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A Government minister has declared war on “brutalist” architecture, arguing that it is “aesthetically worthless” and embodies a “cult of ugliness”.
John Hayes, a transport minister, said in a speech that the Government would be the “vanguard of a renaissance” in architecture by rebuilding a Doric arch that stood outside London’s Euston station before it was demolished in 1962.
— The Independent
"Politicians speak a lot and sometimes they speak sense," the British Minister for Transport John Hayes states at the beginning of a speech that makes a case for a return to "beauty" in public architecture. Specifically, he takes aim at brutalist transit stations and promises to rebuild the... View full entry
The clocks have gone back, we’ve had Halloween, it is well and truly ‘coat weather’, and Bonfire Night is coming fast; it’s time to start enjoying winter traditions! This week, go for a first skate in the middle of Canary Wharf on a glowing rink, or watch fireworks over some of the most... View full entry
If Poundbury is a game, it is one that has become a good deal more convincing over time. For years derided as a feudal Disneyland, where Prince Charles could play at being planner like Marie Antoinette with her toy hamlet in Versailles, this supposed ghost town feels increasingly like a real place...[Strip] away the fancy dress and you find a plan that far exceeds the sophistication achieved by any modern housebuilder. — Olly Wainwright | the Guardian
“We are engaged in creating a convincing fake,” [Ben Pentreath, an architect who has worked in Poundbury] says. “All architecture is essentially wallpaper: underneath, it’s all the same stuff.”More New Urbanism:Scott Merrill wins the 2016 Driehaus PrizeIn Chicago, forming economically... View full entry
Ministers approved the long-awaited decision at a cabinet committee meeting on Tuesday.
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling called the decision "truly momentous" and said expansion would improve the UK's connections with the rest of the world and support trade and jobs.
Although Heathrow has always been the favourite among businesses, it has attracted the most opposition from MPs with constituencies near the airport or under flight paths.
— bbc.co.uk
The expansion which had been publicly opposed by Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, Tory MP for Richmond Park, Zac Goldsmith and Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson has been widely debated for years. Funded with private sector cash the new runway will cost £17.6 billion but provide 260,000 more flights... View full entry
Spend this week exploring exhibitions; whether the work is that of an artist at their prime, a concept drawing from a student, or appreciating the forgotten modern dwellings in historical Highgate, this week is a celebration of hard work and creative pursuits. And, as we move into the end of... View full entry
The review highlights the sector’s dysfunctional training model, its lack of innovation and collaboration, and its non-existent research and development culture.
Low productivity continues to hamper the sector, while recent high levels of cost inflation, driven by a shortage of workers, has stalled numerous housing schemes as they have become too expensive to build.
— globalconstructionreview.com
Read more UK industry news here: Mayor of London launches probe into the impact of foreign investment in city's real estateEngineering giant Arup announces imminent layoffs following Brexit voteThe former-football stars tackling England's affordable housing shortage View full entry
Searching 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... View full entry
This week, there are plenty of opportunities to look at architecture's origins, both collectively and personally. Whether you admired the experimental, striking work of Cedric Price as you first explored an architectural career, or whether this spark was born from playing The Sims, this week is a... View full entry
Ministers have repeatedly given more public money to London’s planned garden bridge, despite official advice against doing so, and risk losing more than £20m if the controversial project is cancelled, according to a report from the National Audit Office...The Garden Bridge Trust has yet to secure the necessary sub-lease on the area of the South Bank where the bridge will land, the report notes, while the main contractor [is] on standby and construction has been delayed for at least 18 months. — The Guardian
For previous news on this ongoing struggle: London mayor Sadiq Khan blocks extra funds for garden bridge Allies and Morrison propose an alternative to the garden bridge London's garden bridge, the saga continues Sadiq Khan investigates troublesome details in Thames garden bridge project View full entry
This week is one of the first in the season to demand a coat. With nights starting to draw in, the temperature dropping, and with many galleries and events opening later in the evenings, now is the perfect time to replace parks with free exhibitions. This year’s Stirling Prize winning project... View full entry
The news is in! The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) has just announced the winner of the 2016 Stirling Prize: the Newport Street Gallery by Caruso St. John Architects. Considered to be the most prestigious prize in the United Kingdom, the Stirling is awarded to a British architect... View full entry
This week, the focus is on the hard stuff: concrete. Whether that is exploring the Barbican Centre's towering volumes, listening to the author of Concretopia, or learning about two award-winning projects who use concrete in an elegant way, there's plenty of ways to fall in love with the... View full entry
This week, plunge yourself into the art world with opening shows, private views and controversial subjects all on offer in London. Works on display throughout the exhibitions seek to challenge the viewer, and in the case of Guerrilla Girls, bring about big, tangible change through... View full entry
“For me, architectural practice includes drawing, writing and building as interlinked activities. It is a continual ferrying between an engagement in the natural processes required to bring something reliable and concrete into being, and the need to clear a space for the expression of doubt, possibility and a half-glimpsed ideal...I am very grateful for the recognition.” — Níall McLaughlin — Bustler
The RIBA revealed Níall McLaughlin as the 2016 Charles Jencks Award recipient today. Named after landscape designer and architectural theorist Charles Jencks, the award recognizes an individual or practice for their recent major contributions to architectural theory and practice... View full entry
Alan Vallance has been chosen as the new Chief Executive of the RIBA unanimously by the interview panel. He has been Interim Chief Executive at the institute since February this year and prior to that Interim Director of Finance. Previous to working at the RIBA he has worked in finance... View full entry
