Dezeen Magazine

Activists protest at Zaha Hadid Architects' office over Patrik Schumacher speech

Angry protesters picketed the Zaha Hadid Architects office in London today, following director Patrik Schumacher's call for the city's social housing to be scrapped.

More than 20 activists met outside the firm's office at 1pm today to protest against the architect, who voiced his controversial views on housing in a speech at the World Architecture Festival in Berlin earlier this month.

The campaign was organised by Class War, a group that supports the rights of the working class.

post on the group's website called for people to "bring posters, banners" to protest against "the architect of social cleansing fascism".

"His message is clear: the rich want London's council estates and they don't give a shit about what they have to do to the working class to get them," reads the post.

Schumacher made the comments as part of a presentation titled "Housing for Everyone" – which was first reported by Dezeen and broadcast live on our Facebook page.

The vision he set out involved eight demands, which also included privatising all streets, squares, public spaces and parks, and abolishing all government subsidies for home ownership.

Zaha Hadid Architects practice has already put out a statement distancing itself from Schumacher's manifesto.

"Patrik Schumacher's 'urban policy manifesto' does not reflect Zaha Hadid Architects' past – and will not be our future," reads the letter, which is signed on behalf of the entire office.

Zaha Hadid's friends and family have also disowned Schumacher's statements, while the architect has put out a statement of his own, defending his intentions, and apologising to friends and colleagues for embarrassing them.