/blog/ The DesignRock blog en susie@designrock.com Copyright 2011 2011-07-14T10:00:25+00:00 http://www.designrock.com/blog/green-life http://www.designrock.com/blog/green-life#When:10:00:25Z Clifton Life talks to Designrock about being an environmentally aware businessAs an environmentally friendly commercial interior design firm we were thrilled to be asked to feature on Clifton Life’s ‘Green Life’ page of the magazine (issue 127). Here’s a snippet from Louise Edwards’ interview with Designrock director Susie: LE: Why was being environmentally aware important to you? S: Dan and I founded Designrock in 2007 but we’ve always been concerned about the environment. We both grew up with a huge respect for nature. We’re renting space on this planet for our lifetime and like anything you borrow, it’s important to look after it. Becoming parents strengthened our resolve to be as responsible as possible and so it was a natural progression that our business should follow the same principles and ethical approach. LE: How can you be forward-thinking in design while working in this way? S: It’s important to separate design from fashion. Fashion is transient - what’s fashionable becomes undesirable - and unfashionable becomes undesirable. Green design is about finding a solution that’s stylish, but that’s also timeless, durable and successful. Quite often this means challenging convention. If you’d like to read the interview in full you can download Clifton Life here! 2011-07-14T10:00:25+00:00 http://www.designrock.com/blog/cuppa-anyone http://www.designrock.com/blog/cuppa-anyone#When:13:27:05Z If I had to pick my favourite stage in any of our commercial interior design projects it would be the lead up to the installation! Some of you might disagree the end result... the design visuals brought to life... that’s the best part of a project. Not for me it’s not!If I had to pick my favourite stage in any of our commercial interior design projects it would be the lead up to the installation! Some of you might disagree… the end result, the design visuals brought to life, that could be the best part of a project for you. But not for me it’s not! I love it when the design has been signed off and, for the client and designer, there’s all the promise and anticipation of the transformation that is about to unfold! And that’s the stage we’re at with Picnic In The Park in the beautiful city of Bath. The established and thriving café that sits at the edge of Victoria Park is getting a facelift. Clean but not wrinkle free… a modern but rustic and natural look is what we’re aiming for with this café interior. It’s not a full refurbishment; the flooring for example is to stay. Although the flooring wouldn’t be our choice, given that it’s not that old, replacing it wasn’t going to make either financial or environmental sense. With a new layout that will maximise the full potential of the space available, we’re hoping that the redesigned interior will work much better for both the Picnic In The Park team and their customers. However, what I’m most excited about is a new bespoke integrated service counter and shelving that we’ve designed. The plan is for our specialist local joiners to construct the unit using eco-friendly reclaimed timber, salvaged by a local reclamation yard. Can’t wait to see it in the flesh! Anyhow, just to whet your appetite here are a couple of ‘before’ photos. ‘After’ shots to follow… 2011-05-10T13:27:05+00:00 http://www.designrock.com/blog/eco-logic-tsnn-uk http://www.designrock.com/blog/eco-logic-tsnn-uk#When:14:08:41Z More companies 'looking for environmentally-friendly exhibition displays'. At 2010's Eurosatory exhibition, one stand was attracting a lot of attention. This display from Hesco Bastion showcased the best of green stand design, differentiating it from many stands seen at exhibitions across the world. More companies ‘looking for environmentally-friendly exhibition displays’ At 2010’s Eurosatory exhibition, one stand was attracting a lot of attention. This display from Hesco Bastion showcased the best of green stand design, differentiating it from many stands seen at exhibitions across the world. It is hardly surprising that more and more companies are looking at ways to be greener, particularly with the government’s recent emphasis on green investments and the current focus on corporate social responsibility. In fact, a recent study from McKinsey & Company found that 59 per cent have taken action to reduce the environmental impact of their company’s operations. Some 43 per cent of firms in general see climate change and energy efficiency as the most important environmental issue facing their business, while 42 per cent of executives said they were worried about waste pollution, the research published in the McKinsey Quarterly shows. Unsurprisingly, such concerns have impacted on the choices businesses make when it comes to exhibiting. Read the full article here! 2010-11-24T14:08:41+00:00 http://www.designrock.com/blog/exhibit-green http://www.designrock.com/blog/exhibit-green#When:12:14:07Z Interest in Green exhibiting options