Opinion – Page 526
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CommentArchitects of our downfall
Colin Harding CABE acts for an architectural elite and against the interests of the construction industry in general. The result is an approach to building that you might call Blairist …
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CommentA fat lot of good
Adjudication is failing the very people it was designed to help – the small contractor with a low-value claim that needs a quick and cheap decision. So what’s to be done?
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CommentWonders & blunders
Roger Protz raises a glass to the London pub that was named after a philanthropist, and pours cold water on a London station
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The appliance of science
Attending the Sustainability Awards organised by Building last month brought home to me that the age of sustainable buildings has finally arrived.
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Tall tale?
I was prompted to write concerning the article in on the design of high-rise building following the events of 9/11 (4 November).
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Less elegant than flatulent
I couldn’t agree more with Mark Cowell’s and James Nisbet’s comments (28 October) concerning the award of the Stirling Prize to the Scottish parliament building.
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Dot joining
Energy saving, reduction in greenhouse gases, sustainability, green building, save those trees … all very laudable but it needs joining up.
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Send the academics on site
Despite 30 years’ experience in building control, I no longer feel confident on site that what I am looking at achieves the requirements of the regulations; also, when asked for advice I don’t always have the answer straight away because the regulations have become too complicated.
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CommentThe PFI suggestion box …
The Treasury’s review of the PFI can’t come soon enough. The renewal of the grim Whipps Cross hospital was hampered rather than helped by it, and the refurbishment of St Bart’s is demonstrating how much money can be lost in a few weeks.
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CommentIt’s about to get messy …
Our thanks to Mike Gosling for this fine example of British improvisation.
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An irregular challenge
The claimant construction company, Kharafi was the main contractor for airport construction works in Ethiopia. Kharafi engaged Protech as earthworks subcontractor. Kharafi terminated the subcontract before the earthworks were completed and Protech made various claims that were referred to arbitration. The arbitrator made several awards in Protech’s favour including a ...
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CommentWhat the forum’s for
The Strategic Forum has recovered well after the rushed publication and unmanageable targets of Accelerating Change. Where should it go next?
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CommentA traveller’s tales
Travel may expose you to diverse cultures, but skills shortages, seem to be the same the world over. If only the same could be said for health and safety …
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Are insurers pulling a fast on
… While Mike Grant of law firm Weightmans says half the contractors it surveyed felt let down by insurers. Does this reflect badly on the policies or on firms’ failure to understand them?
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CommentWho wants 70bn euros?
In the past, the construction industry has missed out on European research grants. But now, with a huge round of funding up for grabs, it's time to stand up and be noticed
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Take some responsibility …
In her article “It’s not their job” (11 November), Ann Minogue has shot herself in the foot by stating: “But surely one-off clients, which make up most customers, cannot be blamed for what happens on site?
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Ventilation, ventilation, ventilation
I was very pleased to be consulted for the article on disease risks to schoolchildren (4 November).
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Alexander grates
I having just read Gus Alexander’s article “A Waste of Energy” (28 October), and it’s had a fundamental effect on my view of the way we go about construction in the UK.
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Jestico’s first
For the record, YRM was not the first architect to transform itself into a not-for-profit trust (4 November).