Raising aesthetics expectations - The week in quotes - Back bites

Is there a conspiracy to create boring buildings in Britain or does it just come naturally? Too many landmark buildings in this country, both public and private, just aren't very interesting to look at, though they may well be expensive.

The finger of blame for this can be pointed in many directions. The public sector is always on a tight financial rein and therefore accepts functionality over form to keep costs down. The private sector can often afford more flamboyant buildings, but plays safe design-wise to ensure a faster journey through the planning process. The private sector blames conservative planners for their avoidance of more radical designs. And housebuilders? Well, with the exception of some pioneering housing associations, they are hardly producing cutting edge design.

And yet the UK does have a strong pool of world class designers and engineers, not to mention some innovative overseas-based architects working over here. The Lottery projects amply demonstrate what can be achieved when some of that pent up creativity and innovation is released - witness the Lowry Centre, the 'biomes' of the Eden project and the proposed Imperial War Museum-North.

There is precious little sign of this kind of radical design outside of the Lottery projects. PFI is a case in point. The system conspires to ensure both private and public sector want to keep costs down - flamboyant architecture is just not on the agenda. And outside of a few owner/occupiers, who want landmark architecture, the private sector is still largely unwilling to be radical in design terms.

Admittedly there is more cultural acceptance that museums and the like should be landmark architecture, but can't the UK afford to have just a little of that radicalism in its offices, public buildings and houses? Whitty fingered

Government minister Lord Whitty may not look like Commissioner Dreyfus, the hapless head of the Paris police department who always lost out to Inspector Clouseau in the splendid Pink Panther films. But he certainly fills the part is other aspects.

Last week, he was guest speaker at the Construction Confederation's annual dinner in London. Most of the audience couldn't help but notice that, when the minister started gesticulating, his left finger was covered in an enormous bandage.

After a few minutes' oratory on Government policy, Whitty told the assembled diners: "I carved my finger off on Sunday night." Whitty did not say whether the accident occurred with a miniature guillotine used to cut cigars, as happened to the long-suffering Dreyfus.

Just for the record, one of the luckless Lord's special responsibilities is health and safety.

DL&E's dilemma

At last week's British Council for Offices' annual shindig, one of the principal speakers was Clem Sunter - a top gun at mining and minerals giant Anglo American. Sunter told delegates of AA's global domination policy. This included: focusing on core activities; differentiating from AA's competitors; being a global player; eliminating competition; having a "radar system" to detect changes in the market; getting serious about health, safety and the environment; and ensuring that the chief executive was passionate about the business.

All this seemed too much for Paul Morrell, senior partner of cost consultant Davis Langdon & Everest, who was chairing the session. Morrell told delegates: "You ask the questions, while I go and rewrite my business plan."

What red tape?

The amount of red tape that the British construction industry has to go through is often bemoaned. However, one South African property specialist remarks that to get anything done in his country is akin "to cutting red tape lengthways". "I am not a sunbathing person. I like to explore the area I am in and to learn about the local culture, history and people. I have always been fascinated by the political and economic forces that prompted the movement of peoples and the development of trade. My holiday would be to follow the Silk Route, the ancient trading route linking Europe and China. It was a dangerous path to follow and the main towns on its path were fortified. I would hope to gain an understanding of the reasons that prompted travellers to risk its passage, but hopefully in somewhat more comfortable circumstances!"





BOXTEXT: "I last left Hong Kong a week before Chris Patten sailed away into the setting sun. My return would see me at the new airport that was just rubble and a contractors' town when I last saw it. So, what is so special about Hong Kong? Simply the local desire to be successful and make things happen. You want a meal at a busy restaurant? An extra table will appear. You want to build an airport on an island that doesn't fit? Change the shape of the island!" "I last left Hong Kong a week before Chris Patten sailed away into the setting sun. My return would see me at the new airport that was just rubble and a contractors' town when I last saw it. So, what is so special about Hong Kong? Simply the local desire to be successful and make things happen. You want a meal at a busy restaurant? An extra table will appear. You want to build an airport on an island that doesn't fit? Change the shape of the island!" "A lot of emphasis is needed on the construction team being up to the debate. They are often not prepared to sit at the same table as the rest of the team."

Stuart Lipton,

Chairman of CABE

See 'Architectural', p20



"The FM market is highly competitive and highly fragmented. Providers are hugely different, there are almost no two alike."

Alan Soper, MD, Amec Facilities,

See 'At your service', p28