among exhibitors & suppliers is high & growing. So, if you’re marketing director in charge of an exhibition programme wanting to improve your company’s environmental performance, how should you brief your exhibition design agency?When we visited Ecobuild 2010 we found ourselves studying the stands & hall as much as the exhibits themselves. Out of hundreds of exhibitors & an energy drenched venue, there were as far as we could see only a handful of green stands. Certainly not what we expected at an event dedicated to environmental sustainability! Historically incredibly wasteful, the exhibition industry no longer has any excuse not to ‘green up’. Surely the time has come for green design methodology, techniques & practices to become standard? Interest in Green exhibiting options among exhibitors & suppliers is high & growing. So, if you’re marketing director in charge of an exhibition programme wanting to improve your company’s environmental performance, how should you brief your exhibition design agency? Follow our Sustainable 7! 1. Keep it simple Sustainability can’t be an after-thought. It has to be integral to the design process right from concept stage. Is each component valid? Ask for a design that uses as few materials & components as possible - less is definitely more! Simplicity delivers greater focus & impact. 2. Design to last Reuse is key. So components need to be constructed using durable materials to prolong lifespan. You also want your exhibition stand to be modular so that components can be reconfigured for use at a number of events - both green & cost-effective. And when you no longer need your stand? Why not look for other companies or associations in your locality, such as schools or colleges, who would happily give your stand a new lease of life? 3. Materials of choice Request a stand built from recycled plastics, FSC & reclaimed timber or rapidly renewable materials such as bamboo, hemp & straw. Another option is FSC & formaldehyde-free MDF, manufactured using 100% recycled or recovered wood fibres. Reduce or do away with vast quantities of printed marketing brochures & leaflets, but for any necessary printing & graphics make sure that vegetable-based inks are specified and printed on to highest percentage recycled material, whether paper, plastic or fabric. 4. Time to switch Lighting is an energy hog! Select energy-efficient LED lights however and you can reduce the amount of power your stand consumes by as much as 90 percent! 5. Detox Opt for organic paint, varnishes & adhesives or ones that are low or no-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds). For floor finishes try bamboo (check resins), cork, sisal or even recycled rubber - all are comparatively harmless set against traditional carpeting. 6. Lose weight! Transport is another good reason for adhering to the eco ethic that less is more. Lowering the weight of stand components that need to be transported will have a huge impact on reducing carbon footprint - & cost you less to boot. 7. Stay local Have your green exhibition stand components manufactured & stored close to the show sites, wherever possible. Not only will this enable you to reduce the need for shipping, saving on cost & CO2 emissions, but it allows you to boost local economies. A final thought… When we talk about sustainability, we mean social & economic sustainability as well as environmental. If you follow green design principles & develop green practices, then the social & economic sustainability follows? They’re intrinsically linked. P.S. Exhibiting will never be carbon neutral, but much of the waste in the industry can be reduced. Read how “more companies are looking for environmentally-friendly exhibition displays” in the exhibition industry press. If you’d like any further information contact 2010-03-31T12:14:07+00:00 http://www.designrock.com/blog/blooming-success2 http://www.designrock.com/blog/blooming-success2#When:14:15:16Z In October 2008 Julie Arnold opened her first flower shop, Flowers of Perfection, within Prior Park Garden Centre in Bath. Fifteen months on and business is blooming! Here Julie shares her story: In October 2008 Julie Arnold opened her first flower shop, Flowers of Perfection, within Prior Park Garden Centre in Bath. Fifteen months on and business is blooming! Here Julie shares her story: So where did it all start? In my kitchen at home! It started out of a passion, a hobby if you like. I started doing floristry courses just for the fun of it, then decided that I wanted to take it further. I was a Legal Executive by profession and specialised in conveyancing - work which of course dried up overnight with the housing market crash. That was the impetus I needed really. I approached the garden centre and they agreed to lease me space. That all happened at the end of June 2008 and I opened in the October. It was all very quick! You’d begun building a client base working from home. Why did you think that it was important to make that move into your own retail space? Because I needed to get myself known. With floristry people aren’t just buying flowers, they buy into the look of your product, your character, the whole experience. I wanted more exposure for the Flowers of Perfection brand and I knew that having my own retail area would give me that.  