Archinect - News

New Bartlett focus views “safety as a fundamental starting point, not as a late fix”

2019-10-29T12:01:00-04:00

A new specialization in fire safety design is being launched by the University College London (UCL) and The Bartlett in the wake of the disasterous Grenfell tower fire that took place in 2017.

Bartlett director Bob Sheil told The Architect’s Journal, “What we are really proposing here is a paradigm shift and [to] think about safety in the early stages of design propositions as a positive contributor to good design.”

The course, to be offered to both part- and full-time students, is set to explore the design of fire escape routes, fire separation packages, and fire suppression systems with a keen focus on tricky fire design-challenged typologies like tall residential structures and large assembly spaces.

Sheil added, “One of the things we have come to realise is there is a huge amount of research and development and education that can go into understanding building design through safety as a fundamental starting point, not as a late fix.”

Fire safety engineering and design special...

New Royal Academy of Arts' transformative redevelopment set to open in May 2018

2017-12-13T14:23:00-05:00

Celebrating its upcoming 250th anniversary year, the Royal Academy of Arts will open a new campus to the public in May 2018. The design for the redevelopment is by Sir David Chipperfield CBE RA, and will bring new (and free) collections to the public with 70% more space than the current footprint. The development will also join Burlington House and Burlington Gardens to unify the two-acre campus.

Architecture Studio in 2018 © Hayes Davidson

Exciting tours and exhibitions are planned, celebrating both the history of the institution and works from students in the RA schools. This mix, and the promise of free entry to collections is certain to bring more people to the institution. The artist and architect-led RA will also encourage public involvement with the new Architecture Studio, set in The Dorfman Senate Rooms. These creative spaces invite not only engagement, but the opportunity for the public to become part of this interaction of art and architecture.

Fotografiska London to launch in Whitechapel

2017-11-03T11:33:00-04:00

Opening November 2018 will be London’s largest permanent home for photography, Fotografiska London. The 89,000 sq ft gallery will have ticketed entry, but since it can show up to seven separate exhibitions, this ticket will get you far. This new home for photography follows Fotografiska’s successful gallery in Stockholm which features new talent alongside the world’s most celebrated photographers, and has become a major visitor attraction in the seven years since opening. Londoners can expect solo exhibitions, themed shows, and charity collaborations – all of which will be highly interactive with app and social media integration.

The project, which benefits from its accessible location in Whitechapel will include a bar, café, and two restaurants serving sustainable cuisine. Fotografiska's hope is to follow the successful self-set example of their Stockholm gallery's recently awarded 'Restaurant of the Year'. To attract product launches and events, the building will also house a conf...

New Design District Announced for Greenwich Peninsula

2017-09-28T13:45:00-04:00

Today, Knight Dragon, the developers delivering London’s largest single regeneration project, Greenwich Peninsula, have announced a new one-hectare district which will be the first purpose-built district for creatives. The Design District is the next phase in Knight Dragon’s 20-year, £8.4billion plan for the area, and promises to bring culture and community to the area with a central public realm.

Image: Knight Dragon

Open workshops and studios surround courtyards in this new creative hub formed of 16 buildings, to be situated in the heart of Greenwich Peninsula, for the use of over 1800 people. The project, designed by 8 practices, is from the outset a diverse project; each of the human-scaled workplaces were designed without conference between the practices. The result is a huge variety in form, colour, and style, with excellent transport links, thanks to the proposed new £1million tube station.

Image: Knight Dragon

Affordability is at the heart of this scheme, with prices start...

White Collar Factory; AHMM’s Office of the Future

2017-09-06T06:30:00-04:00

Overlooking Silicon Roundabout in London's tech city is the newest and most progressive project of AHMM. Over the past 20 years, they have worked with developer giant, Derwent, in researching the ideal office environment, and White Collar Factory is the result of 8 years of this partnership. Not only did the team build on their experience and research over the past decades, but they went as far as to set up a 325sqm ‘slice’ of the White Collar Factory on site in 2013 in order to test their model for a year. The results of which informed the final designs of the main building, and encouraged buy-in from this early stage.

Photo by Tim Soar

Photo by Jasper Fry

The White Collar Factory complex comprises of six buildings, making over 27,000 sqm set around a new area of public realm. This development will be home to offices, workshops, apartments, and restaurants, to list just a few. The configuration of these volumes (a 22,900sqm new tower, and five 4-5 storey buildings) allows a public ...

