I like the notion of modest ambition. With occasional honourable exceptions, ambitious buildings are all too prone to be skewered on the hubris of architect, client and, where appropriate, donor.

Modesty (financial, in particular) is a check on the ego of the designer and offers a gentle brake on all those who drive a project. The end user may well be the beneficiary. A law of exponential aggrandisement within major cultural institutions suggests that the bigger you are, the bigger you will want to become. A huge concert hall to make a homecoming orchestral superstar happy is next on the London menu but, Simon Rattle apart, who needs these monumental projects?

Two schemes illustrate the case for the low-key approach. Both additions to existing arts centres, they benefit from staff well established in their roles and can serve loyal existing audiences, while growing new ones. The gallery at Milton Keynes has been, until now, something of a poor relation to the theatre next door – starting with the choice of “theatre district” for the signage.

…