Has it worked for you? Absolutely. Definitely. Without a doubt. How? Well Widcombe in Bath is a great location and the garden centre attracts lots of visitors. But most of all the move has worked for me because the Flower of Perfection ‘pop-up’ boutique has really got people’s attention. It’s completely different from any of the other areas within this garden centre and it stands out. At first the exposure was more important to me than the sales, but I’ve now been here 15 months and I’ve got regular customers, which is lovely - to me it’s all about the customer satisfaction. And what has the response been? It’s created a real buzz and I’ve had nothing but positive comments. People who’ve been impressed with the overall look. The colours of the structure and the way it’s been built have captured people’s eye. They’ve been pleased to see something new, fresh and bright, different to more traditional florists. I think that people will always want the traditional, but when it comes to a special occasion, I think that they want something that’s got an edge to it. Something that’s unique to them. That’s what Flowers of Perfection is about - bespoke floral arrangements. What does the future hold for Flowers of Perfection? I’d like to really establish the Flowers of Perfection brand and reputation that I’ve been building here. I‘m very excited about the future - my head’s spinning with ideas, so who knows where we’ll be in five years time! Watch this space…! Finally, do you have any advice for anyone about to take on a business lease? It might sound cheesy to say this in front of you, but I would say that it’s really important to get the right people behind you to do the various skilled jobs - people that you can trust. Designrock was truly spot on with everything I wanted. I felt that I could just go away and let your team get on with it. It was the most stressful time of my life, with it happening so quickly, so for me whoever I asked to do a job it was important that they listened to what I said, went away and came back with it done. I needed someone to take hold of my brief: to design and install my retail area without my having to give it a second thought. I can honestly say that Designrock achieved this 100%. 2010-02-03T14:15:16+00:00 http://www.designrock.com/blog/see-the-light1 http://www.designrock.com/blog/see-the-light1#When:10:23:48Z Choosing the right lighting is absolutely crucial to the success of your restaurant, bar or cafe. Here's why.It was a long time coming - finding an eatery locally that ticked all the boxes - great ambience, top staff (the kind who remember your menu favourites) and of course great food. We no longer had to think where to go for meetings over a coffee, for working lunches or for something to eat at the end of a long day - it was our safe bet and it didn’t disappoint. Then just before Christmas - disaster! The kerb appeal was the same, but as soon as we stepped through the door it hit us…bright clinical light that wouldn’t have been out of place in a surgical theatre. Okay, the lights they’d used were standard 50 watt halogens, but there were so many of them that it was really uncomfortable - and a step in the wrong direction as far as the environment’s concerned. We’ve not been back since. Choosing the right lighting for your restaurant, bar or café is crucial. Done well it can increase your restaurant’s sales. Done badly you risk losing business. It has a major impact on the customer experience, not to mention the planet and your wallet! Technology is so advanced today that there are a multitude of options to help create your own unique ambience. Your aim is not only to lure customers in, but to create an atmosphere that will help them relax and keep them coming back. Fast food chain ‘restaurants’ and some cafés are brightly lit for a reason - because they want us in and out ‘fast’. They don’t want customers to get too comfortable. A restaurant or bar clearly has different objectives. They want to create areas of retreat and reinforce these with good accent and zoned lighting, encouraging people to relax. A restaurant’s biggest revenue draw can be the wine. Candlelight and lighting with a warm colour rendering works really well for them, and can be one of the major influencers on the subconscious mind of their customers, likely to help people unwind, relax into conversation and indulge themselves. Equally, as our own experience illustrates, unforgiving harsh lighting in a restaurant is very off putting. Let’s face it, everything and everybody looks better with the right lighting! The only place your customers really want to see bright task lighting is in your kitchen! 