Brutalist block repurposed for 21st century Royal Docks workspaces

2017-09-01T01:29:00-04:00

A former beer factory in the Royal Docks is set to become London’s newest creative workspace hub, which will open later this year. The Silver Building, from SODA and Nick Hartwright, will be one of the first elements of the Royal Docks’ regeneration, which will continue throughout the next 15 years.

Brutalism is quickly becoming one of London's most celebrated styles, with the love for these post-war concrete structures growing over recent years. This project will build on the city’s hunger for not only iconic modernist buildings, but for creative spaces.

Photo Credit: Agnese Sanvito, Luke O’Donovan

The project bears the hallmarks of most regeneration hubs in London, providing cafes, galleries, function rooms, breakout spaces, studios, and workshops. The importance of these community-friendly creative hubs within London cannot be ignored; this project is a great solution to the scarcity of available workspaces for start-ups and small businesses in the city. With 50,000 square-foot...

Scaffolding around Grenfell Tower may be used as screen for art projections

2017-08-22T12:17:00-04:00

As workers prepare to remove the charred debris from Grenfell Tower, the specially erected scaffolding and netting around the building that will block the view of their work from the public may be used as a kind of projection screen for local children's painting and art. At least, that's what site and remediation manager Michael Lockwood has proposed, in part because the schoolchildren are apparently unhappy staring at the burned out husk of the previously-flammably-clad tower.

Residents take in the burned tower. Image: Catholic Church England via Flickr

According to The Art Newspaper, "Lockwood recently met primary school pupils in the area who said that looking up at the tower is upsetting. 'I asked them if they would like to come up with paintings of what they would like to see on the building,' he said. The works would be projected on to the scaffolding screen."

Archinect's Employer of the Day: Weekly Round-Up #146

2017-08-10T13:24:00-04:00

Looking for a job? Archinect's Employer of the Day Weekly Round-Up can help start off your hunt amid the hundreds of active listings on our job board. If you've been following the feature on our Facebook, Employer of the Day is where we highlight active employers and showcase a gallery of their work.

In case you missed them, here are some of the latest EOTD-featured firms.

1. Delvendahl Martin Architects (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: PII Architect

Photo credit: Tim Crocker.

2. Doug Aitken Workshop (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Freelance Rendering Specialist

Photo credit: Doug Aitken Workshop

3. Satish Jassal Architects (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Part 2 Architectural Assistants

Photo credit: Satish Jassal Architects.

4. Ohlhausen DuBois Architects (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Intermediate Architect

Photo credit: Ohlhausen DuBois Architects.

5. Adam Jordan Architecture (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Junior Architect

Image courtesy of Adam Jordan Architectu...

New Rooftop Observatory launched at Bold Tendencies

2017-07-25T05:36:00-04:00

Peckham’s famous multi-storey car park has a new addition; a new viewing gallery created by Cooke Fawcett. The young practice, based in London’s creative Clerkenwell, was formed just two years ago, by directors Oliver Cooke and Francis Fawcett, after working on the Tate’s Switch House at Stirling-prize winning practice Herzog & de Meuron.

This project, a spectacular kiosk and viewing gallery for arts space Bold Tendencies, will not only provide breathtaking views of London but also act as an interactive setting for installations and specially commissioned art pieces. This arts-focused structure joins (and benefits from) Peckham’s famous rooftop hangout, Frank’s Bar. Over the past decade, the Peckham multi-storey car park has been slowly transformed by Bold Tendancies, through a programme of culture. Immersive public space and unique views have drawn over a million visitors south of the river, to this unlikely home of the arts.

Francis Fawcett: “For an avant garde cultural institut...

The UK parliament to be restored by BDP

2017-07-19T18:06:00-04:00

The full scope of work includes architecture, civil and structural engineering, building services engineering, interior design, landscape architecture, lighting design, acoustics and planning. Since its construction in the mid-1800s, many systems in the palace have never undergone a major renovation, and the heating, ventilation, water, drainage and electrical systems are antiquated.

BDP's London studio beat Allies and Morrison, Foster + Partners and HOK in the competition and has been awarded a full interdisciplinary contract for client advisory services for the refurbishment of the Palace of Westminster, the meeting place for the two houses of the UK parliament.

