Building DIY Blog

Kieran Timberlake US architect has won a US competition to design the new US embassy in London, in Wandsworth. This is the first time an embassy has been built south of the river Thames, and locals in Wandsworth and somewhat bemused. The US embassy is moving from Grosvenor Square – a famous central London location – to the rather obscure Nine Elms, Wandsworth, south London. Wandsworth London was recently voted London’s trendiest borough – by some squirrels.

Nearest neighbours are Battersea Dog (and Cats) Home, the Battersea Power Station, a few boring gastro pubs and some equally tedious buy to let developments.
Nine Elms is not a leafy grove but a fast highway between Battersea, near Battersea Park and Chelsea Bridge, and Vauxhall, home of a solar powered bus stop (I kid you not) and some well-established gay pubs. There used to be a balloon ride (straight up and down) on some waste ground there but that went years ago. If only they’d waited for that other American concoction, the film ‘Up!’. (Which I greatly enjoyed btw.)

The winning entry looks like this:

The new US embassy in London building is placed in a large open space which is to prevent terrorist attacks, no one ever walks around this area. I suppose it is now near the River Thames in case of the need for a fast exit. The rather imposing MI5 building is nearby at Vauxhall fronting onto the river, as featured in some James Bond film or other. That has trees on top, for no particular reason. Gives it a festive air.

Here is a building in Singapore, on the river.

Here is one of the losing entries, not sure why this one lost, Battersea Power Station is falling down, or is that the point? Last thing I saw there was a Chinese Young Artist exhibition a few years ago. Water floods down inside when it rains, it will collapse soon, then more buy to let developments can be built there.

Here are some more great modern buildings, from our very own Building DIY book >.

Here is the link to the US State Department’s website for the new London US Embassy in Wandsworth London… Nine Elms!

And here is the link to Kieran Timberlake’s site > (is he related to the excellent superstar Justin Timberlake? We should be told).

Interesting seminars coming up on how to be on good terms with the people working on your building or large DIY job.

Some people have the ‘cowboy builders‘ idea stuck in their head from watching TV scare programmes and so they start off badly with builders or contractors.

Things always go wrong and always cost more. This is not because builders are ripping you off, it is because they can’t usually include contingency in job quotes as they then won’t get the job – as people always want a bargain. This approach doesn’t work with building jobs. What are builders to do? People don’t realise how complicated some building jobs can be. Unexpected things appear when working, when digging down or uncovering old things… and most houses in the UK are very old. How can builders be expected to have X ray vision?

This weekend seminar – free tickets too – is for enthusiasts who want to know about how to manage, work with rather than against, and have great long term relationships with:

Architects
Builders Merchants
Building Control (council officers)
Design & Planning
Dispute Resolution
Eco Building
Package Build
Project Management
Self Build
Tradesmen

See Building Relationships Weekend at National Self Build Centre, Swindon Sat 27 – Sun 28 March 2010 >

This annual show is on today Friday, Saturday and Sunday 26-28 February 2010.

Get more information on National Self Build and Renovation Show >

Have a look!

We have added a few pages on storage solutions recently, and had some comments that we hadn’t covered storage containers.

Our page on storage around the home, office storage and garage storage > has a lot of useful advice and tips on how to reorganise your space. This can also include food storage although we don’t have a specific page for that yet, coming soon when we update our kitchen sections.

There are many ways to do this but first do a storage audit.

This means you should look at what should be stored for each room.

Then see how much storage is possible in each room (which is where our new page helps you with storage advice).

Then see if things can be moved around to help ease the pressure on your space.

We also have a new page on storage boxes, storage containers, boxes and carts > which advises on where to put all your stuff, with many new ideas to free up some space for extra storage.

This opens today, if you still want to go you can still register for free at

Register for EcoBuild 2010 >

This “Loot” solo cd by Ian Burden of the Human League was recorded around 1989 and released 1990 on the Homar label (HOMCD 6603).
Homar was run by some guys from the Human League’s crew.

Ian Burden recorded it while hanging around in Sheffield after he left the Human League. It was recorded in his amazing ‘home’ studio, which had a state of the art Roland D50, a huge desk, and loads of room. All his old cronies hung out there and contributed to varying degrees. I used to work at Psalter Lane Art College nearby. Ian Burden liked the Loot of the World song I had recorded a couple of years earlier.

I thought I had lost my copy of the Loot cd and was looking around to see if any were available (no). It later turned up bundled in a box with some of my novels and anthologies (I used to write fiction, incredible as that might seem considering these posts!).

Music

Original Loot of the World >

Loot of the World from the Ian Burden (Human League) Loot cd >

I had known Ian for ages from the old late 70s Sheffield experimental electronic / punk (ish) scene. Last I heard Ian had gone to Texas and was writing a novel about Shakespeare. No news on that.
The only interesting thing I could find was an Ian Burden Human League interview from 2009 (here) >

I have posted the original Loot of the World song here for fun, and some pics of the cassette off the DAT master, since you don’t see many tapes around these days. Slight hassle finding a working tape deck.

The original was recorded at N-P’s studio I think in Battersea. “N” did the fancy keyboard bits as I can’t play properly (hear these wonders at 34 secs.)!! and generally turned it into a proper track, the demo was a grungy thing recorded on a stereo tape deck, using a busted guitar and a Casio organ.

“What are the Americans going to do? Extreme gyrations!”

The financial news samples were from C4 Business programme, recorded off the telly (very high tech in those days). There was a big financial crash going on then. Sound familiar?

The main ‘Loot of the World’ sample is off Citizen Kane. (So sue me). The song had a point, weirdly the same song could come out now (or last year anyway). Also Labour leader John Smith is on here. Gordon Brown may be on a remix …

The later track Loot starts with some cartoony samples, that was the theme for the Loot cd. Much brighter and fun than the house-y original.

I am still in touch with some of the people from that period in Sheffield.

This blog by Geoff Davis (BuildingDIY site)

Has this got anything to do with building and DIY? Nope. Any comments?

Next year’s Ecobuild has a look at the effect of 3 years of Government legislation on building practice – the Code for Sustainable Homes, EPCs, and many others. These are for new building and also refurbishment and DIY refitting.

We are supposed to be headed for the zero carbon home by 2016 – that is very soon!

Havre alook at the Ecobuild conference description here >

Ecobuild March 2-4 2010 Earl’s Court London UK

New student competition to design build and use a zero carbon home (no emissions or balanced emissions).

The University of Nottingham’s student entry (with Saint-Gobain) will début at Ecobuild in March 2010 at Earls Court, London. (See other post). The student final is in Madrid later in the year.

This is of great interest to builders and DIY self builders, as new devices and techniques filter through to your local B&Q or merchant.

See University of Nottingham news on new student solar building competition >

World’s biggest event for sustainable green building, DIY, architecture, and living.

2 – 4 March 2010 at Earls Court London.

Ecobuild has:

• 100 free seminars
• 1000 suppliers’ stands
• Conference with famous people
• Speakers include Joan Ruddock, lots more
• Cityscape & Ecobuild Installer – for builders, DIY fans and developers
• Commentators at Ecobuild Arena

Sponsored by RIBA, BRE

Free registration for invitation >

David Snell & Friends at The National Self Build & Renovation Centre – talks and advice on Project Management. At Swindon centre off M4 junction 16.

11 am til 4pm – talks, seminars etc on this most important subject. Covers finding land, design, planning, choosing trades & materials, project management.

Have a look at the Project Management for small building jobs flyer >

See also our pages on Setting up and starting a building job >