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Should we be rethinking the inclusion of Kevin McCloud's in the Top 10 green gurus list? BD's splash on the Grand Designs frontman today leaves a rather bad taste in the mouth. While you can't deny his passion and communication skills in front of camera when it comes to housing design his attempts to transfer this into practice have so far proved less successful. McCloud's company, Happiness Architecture Beauty (Hab) has fallen out with architect Wright & Wright, delaying a planned scheme for Swindon.
The bit of the story that sticks in you craw somewhat is his attitude to the architect. McCloud is at pains to try and explain the best ways of working with a project team while narrating his TV shows but in practice he expected Wright & Wright to work for free on the project, or as he puts it "take a punt" on the scheme. The replacement practice Glenn Howells have told McCloud they will "work weekends and evenings for no money and we said yes". Hard to say no to such an offer, but it strikes me as a pretty poor reflection of how a client perceives a designer. I wonder how he would sum up such behaviour in one of his shows?
Shocking. Totally unsustainable practice. Strike him off of the list.
Posted by: Jon Goodbun | 10 August 2008 at 09:43 PM
I see that Kevin was back on our screens on Monday puffing on about the importance of architecture in Castleford. Most unfortunate.
Posted by: Phil Clark | 13 August 2008 at 10:04 AM
Here's Kevin's perspective as reported by Building Design:
http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?sectioncode=436&storycode=3120484&c=1
Posted by: Andrew | 22 August 2008 at 11:14 AM