I’ve just read the article Space Invader (p. 107-8, Wallpaper*, January 2008) about Italian developer Alessanfro Cajrati Crivelli and Phillips de Pury. The article discusses their approach to redevelopment in Milan and Howick Place, London, and whilst the article’s only a starting point, I thought they might be really interesting people to bring on board as consultants for ‘The Big City Plan?’… Just a thought…

Sarah

I just remembered a great idea that someone told me ages ago - I can’t take credit for it (I believe the original idea was from the director of a local art gallery). Anyway the current central library (a fine example of brutalist architecture etc), that is likely to be knocked down etc, but instead the idea would be to paint it white and turn it Birmingham’s museum of modern art. To me this is the most simple and fantastic idea and saves a building which is of architectural interest (albeit ugly to our current ways of seeing).

And one other thing. A friend of mine was up from London the other week and was really stunned by the quantity of chains in Brindly place (chain pubs/resturants/bars) her comments were something like ‘it feels like a theme park’ - I know others have commented on this, lack of independent places etc.. but it has that ‘leisure place by numbers’.

Charlotte