I agree the other guy is a knob, but you clearly have very little understanding of the modern architecture business... Architecture on this level isn't the highbrow field your pretending it is, it isn't run by pretentious faceless blokes I'm turtlenecks out of their Cheshire cottages. And it's more often than not the case that the architects true plans have long been thrown out of the window by the client and planners by this point.

if the general public can’t appreciate the work of an architect, the architect is simply an egotistical moron who isn’t capable of doing their job.

Believe me, this isn't a project of ego for an architect. I watch architects work on shit like this day in day out, this isn't a grand project that'll seal their reputation. Chances are much of the finer design work on this hasn't even been detailed by a fully qualified architect.

Architecture is largely not a visual design driven job at this level either. It's more about making things work, be that from a financial, building code, engineers, client, developers or planners point of view.

I take the point you are making but fundamentally it falls down to this - what's the alternative the public want?

I notice many people have said this building is shit on this threat for example, but no one has actually suggested what would be a good alternative.

The public complain about every single development, regardless of us or quality. We had 250 objections to a cancer treatment facility we built, that included masses of green public space. We literally couldn't have made a more meaningful and useful space, yet an organised group still wanted the unused scrubland it was built on to remain... Well mostly unofficial car parking.

People moan about everything - that doesn't mean the design is inherently poor. More often than not the average person on the street has no bloody clue what good design is, they just use it. But there will always be a subset telling you that it's shit... If the public really had any idea about what's actually good for their cities, we wouldn't live in a world with god forsaken pull handles on push doors, and yet we still do!

And for what it's worth, I think this building is terrible myself. I'd be happy to expand on why I think it's shit, but already a long post. I'm talking generally here, and not saying you are wrong just trying to widen the debate.