Adrem’s Top 5 Interior Design Trends: July 2018

Closed for State Funeral

Following the sad news of the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, we will continue to commemorate the life of Her Majesty the Queen and pay our respects by observing the Bank Holiday announced for the Queen’s State Funeral on Monday 19th September – Adrem will therefore be closed on the day.

Join The Team!

We work closely with our clients to help them create an attractive working environment/workplace that top talent genuinely wants to work in.We believe that it is important for us to ‘practice what we preach’ and therefore offer our employees market-leading flexibility, remote working, part-time working arrangements, the latest software/technology to work with etc.On top of this, we offer advanced commission structures, exposure to market-leading clients, and 1-2-1 mentorship with senior members of staff.If you want to be a part of an amazing, carefully curated culture, working alongside industry-leading recruiters who are truly invested in the success of their colleagues, submit your CV to Jenine Ward - Jenine.Ward@adremgroup.com - or apply via the following job link: https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/view/3251929591We look forward to welcoming you to the team!

Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II

We are all hugely saddened by the news of the death of the Queen, our beloved Queen. This news has saddened us beyond anything we could have expected. She has been a part of all of our lives , always there in presence and committing herself to a life of service for the benefit of the nation. We say a deep thank you to her and celebrate her memory. On behalf of all of the members of Adrem we send our deepest condolences to the Royal family and gratitude for an extraordinary life.

Adrem Summer Party!

This time last week members of our London team gathered for our ‘End of Summer Party’! We celebrated everything that makes Adrem great; our culture, the collaboration between all of our teams, and most of all…our people!We headed to the River Lea for a boat trip, a presentation from our senior members highlighting our achievements + vision for the future, home-cooked cuisine and a well-overdue celebration following another challenging yet successful year!Adrem has big plans for the future, and our people are going to be instrumental in bringing our ambitious vision to fruition. A huge THANK YOU to all of our hard-working and passionate employees! Onwards we go on our journey to health, wealth and happiness.#team#summerparty#culture#people#vision#collaboration#celebratingachievements#london

Archiboo Innovation Award

Are you an architectural employer that is innovating above and beyond your competitors?Maybe you are using Midjourney (or another AI design tool) in your design process, or maybe you have adopted a new system that enables staff to work effectively from home / another country?Adrem Group are working alongside the organisers of Archiboo on a prestigious architectural innovation award, looking at the way design businesses are innovating beyond the design. The role of the practice is changing, and innovation and the ingenuity and entrepreneurship of the organisation is increasingly the difference in the life of a practice. We are super excited about this and are keen to put the word out!Winning or being shortlisted for this award will provide you with:Free press + another dimension to your creative business Opportunities to attract new clients + staff members that are invested in innovation – show the market you are operating in this areaA different kind of ‘Award’ not based on what you draw but what you do, which will help you stand out in a highly competitive marketA great opportunity to network at the award ceremonyEntry is easy! Prepare the following criteria, head over to the awards page using the link below and submit your entry.https://archibooawards.com/award/innovation-award-2022-2/#entryformCriteriaWhat is the innovation?(150 words)What is the innovation and what problem are you solving? Is it a result of the pandemic or is it a structural problem that's forced you to look for new opportunities? Or is the innovation about providing a better service to clients?Who is innovating?(100 words)How are ideas being shared? How are you communicating the importance of innovation?What has changed?(100 words)What has changed? Has it helped grow the practice? Has it helped you stay ahead of the competition? Has it helped you take advantage of new technologies? How has it created value?

Del Hossain Appointed Professor of Architecture by Bartlett!

