Kevin Rushby dismisses the Aviva building next to Lendal Bridge in York as “an example of how town planning can have dire consequences” (A walk through historic York to a great local pub: the Phoenix Inn, 3 June). In fact, it is generally acknowledged in York that it is one of the few postwar buildings here that has considerable architectural quality. This resides in its massing – in the way that the monolithic impact of this large building is reduced by being broken up into numerous different elements, in its pattern of fenestration and in its magnesian limestone cladding, a high-quality material that pays respect to the Minster and other York churches. It was greatly admired by the late architect Patrick Nuttgens.
Peter Fisher
York
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