More Comment – Page 359
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Opinion
Right Royal farce points to PFI flaws
The suggestion that Terry Farrell and Nightingale Associates usurp HOK’s appointment is absurd (News August 27). Architects should not fight among themselves when it is the system that is patently flawed.The Royal London Hospital is one of many projects affected by the inability of the NHS to procure the best-designed ...
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Opinion
Right back at you
I was recently asked if I would give advice to a local primary school that wished to purchase a neighbouring house to provide improved facilities. I advised caution and suggested an outline application prior to purchase. I phoned the local planning officer, who said an outline application, together with a ...
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Opinion
Wheres the proof?
In Tonkin Liu’s drawings of the Old Street scheme (News August 6), there is scant evidence that any of the following issues were either considered by the architect or required by the Architecture Foundation jury: analysis of the social dynamic of the area; demography of local users; analysis of the ...
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Opinion
Sustainable sense
You are to be complemented on publishing Chris Morton’s letter (August 27). The original concept of sustainability emphasised social needs as well as economic and environmental needs. If we were to take the issue as seriously as it deserves, we should question the need for building — or the need ...
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Opinion
Country pursuit
It is encouraging to see that rural renaissance (Focus July 23) has emerged from the shadows of its urban counterpart and is now establishing itself within the regeneration debate. As lead consultant for Yorkshire Forward on the Upper Calder Valley, Skipton and Settle, we have experienced the very specific set ...
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Opinion
Soapbox: A reality check on the TV fame game
There is no such thing as reality TV. I’m speaking from experience — the Channel 4 Grand Designs kind. Don’t be fooled by the spontaneous witty comments, the random shrieks of joy from surprised clients and the inspired observations of presenter Kevin McCloud. On reality TV shows, “spur of the ...
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Opinion
MSP escape route
The controversial new Scottish Parliament at Holyrood may have finally opened for business after a staggering £431 million investment, but some of its new MSP occupants are reportedly unhappy. They compain that the offices are too warm, only one window opens, there is a lack of filing and storage space ...
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Opinion
An inspector calls
The proposed £800 million redevelopment of Battersea Power Station hasn’t always been very popular with local people. Enter developer Parkview’s “community liaison officer”, Dick Tracey. But residents can rest assured that they won’t be brow beaten into liking the proposal by an uncompromising cartoon detective. This Dick Tracey is a ...
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Opinion
X-rated seduction
RIBA president George Ferguson has taken advantage of the summer season lull in news and achieved a staggering amount of coverage for his Grade X idea. Ferguson’s scheme to get rid of eyesore buildings has received coverage in the Financial Times, the Guardian and the International Herald Tribune. This week ...
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Opinion
Wren swan song
A trawl through BD’s archive on Christopher Wren unearthed publicity material for a short-lived musical entitled Wren.The musical, which ran at The Mayfair Theatre in 1978, was apparently based on “the events during his 91-year life”. But it gets stranger. The actor playing Wren, Steven Grives, went on to work ...
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Opinion
Feeding ambition
More on Richard Rogers and George Ferguson: Concrete Boots hears that the two enjoyed chatting about the strong similarities between food and architecture over lunch in Italy this summer. A fruit-inspired creation from RRP to follow the Gherkin and Golden Banana, perhaps?
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Opinion
Ian Martin
The developers want me to ‘dequalitise’ my housing scheme, so as not to ‘inflexibilise’ design standards
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Opinion
Predators step into Royal London ring
Seconds out, round two at the Royal London Hospital. After design watchdogs at Cabe and in Ken Livingstone’s mayoral office landed some heavy blows on HOK’s design, a second team are on their way to cause yet more pain.
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Opinion
How to spot a bully, and what to do next
I stand accused. Firstly of plotting to ambush and trick members of my client team, and secondly of working to my own secret agenda and not as part of a team.
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OpinionConcrete Boots
Holyrood idolGlamorous Holyrood architect Benedetta Tagliabue just can’t stop turning heads, and journalists are no exception, it seems.A recent profile of the Italian published in Scotland on Sunday was reminiscent of, well, Mills & Boon actually.“She glides over hillocks of rubble with grace and effortless elegance, a smile on her ...