The government-appointed architecture watchdog ARB (Architects Registration Board) has apologised for suggesting that Renzo Piano and Daniel Libeskind should not be described as architects in the UK press.

Last week, ARB sent a letter to Building Design magazine saying that neither Piano nor Libeskind were registered with ARB - therefore being undeserving of the title.

Piano is a former Pritzker Prize winner and is famous for having designed the Centre Georges Pompidou in Paris, France as well as Europe's tallest building, The Shard, in London.

Polish-born Libeskind's work includes the Jewish Museum in Berlin, Germany and the Imperial War Museum in Manchester.

In a statement yesterday (9 October), ARB's registrar Alison Carr said: "ARB has to investigate queries regarding individuals who use the title 'architect' in business or practice when they are not registered with ARB.

"In some cases, the public may genuinely be misled by the use of the term, while in others this is highly unlikely to happen. I believe that the Building Design case falls into the latter category.

"We should have been more cautious so that we get the right message across at the right time, and for that I apologise."

To read the ARB statement in full, click here.