LETTRE DE LA REVUE UME A JEAN-NOEL GUERINI

ume

EDITORS

HAIG BECK AND JACKIE COOPER

M Jean-Noel Guerini

President du CG13

Hotel du Departement

52 Avenue de St Just

13004 Marseille

France

30.4.2012

Cher Monsieur,

OBJ: Musée departmental Arles Antique

We are international architectural editors and publishers with forty years of experience. We have published the works of Henri Ciriani repeatedly over the decades because we consider him one of the world’s finest modernist architects. 

Ciriani is not only a great architect. As an architectural theorist and pedagogue, he enjoys an outstanding reputation.

It has been a huge shock to discover that Ciriani’s museum at Arles has been vandalised by authorities that evidently know of neither the architect’s international significance nor of the value of the built treasure they are the custodians of.

We write in support of the museum, of architecture, and of the patrimonie of France, and request that additions and alterations to the building be undertaken only with the full cooperation of the original architect. 

Also we request that where it has suffered damage caused through ignorance of the inviolability of its architectural integrity, the building be restored to the original design.

It would be an appalling and crass blemish on Arles to allow this magnificent architectural work to be disfigured through unsympathetic municipal action. Cities all over the world vie to build museums as beautiful and notable as Ciriani’s contribution to Arles. 

As Australians, we draw a comparison with the Sydney Opera House of Joern Utzon: it would be unthinkable to tamper wantonly with the building. 

It is unthinkable to tamper with the Arles museum without the advice and consent of M Ciriani.

Yours faithfully

Haig Beck and Jackie Cooper 

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