It is not the language but the 5000 year old culture that is challenging because it is the very antithesis of European culture. 1. If someone pays you a compliment you do NOT say thank you. It is deemed immodest, crass and a conversation killer. You return the compliment straightaway by giving a camaraderie act of humility with a …
This is a good list to pin or tape up to the tea making facility area in your site hut (file under Site Notice and Contact Numbers). It will really help your site communication if you can make an effort. You also want to understand what they are saying amongst themselves. It has taken me …
It’s not for everyone, but it helps to know the lingua franca. If you have the local accent, even better (“bet’ah”). Innit. CHIPPY (sl.): Not the Chinese takeaway cum fish and chip shop, but a slang for carpenter. eg “Yeah. We’ll ge’ th’ chippy knock owt tha’ stud wall.” SPARKY (sl.): electrician. COURSE: a horizontal row of bricks. eg …
Extensions An addition or extension to your house is generally considered to be permitted development. Different rules apply to flats and maisonettes, which if you are extending, you will require PP. If your house is in Conservation Area or is a listed building, chances are there may be restrictions specific to your area or property, …
Yesterday attended a very interesting lunch event “RIBA and Hong Kong Business of Design Week 2019”. Speakers included: 1/ Lucy Tilley of Adjaye Associates, who spoke about working internationally and understanding local culture and contexts (only 20% of their work is in the UK and the rest abroad), 2/ Jevan Chowdhury of Wind and Foster …
Recently I tweeted a memory I had of my penpal when I was 12 and I was astonished when today it’s so far had 80 likes. I know it’s not viral, humour me. I had two penpals. The one from the Philippines is in the tweet: To this day I cannot bring myself to open …
One of the most jittery and crushing facts about a profession in design and architecture is that architecture and design are subjective. Not very subjective, a bit subjective, which is why it is hard. It would be so much better if they were very subjective, or subject to wild fantasies with no rules. But they are not. Both …
In a job that has gone out of control over the last few years in a nightmarish scenario, the architect, Daniel Marcal, has to pay £500K worth of damages to the clients for professional negligence said the judge yesterday for home cinema works to £7M mansion in North London. The clients, Mr and Mrs Freeborn, say: …
This is a cute pop-up shop made of pallets, upcycled and repurposed softwood offcuts, storage crates, ply and cling film and other packaging paraphernalia, for the young and hipster South-east Asian boutique. (Sandwiches not included). The attraction of these “temporary structures” are due to the following reasons: modern, innovative, budget-friendly, eco-friendly, transportable, modular, retail solutions.
This is a modern Miesian glass cube extension to a Thirties terrace, with a bold and blocky colour scheme, for a gallery curator and a photographer. The project still looks new and fresh even though it was completed about eight years ago. I have actually just brought it to the present day. I especially like …
