Western-Super-Mare’s new Grand Pier opened in 2010, after the 1904 structure made headlines when it was destroyed by fire in 2008. Angus Meek won the design competition with what seemed like an exciting proposal (above), keeping some classic pavilion elements like the corner towers but with a design for Western’s future. A highly glazed front to draw you in and bright colours to take you down the boardwalk to the side of the pavilion.

Recently I visited the pier. Having grown up with Penarth Pier on my doorstop (about to start its own redevelopment) I was interested to experience something similar but on a grander scale. In reality, I found the final build uninspiring. Gone are the modern corner towers; I was presented with domed white structures with small spires. The dark semi glazed entrance did little to invite me in and sadly the only way to get the best views was dining in an empty but uninviting events room.

Photographs on Flickr.

Winning Concept © Angus Meek

Sam Flynn’s container home caught my eye the most, with me still in a love-hate relationship with container designs. Sadly it was a temporary structure in South Vancouver and was torn down. Flynn’s approach on his bike and garage door entrance are brilliantly shot.

“The shipping container house style was chosen because [director Joseph Kosinski] and our production designer, Darren Gilford, couldn’t find a house for Sam Flynn in Vancouver with suitable architecture and as designers both were interested in retro-fitted shipping containers as living spaces.”

The lighting and views of the bridge are stunning, however my issues with container homes still stand: they are sold on being ‘green’. Recycling containers as buildings must be ‘green’, right? Not necessarily. In actual fact there are many additional cost and materials needed to insulate and create usable living space from a thin metal shell – but screw it, they look sweet.

The design has been compared to the Quik House by Adam Kalkin a prefab house ‘kit’ which seems like an awesome project ‘delivering’ houses anywhere in the US/UK. Now, go watch the film.

Source: jetsongreen.com / Concept Art ©Disney Enterprises, Inc

Today Apple launched the iPhone 4S the long awaited update that I’ve wanted to buy for a while. Alongside it will launch iCloud a cloud storage and syncing service across iPhones, iPads and Macs.

In an iCloud promo video Apple clearly shows an ‘Architect’ snapping pictures of a model with an iPhone and reviewing it on his Mac instantly. Apple products are definitely popular with Architects and students of said profession but a surprisingly niche audience for an ad, no?

Canon HF10 / iMovie
Location: IE University, Madrid, Spain

The last few weeks I have been working on and have now completed fionajones.org – a new website for my mother’s fledgeling private therapy work. Powered by WordPress and based upon a theme by NattyWP.

She’s a Family & Systemic Psychotherapist and has 15 years experience in a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, providing individual therapy and family therapy for people encountering a wide range of problems. Part of the work was a marketing strategy and designing the brand (associated print media is to follow).

View the Embedded Video

Behind the Riot – Behind the scenes footage mixed with a sound check song (Picture to Paint) while we filmed Elegy for the Big Society.

View the Embedded Video

Filmed (Canon HF10) and edited (iMovie ’11) by Theo Jones. Music and words by Magpie Instinct – Tim Cox & Hugh Everett

The Architect: What Now?

I don’t normally food shop online (Sainsbury’s is close and when I want the food, I want it now) However it crossed my mind, if I shopped online I could order from Tesco, maybe that’ll save me money? There is no reason sticking to Sainsbury’s if they deliver it to me. Also maybe online prices are cheaper? So..I ran a test. Doing the exact shop I need now, first in Sainsbury’s with the usual items, then Tesco, trying to match products.

Results Sainsbury’s £69.33 | Tesco £73.92

Not a huge surprise, I’d have loved it if Tesco was cheaper cause I could go save myself some money. What is surprising is how many products where identical prices and quantities. Possibly the same product re-packaged. Some products didn’t match perfectly, but I made sure to find the cheapest version. If I was comparing a Sainsbury’s Basic item I would first look for a Tesco Value alternative, if not available I would go to Tesco ‘normal’ brand. There was the lack of a ‘normal’ pesto in Tesco so the cheapest was the Bertolli brand.

Obviously this is a very small scale sample and by no means definitive, except for me and what I buy. One thing that could change figures is the taste difference between shops ‘normal’ and Basic/Value range. For example Sainsbury’s basic pasta sauce is not good, very sweet. Having not tried Tesco basic pasta sauce I can’t judge, but if its good, I would buy it and save. I was rather shocked that even for a £70 order Sainsbury’s charged £3.50-5.50 and Tesco £3-6 (depending on time of day) for delivery. This negates the idea that it might be cheaper to shop online. As far as the websites Sainsbury’s had a slicker interface.

Just come back from an actually Sainsbury’s shop and as I expected the prices on the site are same as in-store, no special online offers that effected my basket. Interesting how Tesco’s main advertising angle is money saving ‘Every Little Helps’ vs. Sainsbury’s ‘Taste the Difference’ however when it comes to the crunch they are one in the same.

Update 08/06/09: I re-posted this on MoneySavingExpert.com and a lively discussions ensued.

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