OPINION

Spurious argument

I do not wish to contradict the overwhelming criticisms of Bangkok's riverfront promenade project, an act of vandalism that, if it ever materialises, will result in generations of Thais cursing the BMA for hundreds of years to come, but I would like to go to the defence of one architect who is caught up in the controversy.

I do not wish to contradict the overwhelming criticisms of Bangkok's riverfront promenade project, an act of vandalism that, if it ever materialises, will result in generations of Thais cursing the BMA for hundreds of years to come, but I would like to go to the defence of one architect who is caught up in the controversy.

He is being accused of plagiarism for "copying" Norman Foster's design for a landmark in Russia. This accusation is about as spurious as it would be for us to accuse Foster of plagiarism for copying the form of the Eiffel Tower or Indian/Thai religious architecture. Or, if it comes to that, copying the famous American engineer/architect/futurist Buckminster Fuller for his invention of the geodesic dome. This basically was the discovery that the surface of a sphere or part of a curved surface such as a cone could be divided up into triangles and hexagons in order to construct it structurally. An invention that hundreds and thousands of architects have taken and developed (including Foster in his Gherkin Building).

All architects take ideas, many of which come from structural forms and develop them further, ad infinitum. It is not about copyright infringement (leave that to the Big Pharmas). In fact, to most architects a further development of their own ideas by another is the highest form of flattery.

It is highly likely that the architect concerned in this case is unaware of Foster's sketch. What in fact he has done is to take a form that is symbolic of traditional Thai religious architecture and added a triangulated structure producing what I consider to be a far more elegant building than Foster's and one that would be far more symbolic of Thailand than Foster's design could ever be of Russia.

Re: "Sino-Thai rail project put back on track", (Online, Sept 15).

It is now reported the first phase of the high-speed railway is expected to begin in the second quarter of next year.

I consider the 250-kilometre stretch from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima is already an unnecessary expense. But I note the bickering over costs between the Thai and Chinese governments that has taken place over several years, which is almost unforgivable. It is said the projected cost was estimated by the Chinese at 190 billion baht, while the Thai estimate was 170 billion baht. Now we learn the respective costs have increased to 200 billion baht and 180 billion baht.

I wonder who will take responsibility for yet a further loss of at least 10 billion baht on this waste of time and taxpayers' money.

Surely there must be projects more worthy and of greater value to the nation than this one?

I live in Suan Plu Soi 8 in Sathon district next to a restaurant called Le Isaan which closed some time ago. However, left behind was a collection of planters and tubs all full of stagnant water. I notified district officials but no action has been taken. I wonder how long it will be before the Zika virus appears in my neighbourhood.

The statement of Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya that "We mustn't neglect to consider that murder is also possible" (InQuote, Sept 14), referring to the suspicious death of former land official Thawatchai Anukul while in detention, is mildly encouraging. Given the various credible indications are that murder was a distinct likelihood, it would indeed be good for investigators to consider this possibility.

Re: "Nice guy, in my book", (PostBag, Sept 14).

Sondhi Limthongkul's merit, book-wise, is even greater: Thanks to his sponsorship, all of the "20 best novels of Thailand" of the "Thai Modern Classics" series have been translated and all but two (Four Reigns by Kukrit Pramoj and Thutiyawiseit by Bunluea, whose publication is forbidden by the authors' heirs) are available as e-books on thaifiction.com, along with quite a few more and several collections of short stories.