2010-01-11T10:23:48+00:00 http://www.designrock.com/blog/grow-in-20101 http://www.designrock.com/blog/grow-in-20101#When:12:56:29Z Whether you've got a new restaurant to launch or a retail business to grow in 2010, employing good interior design brings many benefits.Get Your Customers Through The Door & Spending More! Whether you’ve got a new restaurant to launch or a retail business to grow in 2010, employing good interior design brings many benefits. Able to “enhance usability, increase appeal and influence perception”(1) of your product, space or service, design is definitely an invaluable investment, not a cost. Professional interior designers adhere to a whole host of regulations, guidelines, human biases and general design issues. If you apply a few well-established design principles to your commercial interior, it is more likely that your design will be successful. Take these for example: Aesthetic-Usability Effect I bet many of you have walked past a restaurant & thought ‘I need to eat in there’, without even having looked at the menu! If your design looks right, it will appeal more successfully to its audience & stimulate a positive reaction. So design can entice new customers…but if you get it spot on you’ll evoke a sense of loyalty & keep them coming back! (Clearly you need a decent chef too!) Alignment Window shopping is a popular pastime at any time of year - in theory! But in reality many of us nip into a shop for a nose around, only to walk out some time later laden with goods we didn’t realise we needed! And that’s no accident! It’s design! In today’s environment, footfall and dwell time reign supreme. Alignment is a simple design tool, used to create order and eye flow to a focal point. Through paying attention to the alignment of your elements you will draw people in, put them at ease and potentially up their investment in your product, service or message. Colour & Lighting A throw back from early mankind, when fire banished the threats of night, colour & light that emulates a naked flame can make people feel more relaxed and comfortable. Conversely, specific colours and lighting can encourage people to move on. Through the exploitation of conscious and subconscious human responses to colour and lighting, your design can make people order more wine, stay for dessert & coffee, spend more time, work more productively, etc. Consistency Arguably the UK’s most successful brands of all time, Virgin Group, has created more than 200 branded companies worldwide, over a broad range of business sectors. Instantly recognisable, their brand permeates every facet of their activity, from their literature to their interiors. Quite simply if you make sure that your design is uniform and consistent throughout all aspects of your business, this will help to influence the way in which you are perceived. It will focus attention, establish your brand in people’s minds and engender confidence, respect and trust. Cost-Benefit We might take a trip to a museum. Whether we’ve walked, cycled, driven or taken the bus, energy has been spent. If when we get there we’re disappointed with what we find, subconsciously we ask ourselves if it was really worth the effort. Benefits have to outweigh the costs in order for your design to be successful. In commercial terms, the bottom line is that if your customers have a pleasurable experience, they are much more likely to linger, spend money and return. This inevitably increases profitability. Whilst a design should look great, it’s primary function is not just to appear aesthetically pleasing. A restaurant or retail interior needs to communicate the identity and character of that business, make people feel comfortable and relaxed, encouraging customer spend and enticing them back. Universal Principles of Design, by William Lidwell, Kritina Holden and Jill Butler 2003, Rockport Publishers Inc. 2009-12-10T12:56:29+00:00 http://www.designrock.com/blog/top-five-eco-products-for-interiors http://www.designrock.com/blog/top-five-eco-products-for-interiors#When:13:39:01Z Top Five Eco Products For Interiors. As the evenings draw in there’s an eagerness to rediscover the great indoors! Few people looking to redesign & refurb their interior are on a crusade to save the planet - but there are ethical options out there when it comes to materials. Top Five Eco Products For Interiors. As the evenings draw in there’s an eagerness to rediscover the great indoors! Few people looking to redesign & refurb their interior are on a crusade to save the planet - but there are ethical options out there when it comes to materials. Here are my top five: 1.Organic Paint Completely free of dubious chemicals: pesiticides, herbicides and toxins, organic paint is not just the environmental option, but the healthy option. I highly recommend Ecos odourless solvent-free organic paints. A top quality product, they perform equally as well as standard brands and are not significantly more expensive. 2. Clay Clay-based plasters can be applied to walls in exactly the same way as conventional gypsum plaster. Given that the production of cement and gypsum for the construction industry accounts for almost a third of landfill and a fifth of the world’s carbon emissions, opting for clay-based plaster is a no-brainer. 