The firm will be collaborating with heritage and conservation specialist Donald Insall Associates, civil and structural engineer Alan Baxter Associates, building services engineer Hoare Lea and planning consultancy Gerald Eve.

Crowdfunding campaign launched for Camden Highline

2017-06-26T12:27:00-04:00

A crowdfunding campaign has been launched for the latest civic development in North London; the Camden Highline. For years, the disused railway has been talked about among local residents, with many wanting to see a little bit of New York in Camden Town.

Image Courtesy of Camden Town Unlimited

Since 2016, Camden Town Unlimited have been working with Network Rail to secure the 18-metre wide disused railway line, which runs for almost a kilometre between the beloved, vibrant Camden Market and the newly developed Kings Cross area. The initial ambitions for the project include creating a space which is accessible to all and will provide a home for the arts, festivals, and live performance, as well as ecological and educational benefits.

Image Courtesy of Camden Town Unlimited

Using the famous New York High Line as a precedent, this crowd-funded project will initially work on the existing infrastructure, workshops, events, and feasibility works. The funds raised from the campaign run on ...

Judges announced for Archinect UK Portfolio Competition

2017-06-23T12:32:00-04:00

We have had so many fantastic applications over the past month we have extended the deadline for entries to June 26th, 2017 at 11:59 pm (BST). Make sure you apply this weekend if you haven't already.

Portfolios take a lot of effort and can be a hard thing to master so we have gathered a prestigious group of judges with years of industry insight and hiring experience in addition to extensive knowledge in architecture, interiors, landscape and urban designer.

The judges will be choosing the top three entries from each category as well as providing feedback for the final six. Winners will receive a high quality printed copy of their portfolio by Beswick Print Solutions as well as a selection of books from Lawrence King Publishing alongside a personalised digital rosette for their CV, portfolio, and website.

Keep an eye out for updates and do come along and join us at the awards ceremony on Friday 14th July, at The Old Truman Brewery. Interior Educators and Archinect UK will be hostin...

Archinect's Employer of the Day: Weekly Round-Up #139

2017-06-15T13:31:00-04:00

In case you missed them, here are some of the latest EOTD-featured firms.

1. Studio Zung (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Junior Architectural Designer

Photo: Adrian Gaut.

2. YARD Architects (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Part II Architectural Assistant

Photo: Richard Chivers.

3. Frampton Co (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Architectural Designer

Photo: Joshua McHugh.

4. Goshow Architects (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Multiple listings

Photo courtesy of the firm.

5. Choeff Levy Fischman (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Project Manager

Photo: Mark Surloff.

Keep track of Employer of the Day by following Archinect's Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or the Archinect Jobs In...

Archinect's Employer of the Day: Weekly Round-Up #137

2017-06-02T13:18:00-04:00

In case you missed them, here are some of the latest EOTD-featured firms.

1. drMM (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Multiple listings

Photo credit: drMM.

2. Workstead (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Senior Designer

Photo credit: Workstead.

3. IKD (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Architectural Designer

Image credit: Yugon Kim/Instagram.

4. Resolution: 4 Architecture (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Multiple listings

Photo credit: Resolution: 4 Architecture.

Keep track of Employer of the Day by following Archinect's Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or the Archinect Jobs Instagram.

Want more job-hunting and hiring tips? Check out Archinect's EMPLOY(ED), our How to write a great architect...

Call for Entries: Archinect UK Portfolio Competition 2017

2017-06-01T04:00:00-04:00

Archinect UK is launching a nationwide portfolio competition for 2017. This award aims to celebrate and promote the exceptional talent, vision and innovation of UK Architects, Interior Architects, Landscape and Urban designers.

The competition will be managed online via Archinect’s unique community profiles section, with the winners invited to exhibit at Interiors Educators Freerange show, the largest exhibition of architecture and interior design graduates in the UK.

There will be a range of categories and a prestigious judging panel of professionals from the architecture & design industry whom we will be introducing here on Archinect shortly. Winners will be announced in conjunction with the IE awards on the evening of July 14th , with events and talks throughout the rest of the show.

Awards

Best Overall Portfolio Design
Best Imagery
Best Typography
Judges Favourites
Most Creative
Best Archinect Profile

To enter:

Upload your portfolio to your Archinect profile or register and set up a pro...

