The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has been much in the news recently. Firstly due to a contentious dismissal, and secondly, much more happily, because of the Institute's plan to move its incomparable Drawings Collection into the Roundhouse at Camden.

From Mr Robin Butterell

Paternoster Square, at the north side of St Paul's, is under threat of being smothered in the vulgar fancy dress of Post-Modern Classicism. Jonathan Glancey calls for an open competition to decide the site's future

The old order changes and buildings cannot remain immune, however hallowed they may be. All over the country there are churches that have been declared redundant and converted into concert halls and libraries and even homes. But when a public building of national importance can no longer be used for its intended purpose there is a national responsibility, vested in the Government, to ensure that any new use is entirely seemly.

A senior Tory yesterday urged the Government not to allow the historic Royal Naval College at Greenwich to "suffer a similar fate" as the axed Greater London Council's County Hall.

IAN MacKINNON

IAN MacKINNON

Millennium funds could be used to rescue the Royal Naval College from the Government's car-boot sale, says Jonathan Glancey

Anniversaries

IAN MacKINNON

Knight, Frank and Rutley has just sent us its latest estate agent's brochure. Who are this happy couple, smiling broadly from the inside cover? None other than Virginia Bottomley and Michael Portillo. And it is hardly surprising that they are beaming. The Secretaries of State for Heritage and Defence have a distinctly des res to sell; they are not flogging off council houses. This time they are into serious real estate: the Royal Naval College in Greenwich.

The idea of flogging the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, to the private sector - a decision announced by the Department of National Heritage last week - must be one of the most hare-brained and piratical yet in the history of the Conservative governments of Margaret Thatcher and John Major. Selling the family silver is one thing; trying to get shot of the house is quite another.

DANNY PENMAN

Heritage for sale: Contents of house where architect oversaw building of St Paul's to be auctioned