2012: you heard it here first

Predicting what will happen next week, let alone next year, is becoming harder so you’ll notice the “experts” are now talking in sweeping generalities such as “it will be a very tough year” and “austerity is the key”. This is all pretty obvious, so Boots is making some more targeted predictions.

Robin Hood Gardens is partially saved. One of the two blocks is restored and flats sell out in 20 minutes.

Cabe splits from the Design Council. This is a marriage that’s already on the rocks and it’s just a question of when it will snap. The fact that Cabe’s new head has no background in architecture is seen as a contributing factor in the breakup.

Bouygues becomes the government’s preferred development partner in a housing initiative launched in autumn 2012. The construction company’s modular housing in Canning Town is given a rave review from Rowan Moore in the Observer.

Local authorities fail to implement the Localism Act and are fined. Several right-to-build organisations go bust. David Cameron commissions Kevin McCloud to write a report on family housing.

The first free school opens in a former Carphone Warehouse.

The ArcelorMittal Orbit tower is given an RIBA Award. An argument breaks out over whether the tower should be on the Stirling shortlist. It isn’t, but it wins a new prize set up by the Prince’s Foundation, which recognises buildings that are popular with people rather than architects.

Berkeley Homes boss Tony Pidgley buys Battersea Power Station. The government agrees to its demolition it on condition that a new icon is
built in its place. Pidgley hires CZWG for the job.

Occupy London sets up camp on the site of the newly demolished Broadgate complex. Stuart Lipton is seen giving bottles of champagne to the protesters.

Foster’s Thames estuary airport plan is picked by the mayor Boris Johnson (who beats Ken Livingstone in May’s mayoral elections by a thumping majority). Foster’s offices are picketed by the RSPB.

The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) orders a review of architecture part II courses following complaints that they are “irrelevant” to practice.