3. LED Lighting They may initially cost more, but from a safety, environmental and financial point of view LED lamps are the only choice. Consuming substantially less energy than traditional lighting methods, they even outperform low-energy lamps. And unlike their low-energy counterparts, LED bulbs are mercury and flicker free - great news for migraine sufferers! (Bear in mind that LED bulbs vary greatly in output, so shop around) 4. Bamboo Being that it’s a grass not a tree, bamboo is the sustainable alternative to hardwood, taking 3 to 5 years to harvest as opposed to the 15 to 20 years that wood takes. Not only that, but this giant woody grass is more durable, stronger and denser than hardwood. It’s a great choice for flooring. 5. Strawboard Made from straw alone, strawboard is a sustainable, formaldehyde free, high-performing and healthy alternative to regular chipboard and MDF. It’s easy & safe to work with and is ideal for partitioning, shelving or even flooring. 2009-10-20T13:39:01+00:00 http://www.designrock.com/blog/designer-or-decorator http://www.designrock.com/blog/designer-or-decorator#When:13:47:43Z It’s a common question isn’t it: ‘So what do you do then?’ Well I’m an interior designer. Oh right. Eyebrows raised. They’re interested. They’re doing up their front room, but should they go for wallpaper or a paint finish? Clean lines or shabby chic? They’ve got me sussed. I’ve an eye for the next interior trend. I’m of that breed. Completely unaffordable obviously. That’s taken as read. I’m an ‘interior designer’. I’ve an innate desire to run away with their budget and splash out on funky furnishings and the latest statement piece. In two words, I’ve lost them. It’s a common question isn’t it: ‘So what do you do then?’ Well I’m an interior designer. Oh right. Eyebrows raised. They’re interested. They’re doing up their front room, but should they go for wallpaper or a paint finish? Clean lines or shabby chic? They’ve got me sussed. I’ve an eye for the next interior trend. I’m of that breed. Completely unaffordable obviously. That’s taken as read. I’m an ‘interior designer’. I’ve an innate desire to run away with their budget and splash out on funky furnishings and the latest statement piece. In two words, I’ve lost them. Interior design is often seen as synonymous with interior decoration. It’s not a new thing. Decorators have been steadily morphing into designers since the mid 20th century - a transition that has been ably abetted by the media and TV shows, featuring ‘interior designers’ transforming tired homes into magazine ready exposes. Interior designers and interior decorators can be artistic. Both have the ability to create stunning environments, but there is an important distinction between the two. So how do you separate them? The decorator is concerned with aesthetics, emotion and expression; furnishing and adorning spaces. The designer is concerned with the solution of problems, whether functional, aesthetic or psychological. At the core of interior design is the art and science of comprehending human behaviours in order to create functional spaces within architectural structures. Elsewhere in Europe, where the profession is well established, interior design is known as interior architecture. For an interior environment to be successful a designer needs to respect a series of principals and create an interface between structures and people. Decoration is undoubtedly an important element of an interior, but it is not the primary realm of an interior designer. Okay so it’s only a label, but I feel it’s important that we don’t confuse the two. To my mind that’s a disservice to both professions. DNT 2009-09-09T13:47:43+00:00 http://www.designrock.com/blog/work-happy http://www.designrock.com/blog/work-happy#When:12:09:01Z Revolutionising business through intelligent creative workplace design. With the growth in recent years of a knowledge economy, there has been a great deal of research into the workplace and the activities that drive business success. Revolutionising business through intelligent creative workplace design. With the growth in recent years of a knowledge economy, there has been a great deal of research into the workplace and the activities that drive business success. At a time when productivity is key, organisations are now considering just how conducive their office design is to generating sustainable growth and profitability. It is widely accepted that for a knowledge economy workplace to be successful, four work modes need to be supported. Gensler’s 2008 UK Workplace Survey revealed a direct correlation between effective workplace design and improved business performance, reporting that in order for the full potential of individual employees to be realised, work spaces needed to allow for a mix of collaboration, learning, focus and socialising. So today’s office needs to do more than just support fundamental human needs. It is no longer simply a question of ensuring that there is sufficient light, air quality and physical space. Ergonomics, functionality and flexibility are more critical than ever in satisfying the changing expectations of today’s