All-you-ever-wanted-to-ask-the-RIBA-but-were-afraid-to are on display in stalls mode. Imagine not having to search for any answers online as they are all physically in front of you. Here I am with the President, Ben Derbyshire: My favourite display involved members’ participation. Members get two stickers according to their category and choose the issues that matter to them …
EXCLUSIVE: “Is Off-Site the Future of Construction?” RIBA CPD Seminar Thur 18 Oct 2018
“Our building methods today must be industrialised.” – Mies van der Rohe (1924). It is now almost a hundred years since the Miesian quote but the building industry has not been modernising quickly, at least not quickly enough, considering the advances of life-changing and revolutionary business technology which have appeared in the last few years …
2018 Ideal Home Show: ‘Black Mirror’ Design Trends @ Olympia
I serendipitously found myself at the Ideal Home Show this April because technically I was heading to the Great Eat: Eat & Drink Festival which I had tickets for thanks to a friend. Now it is debatable of course which ‘show’ is more enticing and exciting to you depending on the state of your tummy …
REVIEW: AJ Specification ‘Live’ Kitchen and Bathrooms
The AJ Specification Live kitchen and bathrooms was one of the best lectures that I had attended. Interestingly on the programme, it says ‘kitchen’ singular and ‘bathrooms’ plural. But there was more than one kitchen presented. In fact I was so enthralled it was the first time I did not take any notes and the …
My Christmas cards have arrived from the printers
Christmas Card 2017 Yay! What do you think? I am going for a Victorian Gothic theme this year. I so love gothic, or should that be Gothic with a capital G? I shall try to incorporate gargoyles in my designs in 2017. No wait. Next year, I’d like to go steampunk, please.
Part II/Part III Architectural Assistant required
You need to be: Truly excellent at AutoCAD, Good at sketch up, Photoshop, Excellent technical knowledge, Reading and writing perfect English, Savvy at social media, Able to write specifications, Able to write schedule of works, Able to write blogs, Attending site meetings as and when, Able to write minutes/reports, Familiar with building technology and terminology, Working from home, …
Puustelli Miinus Kitchens – Eco from Start to Finnish
Finnish design has always been world famous. Since I was a student I had been a big fan of Alvar Aalto. I’ve flown home on Finnair and stopped over in Helsinki. The landscape, climate and the people are tough. They build quality things to last many lifetimes and not for throwing away. Therefore their ethos …
Caveat Emptor: Building works and the £25,000 scam Barclays did not report
So I read over the weekend’s cheering Mother’s Day papers the chilling story of an ordinary professional couple whose life savings of £25,000 had been stolen online in a banking transaction scam. The government, the media, the banks, the police, God – no one will protect you. Only you can protect yourself. It’s back to …
“Where’s Wheelie” Sunday Times ‘Home’ section 4.10.2015
Carparks, cleaner’s room, public toilets, sheds, I have done them. Though I can’t quite wheelie it – I am in the Sunday Times! Granted – for an article about bins. As a designer I have never laughed at or sniffed at any kind of commission. These are humble structures and to retain humility as a designer …
I just won the Best of Houzz 2016 – Service Award
I am thrilled and proud to have won Best of Houzz 2016 – Customer Service. In honesty I was worried when I received the email. I get junk and spam mail all the time telling me I’ve won something. Surely if they called or wrote to me by Houzzmail? I just checked the badges on my …