IF_DO's mirrored pavilion reflects on the Dulwich Picture Gallery

2017-05-31T14:10:00-04:00

IF_DO, a ‘young and restless’ practice based in Peckham, have completed their rectilinear, temporary pavilion at Dulwich Picture Gallery. For the practice, which was formed only a few years ago in 2014, this is a breakthrough project; exposing their work to a whole new audience.

Al Scott, Co-founding Director, IF_DO, said:

“The Dulwich Pavilion has provided a wonderful opportunity for us to create a unique public structure in an exceptional setting. We have benefitted hugely from the freedom given by our clients and support of the London Festival of Architecture. Working in close collaboration with creative engineers StructureMode and fabricators Weber Industries to realise the project has been a great experience, and vital to its success.”

This is the first pavilion to grace the gallery’s grounds and pays tribute the John Soane’s iconic building design on its 200th anniversary since doors were first opened. Not only does this structure compliment and literally mirror its context, it w...

Archinect's Employer of the Day: Weekly Round-Up #136

2017-05-26T13:17:00-04:00

In case you missed them, here are some of the latest EOTD-featured firms.

1. Neil Dusheiko Architects (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Multiple listings

Photo credits: Charles Hosea and Agnese Sanvito.

2. STUDIO V Architecture (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Marketing Associate

Photo credit: David Rahr.

3. OpenScope Studio (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Designer

Photo credit: OpenScope Studio.

4. LABTOP (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Architectural Rendering Internship

Image credit: LABTOP.

5. JENDRETZKI (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Designer / Project Architect

Photo credit: JENDRETZKI.

Keep track of Employer of the Day by following Archinect's Facebook, Twitter, Pinteres...

Disused petrol station site to be transformed into apartments by NEUBAU

2017-05-23T01:54:00-04:00

A major project in north London has just received planning permission; a ‘pixelated’ residential scheme will replace a historic clock tower and a derelict petrol station. The architects behind the project, NEUBAU, are an emerging practice consisting of thinkers and designers with international experience.

28 apartments will be arranged in smaller six meter wide units, in a way which reduces the overall visual impact of the development. The building up of height, and its corner location, creates an acoustic shield created by the corner frontage has created a sheltered area behind the building for a communal garden; a ‘private oasis’ for future residents.

The site, a challenging corner on two very busy roads, is currently home for a disused petrol station and a large clock tower. Following a long and difficult planning process, the aptly named ‘Tower Station’ development will maintain the cubic volumes of the existing tower, and its civic function at the same time, with a large mechanic...

2017 RIBA Norman Foster Travelling Scholarship awarded to Chloe Loader of the University of Lincoln

2017-05-22T15:32:00-04:00

Foster + Partners announced today that University of Lincoln student Chloe Loader was awarded the 2017 RIBA Norman Foster Travelling Scholarship, a yearly £7,000 student scholarship that gives the recipient an opportunity to travel internationally and “research the future survival of our cities and communities”.

In her submission “Emerging Cities: Sustainable Master-Planning in the Global South”, Loader will examine how the cities of Curitiba, Mumbai, and Jakarta have each handled rapid urbanization to identify how other cities with similar economics and demographics can potentially evolve.

She'll begin her travels in Curitiba, Brazil, where she will study how the city has developed a successful urban model while handling large influxes of rural migrants. She will then travel to Mumbai and Jakarta to compare and contrast them with her Curitiba findings. Loader will conclude her project by exploring potential design strategies for urban development to engage communities.

As the global n...

Six projects win in 2017 RIBA West Midlands Awards

2017-05-19T15:54:00-04:00

The 2017 RIBA Awards cycle continues with the recent reveal of six winning buildings for the 2017 West Midlands Awards. “The winners deliver an architecture with a narrative and a poetry, while also fully responding to the functional needs of the facilities they created,” stated RIBA Jury Chair Natalia Maximova. “It is a year of quieter and well-mannered design, nevertheless, no less confident and powerful for that reason.”

Here's a glimpse of the winning projects:

The Compound by BPN Architects

Photo: Tom Bird.

St. Michael’s Hospice, Hereford by Architype

Photo: Dennis Gilbert.

Croft Lodge Studio, Leominster by Kate Darby Architects

Photo: James Morris.

Alan Walters Building, University of Birmingham by Berman Guedes Stretton

Photo: Quintin Lake.

