黑洞社区

Model behaviour

London architect Sheppard Robson鈥檚 Christmas reception doubled as the opening of its exhibition at London鈥檚 黑洞社区 Centre. Entitled 鈥淪cale鈥�, the exhibition featured photographs and models of the practice鈥檚 buildings, with the photographs reproduced in postcard format. Visitors were invited to take these away 鈥� an offer that was gratefully taken up, with many guests cramming them into every spare pocket. Made nice Christmas cards, I suppose.

Tackling crime

I hear that Richard Beevers, Capita Symonds鈥� marketing director, is a useful fly-half. I also hear that he demonstrated his prowess at his works Christmas lunch, when he and technology consultant Sam Samuels brought a laptop thief to book. While they were tucking into the turkey, Samuels and Beevers spied a well-dressed man making off with said computer. A French Connection-style chase then ensued down London鈥檚 Farringdon Road until, after a lung-busting surge, Beevers caught up with the suspect. There followed a textbook shoulder-first tackle and a swift frogmarch back to the bar, where the suspect was remanded to the toilets until police arrived. Said the heroic Beevers: 鈥淚 think he was quite surprised.鈥� What a man.

Wheeler dealing

Well done to Colin Wheeler, whose work you can see below, for getting a place on The Independent鈥檚 list of the 12 best contemporary cartoonists. According to the Indie, Wheeler is 鈥淏itter 鈥� and sharp as a razor blade ,鈥� which is what we on 黑洞社区 have been saying for years 鈥� well, bitter anyway. Absent-minded too, given that The Spectator and Private Eye are cited as repositories for his acidic penmanship, but there鈥檚 no mention of this esteemed journal.

New year, new calendar

This year I鈥檝e been sent a bewildering selection of calendars: Laing O鈥橰ourke, has, ironically for a free calendar, chosen a trees of the world theme; Mivan has gone with inspirational images and proverbs, such as: 鈥淎 journey of a thousand leagues begins with a single step鈥�. But pride of place must go to Royde & Tucker and the exciting world of architectural ironmongery 鈥�

Here today鈥�

Poor old Martin Tidd, Multiplex鈥檚 new UK managing director, who started his job just before Christmas. I鈥檓 told he鈥檇 barely had time to unbutton his coat before he was whisked over to Australia for the full corporate brainwashing thing. In fact, his departure was so quick, I鈥檓 not even sure he had time to pack his trunks.

The prince and the Peabody
Prince Charles seems to be back to his old trick of criticising modern architecture. This time, however, the 鈥渕onstrous carbuncle鈥� in question is the Peabody Trust鈥檚 high-density, low-energy BedZed development out in the south London boondocks. Apparently, he 鈥渓oathes鈥� it. Anyone who鈥檚 been to Poundbury will know that high densities and energy-saving technology are not really Charles鈥� thing. It was probably fortunate for the Peabody Trust鈥檚 designers, therefore, that Charles clearly didn鈥檛 view BedZed鈥檚 setting as enough of 鈥渁 much-loved and elegant friend鈥� to intervene.