Adrem is immensely proud to announce that our Chairman, Del Hossain, has been appointed Associate Professor of Architecture in Practice & Project Management at The Bartlett School of Architecture, UCL! We know Del would not want to announce this and ordinarily would let it go unmentioned, but we wanted to take a moment to recognise Del’s commitment to architecture and teaching. He is an advocate for learning across the architectural profession, including as a Trustee at the LSA. Del completed his Part III at UCL in 1993 and was in practice before going into the world of design careers, as well as practicing as a Wellbeing Psychologist. Del has been a module leader since 2019, and we are all super proud of this well-deserved recognition and appointment. Adrem is incredibly passionate about the work we do in supporting students across the industry. This work is underpinned by our Commander + Chief! Please join us in congratulating Del on this development, for someone who develops others both in the office and outside. #architecture#education#appointment#design#students#learning

Moving Client Side

Are you an Architectural Professional that has or is considering a move ‘client side’?...Throughout the month of June, Adrem will be publishing a mini-series of 6 interviews with architectural professionals that have successfully made the transition. We will be covering what prompted the move, how they navigated the transition and the advice they have for individuals that would like to follow their footsteps.The individuals we interviewed now work for housing developers, construction firms, restaurant brands, property developers, real estate tech firms and others. Interview One: Rebecca – AJ100 to Multi-Disciplinary Global ContractorWhat prompted the move?“I had a technical interest in a particular construction specialism & wasn’t getting the concentrated exposure I wanted within architecture. There were also aspects of architecture that frustrated me, like the amount of time you’re expected to spend on design work for competitions that are never going to get built. I’m definitely more of a technical person that likes to see things happen, so it was the right way to go.”Is there anything you miss (or don’t miss) about architecture?“It's definitely not the sociable environment in the same way that you get in practice, like you’re part of a community. Architecture is quite known for it’s sociability, lots of studios will host after-hours drinks, events + so forth, plus there’s this shared experience of all pulling towards a collective goal. When you’re working for a contractor or client, no one’s staying after work to chit-chat, it’s straight in the car + home to the family! People come to work to work, not to make friends”What are the right (and the wrong) reasons to go client side?“If you’re just going for the money + you’re not interested in the role in itself, it’s a bad move. You could be in a job you hate + no option but to take a pay cut to go back to what you enjoy, which will probably feel worse than if you never left!”What advice would you give to someone who wants to make the move?“If you haven’t already, double down on your stage 4+ experience – clients and contractors are looking for this. There are very few “design-led” architects on the client side, that’s not what they’re looking for. Clients are looking for compliance, reality, buildability. So upping your technical knowledge + becoming an expert will stand you in good stead.”“Finally, if you’ve only ever worked in studios, you might get a bit of a culture shock…. I’ve seen more than my share of “1970s”-type humour (think mother-in-law jokes, etc) – might not be everyone’s cup of tea! But it’s fine for me as I knew exactly what to expect & generally just find it funny.”If you’re interested in making a move client-side, developer-side, or contractor-side, send your CV + portfolio to the Adrem Architecture team to start a conversation. We have multiple opportunities available!

Bartlett Careers Fair

Adrem teamed up with the Bartlett School of Architecture to host a Careers Fair where 120 students managed to get a hit of the professional atmosphere of 30 of the top practices in architecture. This was a momentous occasion as after two years of teams lectures and face masks, this was the first social milieu for students and design studios of this kind. Both groups welcomed the resumption of discussions about careers and cultures, in this return to socialisation and most importantly being seen and heard.We were happy to help host this and give advice on CV’s, folios and the changes to the world of employment since the pandemic. The Adrem team welcomed the opportunity to lend a hand and offer our support in getting the wheels of industry and normality turning once again!Architecture can do many things but bringing people together to talk about the future is perhaps one its most powerful contributions to the spirit.Thank you for joining us.#architecture#bartlett#studentsuccess#studentsupport#students#careers#future#employability

