It is increasingly evident that arguments derived from the architectural profession are often unconvincing in accounting for the real implications of many current interventions. It could well be argued that we have reached a point in which an unbiased assessment of many schemes runs against the professional, political and economic interests of those who promote and publicly justify them. This brief paper is offered as a modest effort in scrutinising the justifications so often aduced by renowned architects relating to issues as relevant as sustainability, contemporary cities, growth or politics. The paper wishes to illustrate that it is of prime importance to refer to a wide range of sources in order to understand the true environmental and political implications of the architect’s work and that it is equally relevant to incorporate such sources into any teaching syllabus.
