To Our Readers

The London offices that we now inhabit look out on Somerset House, a masterpiece of 18th century design. The art treasures of the Courtauld Institute lie within its ornamented corridors, and its well-proportioned courtyards house handsome offices, restaurants and shops. Canaletto, along with other artistic admirers, painted a view of its sweeping façade along the Thames. When we look across the river at newer, uglier office blocks, we realize Somerset House represents a kind of perfection that succeeding generations did not — could not — improve upon.

And the thought fills us with dread. That's because we...