Workplace Trends

Here at Adrem, we measure our activity by tracking and regularly reviewing key data points. This helps to keep our consultants and, therefore our clients informed as to what is happening in the market. Our Associate Director,Carl Nevel, recently reviewed the architecture placement data from Q1 (2022) and has some interesting insights to share. These insights provide an indication as to who is currently ‘winning the race for new talent’ within the architecture industry. For the third consecutive quarter, the number one reason that a candidate made the move was for greater flexibility (to work from home). With the ideal arrangement appearing to be a hybrid working week, with an average of 3 days working from the office and 2 days working from home. Over 76.2% of individuals that made the move decided to join studios that were offering a hybrid working week and only 19% made the move to studios requiring employees to be in the office full time. The remaining 4.8% of candidates were hired by firms that have fully embraced remote working, often with an open office policy in place. Back in 2021, we surveyed over 678 architectural professionals and found that 23% of employers had returned to the office full time, 47% had adopted a hybrid working week, 23% were working flexibly, and 7% were completely remote with no plans to return to the office. Please help us to build an accurate picture of the current ‘lay of the land’ by taking a moment to respond to the following poll….Thank you in advance for taking part. If you find insights like this helpful, please give this post a thumbs up and, if you would like us to cover a certain topic, please drop a comment below. #wfh#workingfromhome#flexibleworking#workingremotely#flexibility#architecture#dezeen#archdailyHow has your company (workplace) decided to operate?Back to the Office (Full-Time) 19%Split: Office Based & WFH 48%Flexible (Open Office Policy) 24%Completely Remote (WFH) 9%269 votes • Poll closed

Upskilling in the Workforce

Upskilling in the Workforce: How Office / Business Support Staff Can Stay Relevant in the Industry...As competition increases in this fast-paced digital world, more and more employees are looking to upskill themselves. Finding talented business support staff, PA, receptionists, and office managers is one of the biggest concerns of employers who are recruiting. As competition increases, more and more employees are looking to upskill themselves.How To Upskill Yourself As An Employee...If you want to become a better asset to your workplace and stay relevant in your industry, here are some upskilling techniques you can follow:- Online Courses -The biggest advantage of virtual courses is that they can be accessed from anywhere at any time, eliminating the restrictions of working hours / office-based learning. Employees can access online courses to 'up their talents' and qualifications from credible sources likeSkillshare,LinkedIn Learning,HubSpot Academy,MIT Open Learning, and more. You can learn these courses at your own pace whenever you have the time to do so.- Micro Training -Microlearning or micro training involves short-term, bite-sized learning activities. Not only are these training activities short in time, but they also enable you to retain learned content in a better way.Microlearning focuses on narrower topics that you can get in short doses and do not take as much time as longer training courses. With this type of training, employees can boost their learning and performance most efficiently.- Mentoring -Getting the expertise of a person who is more experienced than you is a great way to upskill yourself. Employees can shadow their mentors, watch them work, have discussions on the type of skills they want to cultivate, and learn directly from their experience under them.- Coaching -If you want to learn under a coach, you can do so. Coaches receive special training to guide people who are new to the industry or want to elevate their skills.Coaching offers a personalized learning experience that aligns with a worker’s personal goals and helps them realize their potential. This is a highly effective strategy to close your skill gap and work toward your goals in small steps.Why Upskilling Matters...Upskilling is one of the most effective ways to stay relevant in your industry:● Helps you become more valuable to your employer so you can get that salary increase or promotion● Learning something new gives you a fresh perspective and makes your job more satisfying● Allows you to discover new passions● You grow as a person by constantly learning new skills● Enables you to take on more responsibilityUpskilling not only makes you better at what you do, but it also helps you become more valuable to your current and any potential new employer. It also improves your personal development and allows you to achieve both your personal and professional goals.#upskilling#newskills#training#learning

Working From Holiday?