Remembrance Centre, National Memorial Arboretum Alrewas by Glenn Howells Architects

Photo: Rob Parrish.

Jaguar Land Rover Engine Manufacturing Centre by Arup Associates

Photo: Simon Kennedy.

Learn more about the projects on Bustler.

This week's picks for London architecture and design events

2017-05-09T03:30:00-04:00

This week's focus is on how design can affect our cities, ourselves, and our environment. From insights into the Moses-Jacobs urban battle in mid-century New York, to exploring the future of social housing in our European cities, this week is full of future-facing events to explore how designers can shape our worlds.

Check back regularly to keep up to date with London's latest happenings and our weekly recommendations!

Transforming Social Housing - Stories from the UK and Europe | 16 May and Social Housing - Definitions and design exemplars | until 28 May

Image: RIBA

This debate is inspired by Karakusevic Carson Architects' new book "Social Housing", which explores designing modern social housing. In conjunction with this book launch event, RIBA are hosting a supporting exhibition which will draw together 24 case studies of social housing schemes from across Europe. This launch features a debate, with panellists including Paul Karakusevic (co-author of Social Housing and Partner at Kar...

Archinect's Employer of the Day: Weekly Round-Up #131

2017-04-20T13:53:00-04:00

In case you missed them, here are some of the latest EOTD-featured firms.

1. Studio AR&D Architects (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Architectural Designer

Photo credit: Studio AR&D Architects.

2. Lipton Plant Architects (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Multiple listings

Photo credit: Lipton Plant Architects.

3. TPG Architecture (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Marketing Specialist

Photo credit: TPG Architecture.

4. RKTB Architects (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Multiple listings

Photo credit: Albert Vecerka/Esto

5. Valerio Architects (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Multiple listings

Image credit: Valerio Architects.

Keep track of Employer of the Day by following Archinect's Faceb...

Seven big-name architecture teams to compete for Ross Pavilion in Edinburgh

2017-03-28T13:58:00-04:00

Over 125 competitive teams — made up of some 400 individual firms — representing 22 countries vied for a chance to design the £25 million Ross Pavilion, in the latest initiative to rejuvenate the culturally significant Ross Bandstand and West Princes Street Gardens in the heart of Edinburgh, Scotland. Today, the Ross Development Trust in collaboration with the City of Edinburgh Council and Malcolm Reading Consultants jointly announced the seven finalist teams who will submit design concepts for the site.

Following “an intense and demanding process” according to Jury Chair Norman Springford, here are the big-name architects who will lead their teams in phase two:

Adjaye Associates (UK) with Morgan McDonnell, BuroHappold, Turley, JLL, Arup, Plan A Consultants, Charcoalblue and Sandy Brown Associates
BIG Bjarke Ingels Group (Denmark) with jmarchitects, GROSS. MAX., WSP | Parsons Brinckerhoff, Alan Baxter As...

Archinect's Employer of the Day: Weekly Round-Up #127

2017-03-23T14:41:00-04:00

In case you missed them, here are some of the latest EOTD-featured firms.

1. Piercy&Company (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Senior architect

Photo: Jack Hobhouse.

2. The Fractal Group (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Senior Architect (Upper East Side)

3. Rapt Studio (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Multiple listings

Photo courtesy of Rapt Studio.

4. think! architecture and design (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Multiple listings

Photo: Alexander Severin RAZUMMEDIA.

5. Woodford Sheppard Architecture (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Junior/Intern Architect

Image courtesy of Woodford Sheppard Architecture.

Keep track of Employer of the Day by following Archinect's Facebook, Twitt...

David Adjaye elected to join the Royal Academy of Arts

2017-03-21T10:10:00-04:00

The Ghanian-British architect David Adjaye, founder of Adjaye Associates, named as the new Royal Academician by the Royal Academy of Arts together with artist Gilbert & George. Sir David Adjaye RA is conceived as a leading architect of his generation. ''David Adjaye joins us at a time when the Royal Academy architects currently comprise a more distinguished group than at any time in its long history'' - Christopher Le Brun, President of the Royal Academy.

