Thoughts for the Weekend & this Week’s Links
New Year, New Columns. It’s been a while since I wrote one of these. By October last year, I’d had enough. The columns had been flowing steadily, but as the year slowed, so did I. The slower things got, the harder it was to keep up the momentum. And, just like when you stop an […]
Thoughts for the Weekend & this Week’s Links
One Penny. I’ve not had much time to write this week. I’m sure I could get ChatGPT to write me something in four seconds, but that’s not really the point, is it? I read that the government is knocking a penny off a pint. Big deal, right? Why even bother? The penny can’t be worth […]
Thoughts for the Weekend & this Week’s Links
Norman who?. After speaking to a group of students this week and seeing many blank faces when I mentioned Renzo Piano and Norman Foster, I figured it might be time for a refresher. Here are six architects from the last 100 years who everyone should know about. 1. Frank Lloyd Wright (American – 1867–1959) Wright […]
Thoughts for the Weekend & this Week’s Links
Sketching a New Tomorrow. Last night, while chatting with my friend Oliver, I stumbled upon an idea. We were discussing cities—what they are, what they should be—and before long, I was drawn into a vision. This morning, I woke up with that idea still buzzing in my head. By the time my tea had cooled, […]
Thoughts for the Weekend & this Week’s Links
Per Square Metre. As the year passes, it’s time to share my updated building cost data before December sneaks up on us. I mentioned it briefly in a newsletter earlier this year but now feels like a good time to dive into the details. I’ve been tracking and refining this data over the past few […]
Thoughts for the Weekend & this Week’s Links
Pacing Cambridge. I spent last weekend pacing around Cambridge. Why aren’t more places like it? Maybe not enough brain-boxes to go around. It’s a beautiful, charming, densely packed city with narrow streets, squares, a river with punters and thirty-one colleges. Like many of our best cities (York, Edinburgh, Durham, and Bath), Cambridge is just the […]
Thoughts for the Weekend & this Week’s Links
Cutting Deep. I had lunch with an architect friend yesterday. September might be my second favourite month. We often get the sun but without the crowds and traffic. There has been a lovely warm easterly wind these past couple of days. So, with the sun out yesterday lunchtime, I turned on the electric barbecue and […]
Building A Shop: RIBA Work Stages and the Value of Architectural Services
Building A Shop. I’ve been thinking about how best to divide up my services for the online shop I mentioned last week. RIBA work stages are a pretty standard framework in architecture, and they provide a logical way to break down my offerings so that homeowners can pick what they need without any confusion. After […]
Thoughts for the Weekend & this Week’s Links
Drawing Up Plans. This might be a bit dry, but I’ve been thinking about how best to divide up my services for the online shop I mentioned last week. RIBA work stages are a pretty standard framework in architecture, and breaking down my offerings to fit these stages seems logical. The value of design and […]
Thoughts for the Weekend & this Week’s Links
Back At It. I’m back from my summer break, and honestly, I can’t say I’m raring to go. But, as with most things, you put one foot in front of the other, and before you know it, we’ll be staring down Christmas. Throughout August, I had a few moments where I thought about digging out […]
