Donald Trump was up to his usual anti-environmentalist antics at the UN General Assembly last month in New York, where he accused international leaders of being complicit in “the greatest con job ever perpetrated in the world”. Timely insults as Climate Week was taking place the other side of town (with star appearances from Jane Fonda, Mark Ruffalo and err… Ed Miliband).
Delegates seemed perturbed by the US president’s unfounded claims but not surprised, and stayed focused on sensible non-partisan solutions. All but one, who in a lively debate, couldn’t help a side-swipe at “agent orange”. Who could he have been referring to?
Mamma mia!
One of my team found themselves at Abba Voyage last month – the concert featuring virtual avatars of the Swedish foursome. It depicts the group as they were in 1979. It was jolly good, he tells me, if a little surreal. “People were applauding a group that wasn’t actually there.”
Anyway, one of the ushers at the purpose-built venue, designed by Stufish, told my man she had been there since the show’s beginning in 2022. She reckons she’s seen it 900 times. NINE HUNDRED!! Perhaps she says Thank you for the Music every time it shows?
Front Roe seat
At this month’s Building the Future conference, (relatively) new Building Safety Regulator chair Andy Roe began his keynote speech by recalling his time in the Army and being told, under no circumstances, to have the enemy between you and the nearest exit. He said this as he gazed out at the massed ranks of industry gathered before him, keen to hear what he had to say on clearing up the backlog caused by gateway 2 delays.
He needn’t have worried. He impressed with his knowledge, grasp of detail and willingness to share what the BSR is up to. No one in the audience switched off or was reduced to playing with their phone. Perhaps parents can book him to deal with distracted teenagers…
Around 10pm, two distinguished industry leaders were sighted doing what my hack describes as ‘knee-slides’ across the dance floor
Bit of a knees-up
Once the conference’s panel events were finished, it was time for the booze to start flowing – first as an end of day sharpener for attendees, and then at the evening’s shortlisting party for the Building Awards as well as Building Design’s Architect of the Year awards. Needless to say, the atmosphere became somewhat more relaxed compared to the mood at Roe’s speech that morning.
Around 10pm, two distinguished industry leaders were sighted doing what my hack describes as “knee-slides” across the dance-floor, which sounds like it was a good bash, although I’m not sure how much distance they managed to cover with such manoeuvres, since the floor was, unfortunately for their trousers, carpeted…
Save our pubs
As Save Britain’s Heritage prepares to bring the curtain down on its 50th anniversary celebrations this year, the group is throwing its weight behind a bid to save Manchester pub Apsley Cottage, which has been going for 150 years and played host to countless bands. Among those treading the boards have been Oasis, the Smiths, Stone Roses and Thin Lizzy.
It has been closed since August, with worries growing the owner will sell the site. A final decision on whether it gets listed rests with culture secretary Lisa Nandy. Perhaps Kevin McLeod – the design industry’s own rock star? – will mention it in his keynote address at the charity’s half-year celebration at the V&A next month.
The naughty corner
For anyone with primary school age children in Year 6, the past few weeks have been a blur of visiting secondary schools and trusting to luck for next year’s move to big school. A contracting friend of mine says he was visiting a school in north London and before the headmaster launched into his speech, he made it pretty clear that mobile phones should be turned off or on silent. A couple of minutes later and my friend, who was sitting on the front row, said someone’s phone went off. Panicked he fumbled for his phone only to realise it was the person’s next to him. Turns out the offender was one of the school’s governors.
Star turn
Among those popping by last month’s Climate Week NYC in New York was Hollywood actor Mark Ruffalo in his capacity as founder of clean energy organisation Solutions Project. Also braving the sweltering conditions was energy secretary Ed Miliband just a few days before he was handed the Wednesday graveyard slot – the day after the leader’s set-piece speech – at the Labour party conference the following week. The ups and downs of life, I guess.
Send any juicy industry gossip to Mr Joseph Aloysius Hansom, who founded Building in 1843, at hansom@building.co.uk
