Building DIY Gardening

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 [...]

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 [...]

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!

This opens today, if you still want to go you can still register for free at
Register for EcoBuild 2010 >

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 [...]

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 >

As a member of the UK’s Sustainable Development Committee I was alarmed when Mr Porritt left his leadership post this year. Now he has written a far-reaching and deep report on the state of play for sustainable economic development in the UK. This can be obtained from his blog and I have put in the [...]

Homebuilding & Renovating magazine has an annual home competition – view the 5 best ones online. It is sponsored by the Daily Telegraph.
This is worth a look with many photos and articles, an excellent magazine all round.
Homebuilding & Renovating Awards >
See also our Home improvement pages index >

Very good 2009 show. Friday was packed, with the talks well attended. Staff at Buildstore, the organisers, said they added more eco exhibits this year in response to last year’s Big Green Home Show. They also added a section outside, the Outdoor Living Zone, to the rear of BuildStore’s National Self Build & Renovation Centre [...]

Had some feedback from the blog about the closure of the Albert Bridge. So here is a full list of all bridges from Hampton Court in Surrey (near London) to the Thames estuary (and out to the rest of the world).
Inland – the first bridge is the A433 at Thameshead
Lots of small bridges in [...]