Sir – My heart sank when I read of the proposal of Science Oxford (November, 18) to build a new tourist attraction in New Road, one of the more visible sites in the city. It sank even further when I read the architect’s spokesperson using such words as ‘a striking and innovative contemporary . . . landmark building’.

What we are going to get is a shiny glass box which will shout its incompatibility with the 11th-century castle and neo-vernacular Nuffield College. It will be a townscape disaster.

Bill Bryson, in his Notes from a Small Island, stated that Oxford was no longer an attractive city as it had been subjected to an appalling assault from unsympathetic buildings from the 1960s. Since he wrote that the situation has deteriorated further with buildings of questionable taste being built all over the city.

Foster, who does not claim to be an architect, rather an engineer, will present his proposals to the city planning officers, not noted for their civic design skills, who will be overawed by the architect’s reputation and recommend approval to the city councillors who should, but hardly ever do, exercise common sense in aesthetic judgements and they will grant planning approval. It will be some years before it is realised what an aesthetic mistake has been made.

Can I make a plea that Science Oxford reconsider their choice of architects as there are others who could realise the townscape importance of the site and produce a proposal which will complement rather than assault the townscape of this part of the city.

Paul Hornby, Oxford