunchly supported the creation of second homes for the wealthy in the capital.
But the practice was forced to issue a statement taking one of its own directors to task after his comments provoked a welter of criticism with London mayor Sadiq Khan calling them 鈥渙ut of touch鈥� and 鈥減lain wrong鈥�.
In its statement, Zaha Hadid Architects said: 鈥淧atrik Schumacher鈥檚 鈥榰rban policy manifesto鈥� does not reflect Zaha Hadid Architects鈥� past 鈥� and will not be our future.鈥�
In his speech, Schumacher said that terms like 鈥渟ocial cleansing鈥� had been used by the opponents of housing estate redevelopment to draw 鈥済enocidal鈥� allusions to situations in which council or housing association tenants were being asked to move and offered new homes elsewhere.
鈥淭he fact that somebody has enjoyed the privilege of a subsidised central location, in my view, does not establish ownership over this public resource,鈥� he said.
鈥淚s it not fair that now it is somebody else鈥檚 turn to enjoy this central location?鈥�
But Khan rubbished Schumacher, who has spent nearly 30 years at Hadid and is the firm鈥檚 principal and senior designer, adding: 鈥淎nyone who thinks abolishing affordable housing altogether, supporting 鈥榖uy-to-leave鈥� empty properties and building on Hyde Park is the answer to London鈥檚 housing crisis doesn鈥檛 understand the first thing about our great city.鈥�
Schumacher later sought to clarify his remarks with a post on his Facebook page and admitted the criticism had hurt.
鈥淭he bruises from the avalanche of indignation are still fresh (and I still feel rather muted). My friends know that the emerging Mr Nasty image is no more than a media caricature constructed to shock and entertain. But more than acquiring this new ugly image, what inspires my regret about this na茂ve discursive misadventure, is my sense of having embarrassed my friends and colleagues.鈥�
He added: 鈥淚 do want to say a few clarifying words鈥ike all of us, I dream of a caring, inclusive, diverse society where everybody can flourish and realise his/her potential and nobody is left behind.鈥�
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