The End of an Error

By Theodore Dalrymple

The End of an Error - Taki's Magazine - Taki's Magazine (takimag.com)

"His most distinctive buildings were demolished well before his death, to all but unanimous relief. Alas, one or two remain standing, including Eros House, a monstrosity in the East End of London that the deceased considered his most successful work. Residents of Eros House, which has been converted from offices into flats, have however described the conditions there as “unsafe,” “anxiety-provoking,” and “inhumane.” Although they may have been referring to its neglect, anyone who takes a glance at it—photographs are easily found on the internet—will at once perceive how appropriate those words are to the building. That it should have been called Eros was a peculiar joke: The building is about as redolent of eros as a mummified dead rat is a stimulant to appetite. You don’t have to go up to Eros House’s roof to feel suicidal; a glance at a photograph is enough to induce terminal despair."