This month’s construction industry gossip: Expanding horizons

Horizon 22, Europe’s highest free public viewing gallery, has welcomed its one millionth visitor, less than two years after opening. The gallery at 22 Bishopsgate in the City of London has attracted an average of 45,500 visitors per month since its launch.

April this year was the busiest month for visitors to Horizon 22 to date with over 58,000 guests. Pavan Pitta from Bangalore in India was the one millionth visitor to the attraction, if you’re asking…

Suite spot

I am pleased to report that Giorgio Armani has launched the world’s first Armani-branded beach villas. They are somewhere in the Gulf – naturally – and include access to an exclusive members-only beach club and “a curated suite of Giorgio Armani experiences and concierge services”.

That’s the clincher. Put me down for a couple. 

Apartments in London’s DAMAC Tower were designed by Donatella Versace, heir to the Versace brand. Alas, the scheme is located in not-so-glamourous Vauxhall

Lifestyle choice

Talking of fashion designers, the Armani job reminds me of a similar scheme closer to home. Apartments in London’s DAMAC Tower were designed by Donatella Versace, sister of Gianni Versace and heir to the Versace brand. Unfortunately it is located in not-so-glamourous Vauxhall, but the designer’s input at least seems to have served as an excuse to jack up prices, which start at £700,000 for a studio. Maybe I’ll pass on this one…

Water baby

One of my hacks went off to the Coq D’Argent the other week. For those who don’t know, it’s a posh restaurant on the top of No 1 Poultry in the City.

There was just one snag. He had had a tooth pulled a few days before and was ordered to take antibiotics. “No drinking for seven days,” said the dentist.

He was prepared to chance it, given the restaurant’s impressive wine list. Better Google it, though.

Here’s what it said: “Drinking alcohol while on metronidazole can cause a reaction called a disulfiram-like reaction, resulting in side effects such as nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, headaches and flushing.” Perhaps not, then.

More White House balls

The Trump administration has announced plans for a major new addition to the White House complex, a 90,000sq ft state ballroom intended to host large-scale events and official functions. Washington DC-based McCrery Architects has been appointed as lead architect, with Aecom also on the team.

“President Trump is a builder at heart and has an extraordinary eye for detail,” said White House chief of staff Susie Wiles. Just a guess, but it sounds like he won’t be a hands-off client.

A bridge too far

The UK has a well-deserved reputation for curtailing large infrastructure projects – HS2 being only the latest example. Not to be outdone, Italy is pressing ahead with a long dreamed-of bridge linking Sicily to the mainland, a project that will save people the punishing 30 minute crossing by ferry.

The Italian government claims that, at 3,600 metres, this will be the longest single-span bridge in the world, and it has allocated €13.5bn to the project. Italy’s transport minister, Matteo Salvini, described the bridge as “a metro over the strait” though critics fear it will be the mafia that will be making most use of this particular metro.

Another concern is that the construction site is in an area that has one of the highest seismic risks in Europe. This might explain a mock CGI image posted by one cynical Instagrammer recently that had one end of the bridge seeming to crash into the water before reaching the mainland.

It wasn’t clear if this was a comment on the consequences of a possible budgetary shortfall – a bit like a prestige train line terminating at Old Oak Common, say. 

Send any juicy industry gossip to Mr Joseph Aloysius Hansom, who founded Building in 1843, at hansom@building.co.uk