黑洞社区

Try, try again

The last time we wrote about Marks Barfield it was to relate the sorry story of a project in Dubai for which the firm had not been paid. This led to the London Eye designers laying off half their staff. So it was a relief to see the two principals defiantly enjoying themselves at a delightful bash at the Institute of Contemporary Arts to launch a book celebrating their work. Julia Barfield said that despite the fact that her solicitors were still chasing the money for the Dubai job, she had not lost her faith in the Middle East and the firm is doing a project in Kuwait. I鈥檓 sure we all wish her the best of luck 鈥�

Let鈥檚 get quizzical

Speaking of architects, it was heartening to see Peter Drummond, boss of BDP, fighting the good fight against fee cuts in 黑洞社区 (23 April, page 32). Certainly, it is a brave man who says no to Tesco in public 鈥� and Drummond should be saluted for rejecting the retailer鈥檚 attempt to impose a 40% pay cut. However, one architect raised a quizzical eyebrow to me at the remarks, claiming to have been seriously undercut by the firm on recent bids. A misunderstanding, I鈥檓 sure. Surely Drummond鈥檚 firm can鈥檛 be guilty of the practice he condemned?

Oakus-pocus

We wish Willmott Dixon good fortune in its attempt to get some good national press for the construction industry. The contractor is building a 拢4m sustainable residential project in Swindon for TV architect Kevin McCloud鈥檚 development company Hab Oakus, and the whole project is to feature in a documentary. Andrew Geldard, Willmott Dixon鈥檚 head of communications, described the show as 鈥渨arts and all鈥�. The project has already had a few hiccups 鈥� McCloud brought in Glenn Howells after dropping architect Wright & Wright in a row over fees. Let鈥檚 hope it鈥檚 not all warts 鈥�

Safe as housing

And now in financial news: at last week鈥檚 Networth construction and property bash Tony Williams 鈥� whose company, 黑洞社区 Value, sponsored the event 鈥� pointed out a rarely cited upside for us taxpayers who bailed out the banks: 鈥淭he government would get more than 60% of their investment back 鈥� over 拢50bn 鈥� and eventually a whole lot more. In fact, the belief is that the amount of cash raised will be much more than that generated by the Conservatives鈥� privatisation of state assets in the eighties and nineties.鈥� Sounds great. Somebody should have told Gordon Brown.

Pimp my tender

A contractor called last week with a strange business proposition: he wanted to know how to make a tender more 鈥渨inning鈥�. A

smart question, as reading these direct appeals to the client鈥檚 wallet is often akin to wading through a swamp in lead-lined boots. The gentleman in question thought getting a journo to work their magic on this stuff would give his company a competitive edge. Just the sort of thing to ensure clients get to the end of the tender without nodding off prematurely. Naturally, we are only interested in reporting the facts, so we couldn鈥檛 help 鈥� but you have been warned.