Piano and government architects

I want to add my voice to the Union Periti u Inġiniera tas-Servizz Pubbliku and the president of the Kamra tal-Periti (August 15) in strongly condemning the gratuitous and insulting remarks against government architects in the article Piano Had No Written Brief (July 30.) As an ex-public sector architect and university teacher who has also practised overseas for many years, I can vouch for the fact that both the training and the skills of local architects are certainly at a par with, and often better than, those of their overseas colleagues.

Every profession has its "stars". Very few throughout the world reach that status. Renzo Piano is one such star in the architectural firmament. Comparing local government architects to Mr Piano is, at best, unfair. Suggesting that they are only capable of designing "pavements or beachside promenades" is grossly offensive and demands a formal apology.