workforce. Workplaces that balance primary workspace with areas enabling frequent interaction thereby support concentrated individual activity, whilst at the same time facilitating learning, fostering creativity and generating innovation. Whether it is the inclusion of a discrete rest area for parents, an office crèche for working mothers, or interior landscaping for a healthier environment, the right office fit-out stimulates employee engagement, reduces stress and in turn improves staff absenteeism and increases overall productivity. Hence any investment is justified by improved working efficiencies. An intelligently and creatively designed workspace serves both to attract and keep top quality staff. Indeed in January 2009 Onrec (Online Recruitment) reported that, when surveyed, a third of IT workers considered their working environment more important than their salary. Aside from the impact on staff output, it shouldn’t be forgotten that a company’s work environment is also highly revealing. A visual reference for employees and visitors alike, an organisation’s space promotes and reinforces the image of the company: reflects its ethos, vision, values and brand. As such design is a strategically important investment: a tool for value generation and brand augmentation. With prime office space still commanding a premium, workspace is typically a company’s largest expense after employees. Linking workplace design to business performance is therefore crucial. SNT 2009-07-14T12:09:01+00:00 http://www.designrock.com/blog/economic-remedy http://www.designrock.com/blog/economic-remedy#When:11:30:40Z Design is a powerful tool in a downturn. With the harshest economic conditions since the 1930s beginning to bite, now is the time to invest in design. ‘Recession is no time to be battening down the hatches. It’s the moment when the design becomes absolutely critical to survival, growth and success’, asserts David Kester, Chief Executive of the Design Council. Design is a powerful tool in a downturn. With the harshest economic conditions since the 1930s beginning to bite, now is the time to invest in design. ‘Recession is no time to be battening down the hatches. It’s the moment when the design becomes absolutely critical to survival, growth and success’, asserts David Kester, Chief Executive of the Design Council. Of course, we’d expect Kester to champion investment in design, but the Design Council’s National Survey of Firms 2008 corroborates his claim, revealing that businesses are increasingly implementing design as a strategy to weather the turbulent climate. In excess of 50% of the 1,500 firms surveyed agreed that design had a crucial role to play in the recovery of the global economy.  Budget holders are justifiably more discerning now than ever about where they spend their money, but with careful investment in the right interior, a retail business for example can increase footfall, up basket spend and nurture customer loyalty. Thistle hotels and HMV are just two established UK companies that have recently turned to interior design to help their business adapt and change to the needs of their customers and give them an edge over competitors. There are many that argue that a recession is a time of great opportunity. What is certain is that now is the right time to plan, to adapt and focus on the future. Businesses best placed to take advantage of a recovering economy will be those that demonstrate flexibility, an attitude of optimism and a positive mindset today; those that are open to learning and change. Change is the only constant, and the interior design profession is there to support businesses in their evolution. Adept at finding aesthetic, practical, creative and technical solutions that improve consumer experiences and perceptions, increase productivity or enhance life style, proficient designers focus on the ‘value’; on creating environments that serve to achieve their clients’ business strategies and goals. 2009-05-12T11:30:40+00:00 http://www.designrock.com/blog/wouldnt-you http://www.designrock.com/blog/wouldnt-you#When:15:11:22Z Channel 4’s Grand Designs ‘Brittany Groundhouse’ episode had me transfixed! I’m a huge fan of the series, but this project really got my emotions running high.Channel 4’s Grand Designs ‘Brittany Groundhouse’ episode had me transfixed! I’m a huge fan of the series, but this project really got my emotions running high. From the off I loved Daren and Adi’s vision: the whole concept of a build with such a low carbon footprint. A thermally efficient home working with nature instead of against it. The roof slate is stunning and the grain of the salvaged timbers in the kitchen exquisite. To my mind its a home that is aesthetic as well as functional. It’s certainly one that makes you long for a day when British planners adopt a more laissez-faire approach and loosen building controls. Don’t we have a responsibility to our kids and future generations to find new ways of reusing and reducing the needless waste we produce? Don’t we owe it to them to change our mindset and show them that they don’t need to