Heros

We need a Jamie Oliver of architecture to save us from uninspiring design says Living Architecture founder Alain de Botton - Britain urgently needs a Jamie Oliver figure to do for buildings what the famous chef did for school dinners, says Alain de Botton, one of 11 experts on the Farrell Review commissioned by culture minister Ed Vaizey earlier this year.

“We need a Jamie Oliver of architecture because architecture is now where food was 20 years ago: in desperate need of improvement, which will happen when people grow fussier about being served substandard stuff,” said Mr de Botton.