ONE of the country's leading experts in architecture and design yesterday added his voice to the chorus of prominent figures who have expressed doubt over the Government's decision to push-ahead with the Millennium Dome at Greenwich.
Mr Deyan Sudjic, director of Glasgow, City of Architecture and Design 1999, and writer and professor of design theory, posed serious questions over the financial viability of the millennium scheme and its cultural relevancy to modern British society.
Speaking independently from his role as director of the year of Architecture and Design, which still hopes to gain funding from the Millennium Commission, Mr Sudjic said the Government had taken on a daunting task.
He said: ''They've put their necks on the line, because what the Millennium Dome means is a break-neck construction process. It is a very expensive project, which if it's costed at more than #800m, means that to get it finished and open in time means spending #20m a month between now and then. At peak moments that could mean building the equivalent of the Tate Gallery every month over a year.
''If they actually pull it off it will be an astonishing achievement, but they've got to do that and attract between 10-15 million people and charge them #17.50-a-head - imagine what that means for a family - which is substantially more visitors than EuroDisney has ever managed, and that has a TGV train station on its doorstep and a major international airport 35 minutes away.
''I think what we need to be aware of is just how difficult this achievement is. To actually get it open on time and get those people in is a daunting task.''
While questioning the thinking behind the Government's decision, he said there was little doubt that it would be completed, whatever the total cost.
''It's an unstoppable force, there's no way the Government is not going to strain every muscle to make this thing happen, and of course you've got to ask yourself, does that divert resources from somewhere else?''
Mr Sudjic gave an indication of the size of the Greenwich project in comparison to the year of Architecture which he is overseeing in Glasgow.
He said: ''Right from the start you can't compare Glasgow's 1999 year with the Millennium Dome, it's quite a different scale. Our programme is around #30m which is substantial, and you can actually make that go along way in Glasgow, but more money is being spent simply clearing the pollution from the Greenwich site than we will spend in the entire year.''
The Millennium Dome, conceived by the Conservatives and then fostered by New Labour, has attracted almost constant controversy since it was proposed, and is now the subject of growing scepticism over its chances of success.
Mr Sudjic said: ''I don't think they had really thought through what should happen to the site afterward, although it is now clear that they won't tear down the dome as soon as the thing is over.''
Hard lines for station ............ 14
Leader Comment ................. 20
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