follow the status quo? For me the nub is this though - In realising their dream, I think that Daren and Adi have done much more than create a sustainably inspirational family home. They’ve proven that the elusive sense of ‘community spirit’ that so many of us long for, is out there. Without volunteers who lent Daren and Adi their skills and muscle, the Groundhouse would still be a vision. Kevin seemed a little surprised that people would want to build someone else’s home? But my question is, who wouldn’t? To learn more about the project: http://www.groundhouse.co.uk SNT 2009-02-26T15:11:22+00:00 http://www.designrock.com/blog/art-or-graffiti http://www.designrock.com/blog/art-or-graffiti#When:15:41:16Z I love Banksy’s work. Quite simply it makes me smile when I come across one of his pieces. Art is subjective, so I know it won’t evoke the same reaction in everyone who views it. One thing’s for sure though, his work is an example of one of the most honest art forms around. I love Banksy’s work. Quite simply it makes me smile when I come across one of his pieces. Art is subjective, so I know it won’t evoke the same reaction in everyone who views it. One thing’s for sure though, his work is an example of one of the most honest art forms around. In Bristol, the council conducted an on-line survey to gauge whether residents wanted a Banksy piece to remain and be treated as art or be removed as graffiti.  Unsurprisingly there was overwhelming support for the piece to stay. On the flip side it was recently reported that Westminster Council was demanding that a new mural by Banksy be painted over. Their reasoning being that it was their policy to remove any ‘graffiti’ regardless of the reputation of its creator. According to The Times, Robert Davis of Westminster’s planning committee stated that “If we condone this then we might as well say that any kid with a spray can is producing art. To go and deface other people’s property is graffiti. Just because he’s famous doesn’t give him that right.” So it seems that the survival of Banksy’s ‘public work’ rests on whether local councils decide it’s art to be celebrated or graffiti to be removed. Wanna have your say?  Banksy: Public Artist or Vandal?! JA Check out Banksy’s website http://www.banksy.co.uk/ Good quality images available to download free, with his only proviso being that you don’t use the images to start a business. 2009-02-02T15:41:16+00:00 http://www.designrock.com/blog/sustainable-design http://www.designrock.com/blog/sustainable-design#When:14:25:59Z What makes a design scheme sustainable?What makes a design scheme ‘sustainable’? Is it just the specification of environmentally friendly materials and technologies? If a design scheme is aesthetically driven, only to be redesigned a year or so down the line, then surely specification is irrelevant? Shouldn’t sustainable design be more about longevity and designing out unnecessary components? And what about economic and social sustainability? If we design with environmental, economic and social sustainability in mind, everyone’s a winner! I’d quite like to bulldoze our energy guzzling monstrosity of a local leisure centre for example! Rebuild it with sustainable materials, good insulation and using energy efficient technologies. Create an affordable, cost efficient, inviting environment that enhances the community. Any takers?! SNT 2009-01-13T14:25:59+00:00 http://www.designrock.com/blog/living-walls http://www.designrock.com/blog/living-walls#When:14:25:06Z We are loving verdant architecture. A botanical wall can have an incredible effect on an interior design scheme. We are loving verdant architecture. A botanical wall can have an incredible effect on an interior design scheme. What’s impressive is that it’s much more than just an optical attraction. Plant walls by their very existence reduce carbon dioxide in the air, emit oxygen, humidify and absorb sound and dust. Could verdant architecture rid the world of infection promoting air con in our work and leisure environments?! Could this be the end of mangy office carpet, laid to improve acoustics, yet steadily collecting skin particles and dust mites?! The Green Wall is an all round winner as far as we’re concerned - it makes sense health-wise, ecologically and aesthetically. There’s definitely a push now for companies to offer a work environment that nurtures the health and well being of their staff. At the Business Week / Architectural Record design awards 2008, two of the winners, Edmunds.com and Skansa, attributed radical reductions in staff turnover and employee absenteeism to the interior architecture of their offices. SNT 2009-01-13T14:25:06+00:00 http://www.designrock.com/blog/coming-soon2 http://www.designrock.com/blog/coming-soon2#When:12:55:20Z future blog post 2009-01-01T12:55:20+00:00 http://www.designrock.com/blog/coming-soon1 http://www.designrock.com/blog/coming-soon1#When:12:54:40Z future blog post 2009-01-01T12:54:40+00:00 http://www.designrock.com/blog/coming-soon http://www.designrock.com/blog/coming-soon#When:12:49:48Z future blog post 2009-01-01T12:49:48+00:00