Opinion – Page 415

  • Comment

    I want to be a lawn

    2008-08-15T00:00:00Z

    When it comes to green roofs, there are two points that are often understated. First, microclimate and second, the protection to the material elements of a building.

  • Comment

    Lending support

    2008-08-15T00:00:00Z

    While my interests are different to those of David Strong (20 June, page 43), I am glad to lend my support to his criticisms of the current unsatisfactory state of “building control” in England and Wales.

  • Comment

    Time for a change

    2008-08-15T00:00:00Z

    Clause nine of the CDM regulations obliges the client to ensure that the project is allocated sufficient time.

  • Comment

    In the detail

    2008-08-15T00:00:00Z

    Can you identify this building to win a £25 drinks voucher?

  • Comment

    Holiday on death row

    2008-08-15T00:00:00Z

    As those of you involved in running a construction firm will know, it’s never easy to enjoy your summer vacation untroubled by thoughts of what’s going on back in the office.

  • Comment

    It's time to get to know inflation again

    2008-08-13T10:42:00Z

    For both consumers and construction firms inflation is becoming a real factor once again and maybe it is time to give much more consideration to how to deal with it.I was brought up with inflation. I recall being told time and again by my parents how few pennies things cost ...

  • Comment

    Are we seeing the bottom of the housing market collapse? Probably not

    2008-08-12T11:40:00Z

    The broad message coming out of the latest housing market survey from the surveyors' body RICS is that transactions may be stabilising but prices still are falling and have a way to fall yet.The interview with RICS chief economist Simon Rubinsohn on Radio 4's Today programme suggested that sellers are ...

  • Lindy Patterson
    Comment

    A step in the right direction

    2008-08-08T00:00:00Z

    To help ensure a contractor gets paid for a project, it can ask a bank to step in to remedy a situation before it terminates. The pitfalls are many – but so are the benefits

  • Michael Gove
    Comment

    I admit it all! I’m a conservative!

    2008-08-08T00:00:00Z

    But when you compare the glories of traditional architecture to the stuff we build now, it’s hard not to be, says Michael Gove, our man in the bicycle clips with the neatly knotted tie

  • Comment

    Let it shine

    2008-08-08T00:00:00Z

    Tom Lane’s article “How Viñoly’s Colchester arts facility lost its shine” (25 July, page 24), requires clarification on a number of points.

  • Tarek Merlin
    Comment

    Bridget Jones’ diatribe

    2008-08-08T00:00:00Z

    The pressure to conform causes singleton Tarek Merlin untold grief at his friends’ dinner parties. It also happens to be the single greatest blight on the built environment

  • Comment

    Unleash the OGC

    2008-08-08T00:00:00Z

    The government cannot afford to fail to implement the Construction Commitments through its supply chain, particularly after publicly signing up to them (25 July, page 9). And why on earth would it want to?

  • Comment

    Prime location

    2008-08-08T00:00:00Z

    Readers have been invited on your website to suggest suitable locations for the siting of Jack Pringle’s Skylon.

  • Charlene Linneman
    Comment

    Non payment of fees

    2008-08-08T00:00:00Z

    The CaseThis was an appeal from a County Court judgment dismissing Alan Auld Associates Ltd (“Alan Auld”)’s claim and giving judgment for Rick Pollard Associates (“Rick Pollard”) on its counterclaim.Both Alan Auld and Rick Pollard were chartered engineers. Alan Auld successfully tendered to provide project advice to the United Kingdom ...

  • Comment

    ڶ buys a pint … for Modus

    2008-08-08T00:00:00Z

    Chosen watering hole: The Greencoat Boy, Victoria. Ambience: Grimy but friendly – and mercifully air-conditioned – city boozer Topics: Love among the sandwiches, oestrogen in the water and the Frisbee family Drinks Drunk: 6 gin and tonics, 4 pints of Amstell, 3 pints of Heineken, 3 glasses of white wine

  • Super Mario
    Comment

    My digital life: Jon Sawyer

    2008-08-08T00:00:00Z

    Regeneration expert Jon Sawyer’s intrepid digital life includes championship tennis, running, karting and frequent trips to the Amazon (.co.uk)

  • Hansom
    Comment

    And the livin’ is easy

    2008-08-08T00:00:00Z

    It’s summertime, and the industry is rising to the occasion. What would the holiday season be without some natty new shoes, daytime TV and a little bit of summer lovin’ as well?

  • Stuart MacDonald
    Comment

    Do the right thing

    2008-08-08T00:00:00Z

    It’s just a coincidence, of course, but the opaque sky over Britain this week accurately reflects the overcast mood in much of the construction industry.

  • Comment

    A nasty hole has appeared in the new orders figures

    2008-08-07T18:44:00Z

    One set of bad orders figures provides no real cause for concern. This data series can bounce around like a drunken kangaroo. It is a feature of the lumpiness of construction projects. But a second consecutive set of duff figures does start to set a few alarm bells ringing.So the ...

  • Comment

    Probably the worst Halifax house price figures ever - unless you're a homebuyer

    2008-08-07T13:36:00Z

    So house prices dropped a further 1.7% in July according to Halifax (HBOS). For those concerned about the depth of any correction in the housing market that will be worrying.Added to the other eight monthly falls there have been over the past 12 months that means on the Halifax "smoothed" ...