Standing room only

In spite of what the bookies predict ( Report , 22 July), Hadid's MAXXI Museum in Rome should not be awarded the Stirling prize for architecture if only for one reason: there isn't a single seat in the entire museum. Presumably Ms Hadid didn't want sloppy visitors cluttering up her pristine design. The same attitude permeates the entire building, which is a monument to the architectural profession's self-regarding arrogance. Richard Lucraft London • Simon Mawer's The Glass Room ( Review , 17 July) is based on a Mies Van der Rohe house, in Brno, complete with legendary onyx wall. The Tugendhat House , built in 1930 for a textile millionaire, was recently refurbished and has original-style white chairs. These facts add texture and romance to a great story. Merryl Cook Stockport • Any parents lucky enough to be "up north" in the long school summer break and at a loss what to do with the children should consider visiting the David Hockney gallery in Saltaire. Gallery, shops and restaurant, all in a wonderful smoke-free environment ( Letters , 22 July). Duncan Lister Dewsbury, West Yorkshire • In the Guardian on 22 July, I was quite upset by the " Starved penguins found dead on Sao Paulo shores " on page 23. Then I turned over to find " Owners test appetite for Penguins ", and a few pages further on " Penguin's next march ". Where was Steve Bell when we needed him to explain what's going on? Liz du Parcq London • I see "in the countryside" ( Letters , 3 July) French Aigle boots are better quality than Sam Cam's made-in-China Hunter wellies. So that's why they're £65-plus in England and about €30 in France – nothing to do with labels after all. Peter North Sigale, France • So David Cameron believes the UK was the junior partner to the US in fighting the Nazis in 1940 ( Alexander Chancellor , G2, 23 July). Should he not extend his stay in America indefinitely and become a Hollywood scriptwriter? Roger Pugh Thetford, Norfolk