Letter: Lasdun for the National Theatre

Sir: We, Emeritus, past and present Professors of Architecture, join in strongly endorsing Jonathan Glancey's plea in "The secret facelift: can you see the join?" (30 July) that the trustees of the National Theatre should henceforth employ its architect, Sir Denys Lasdun, at least as a formal consultant in their moves to upgrade this widely acclaimed monument of drama and of architecture, particularly by the young in heart.

As trustees their responsibility is to hold the spirit of this outstanding example of Rational Modern Architecture as it exists in perpetuity. This does not mean falling prey to today's commercialese in the name of "user- friendliness." Despite the planning consent achieved and the Lottery funding promised, benefactors who might have helped the NT with the further 25 per cent of monies needed are asked to consider the reality of the altered building's meaning to generations yet to come.

PATRICK HODGKINSON, GORDON BENSON, NEAVE BROWN, PETER CLEGG, PETER COOK, EDWARD CULLINAN, TREVOR DANNATT, SIR JAMES DUNBAR- NASMITH, TONY FRETTON, CHARLES MACCULLUM, IZI METZSTEIN, IVOR RICHARDS, JOSEPH RYKWERT, DAVID SHALEV, ROBERT TAVERNOR, MICHAEL WILFORD

University of Bath