Sir David Adjaye becomes the newest addition to a long list of esteemed designers and architects, including Peter Cook, Frank Gehry, and Norman Foster, recognised for their continuing contribution to the field. Adjaye, who founded his firm Adjaye Associates in 2000, was knighted earlier this year, for his work which spans the globe and all sectors; from the National Museum of African American History, to the recently announced 760-acre masterplan for the San Francisco Shipyard Adjaye is known for his passion for considered designs, and his engagement in architectural discussion; qualities which drive his practice towards greater and greater heights.

Archinect's Employer of the Day: Weekly Round-Up #126

2017-03-16T13:46:00-04:00

In case you missed them, here are some of the latest EOTD-featured firms.

1. Höweler + Yoon (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Architectural Designer

2. De Matos Ryan (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Practice Manager

3. Inter Urban Studios (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Part-III architect/associate at Inter Urban Studios

4. Baran Studio Architecture (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Multiple listings

5. Walt Disney Imagineering (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Master Planner Senior

Keep track of Employer of the Day by following Archinect's Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or the Archinect Jobs Instagram.

Want more job-hunting and hiring tips? Check out Archinect's EMPLOY(ED), our How...

Archinect's Employer of the Day: Weekly Round-Up #125

2017-03-09T14:33:00-05:00

In case you missed them, here are some of the latest EOTD-featured firms.

1. Platform for Architecture + Research (PAR) (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Multiple listings

2. Bureau de Change (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Architectural Assistant

3. James Wagman Architect (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Project Manager

4. Arktura (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Multiple listings

5. Alchemy (Facebook feature)
Currently hiring: Multiple listings

Keep track of Employer of the Day by following Archinect's Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or the Archinect Jobs Instagram.

Want more job-hunting and hiring tips? Check out Archinect's EMPLOY(ED), our How to write a great architecture job ...

London's Cheesegrater sells for £1.15B—the second-biggest sale ever of a building in the UK

2017-03-07T12:32:00-05:00

The Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners-designed Leadenhall Building, more commonly known as the ‘Cheesegrater’, was sold to a Chinese property tycoon for £1.15B—the second-biggest sale ever of a building in the UK. The tallest building in the City of London, the Cheesegrater was previously owned by the developer of the building, British Land, and its joint venture partner Oxford Properties.

The sale marks one of the largest purchases of UK property by a Chinese company and is the largest sale in the country since 2014. When the building was completed that year, it had the highest rents of any building in the City.

Tim Roberts, head of offices at British Land, stated “This sale shows continued investor appetite for best-in-class, well-located property in London.” Others, however, might find the sale indicative of the increasing unaffordability of the capital city, which has witnessed a major boom in large, expensive towers.

Four out of five of small-scale developers in the UK have gone out of business, contributing to the housing crisis

2017-03-06T13:17:00-05:00

A new report by the online property marketplace LendInvest reveals that four out of five of Britain’s housebuilders have gone out of business in the last 30 months. This is largely due to the dominance of the eight largest builders—responsible for constructing more than 50% of the country’s new houses. This lack of competition contributes to the UK’s massive housing shortage, which, in turn, drives up the price of homes.

According to the report, the UK government could help spur new development by making a percentage of land available exclusively for small and medium businesses, as well as simplifying tax burdens.

“"80% of small-scale developers have gone out of business since the last housebuilding boom. That’s an appalling statistic,” states the CEO of LendInvest Christian Faes. “It’s meant less employment, less entrepreneurialism and fewer new homes on British streets where large-scale housebuilders didn’t pick up the slack.”

H/T Business Insider

...

Demolition of Tadao Ando's Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester now Council-approved

2017-02-16T12:55:00-05:00

Although plans to tear down Tadao Ando's Piccadilly Gardens have been floating about since last late last year, the Manchester City Council just gave its official approval to knock down Ando's quasi-Brutalist structure in favor of a "leisure-led" scheme last week, according to the Architects Journal.

In a thoughtful piece written for The Globe and Mail last year, Russell Smith questioned the role of the experts who had commissioned Ando to design the Gardens versus the opinions of the locals who encountered it daily. He noted that a "sealant, for some reason, possibly economic, was not used to coat the large unadorned surfaces of the Manchester pavilion. That building, basically a shelter to house a small café, occupies half of Piccadilly Gardens, presenting one long curving blank wall of concrete to the south side. The concrete, under the steady British drizzle, did not wear well: it started to stain with dark streaks, to look like the depressing and crumbling masses of postwar brut...