How far are companies willing to go to offer as much flexibility as possible in the workplace?Flexible working has never been so desirable. Going through the Covid pandemic has proved to many that it is possible to work just as productively from home as in the office. Possibly even more productively with less distractions, no time wasted on travelling to the office etc.At Adrem Group, we have fully embraced flexible working. Many of our consultants are based outside of London and are able to spend the majority of their time working remotely from home. That wasn’t enough for us and we decided to take this one step further…Recently, a number of our employees have chosen to combine a holiday with working; One of our consultants, Abe Khan, was able to travel to Istanbul for 2 weeks to visit friends. He arranged to work in the mornings and take the rest of the day off to relax. This meant that he was still able to keep on top of his work, his clients and colleagues were not affected by his holiday, and he didn’t have hundreds of emails to catch up on when he returned home.Our Payroll Manager, Rozeta has also just returned from Albania where she was visiting her family. Roza was away for 2 and a half weeks but worked part time throughout her holiday where she was still able to manage the payroll function remotely.By having this flexibility both Abe and Roza were able to save their annual leave for additional time off throughout the year. The best of both worlds, they were able to stay on top of their work but still had plenty of time to relax, see family and friends, and enjoy their holidays! #flexibleworking#workingfromhome#workingfromholiday#workingremotely#flexiblework#flexibleworkplace

Happy Anniversary!

Happy 1 Year Anniversary to Carly Thomas - Business Support expert. Adrem were delighted to recently announce that Carly joined forces with Lucy Kennelly, in a job share. They specialise in both Temporary and Permanent Recruitment, within the Business Support sector. Covering a wide range of job roles, such as PA / Studio Managers, Document Controllers, Administrators, HR professional and Finance experts. Thank you, Carly, for being such a wonderful addition to the Adrem community. #anniversary#anniversarycelebration

‘I Want to Be a Francis’ – Pritzker Prize Award

Around 14 years ago I was involved in helping to organise a lecture by a little-known architect at the time from Burkina Faso. I was keen on this, as developing architecture was not particularly followed much less appreciated in the UK. Apart from the DPU at UCL there was little experimentation into this genre of developing indigenous architecture, in the UK architectural circle.The Architect that was invited was Francis Kere who was a charismatic and incredibly charming speaker who made a mesmerising first impression. He spoke about people and communities and how the projects he had designed had been built by the local community and to get them made he had to learn from techniques from local craftsman and then work out how to develop their methods with some new ideas. This meant he had to physically craft and build, as did his troupe of German helpers. Because there would be little distinction between designing, crafting and building, the local community did not see a distinction between the design and the build, it was all part of one holistic composition. Years later if the younger people in his village were asked what they wanted to be they would say ‘we want to be a Francis’ meaning whether it was designing, carpentry, weaving or building it made little difference it was part of a whole because people didn’t have a title or a better way of describing the change in looking at their local buildings. This was immersive architecture, with a fully engaged community.What Francis has done is utilise his German education to re-engineer traditional mud brick and corrugated metal buildings to create a new lexicon. Redefining chunky, clunky materials, into finely crafted, elegantly ventilated habitats all of which are environmentally on point, sustainable, maintainable, and economical. Meanwhile the large overhanging cantilevers and elegant lattice structures that lift the roof are the refinements that meshes Western and African materiality and design languages.The Pritzker Award to Francis Kere is a real turning point in Architecture unlike those gone before. It is a recognition to a ‘different kind’ of dialogue and innovation in design, away from the perceived glossy opulence of western architecture. As Alejandro Aravena the head of the judging panel for Pritzker said his ‘body of work shows us the power of materiality rooted in place.’ No doubt there is the huge impact that his win makes to the discourse on race and culture in architecture which in itself is a positive evolution. However the real reason why this is a great choice of recipient is that it will give immeasurable hope and create fantastical dreams for generations of youngsters, considering architecture as a job. It celebrates indigenous vernacular architecture as fed through the filter of evolutionary design. A process can be seen where ‘local’ can be a thing of beauty, with cultural heritage and architectural innovation. Most importantly children saying‘I want to be a Francis’, is the epitome of an architect connecting and giving hope, not just through his buildings but through his engagement as a human being a relatable human architect, connecting to the audience and community he serves. That is the celebration and why he so richly deserves this award and something we can learn in the west.

Business Support News

Business Support - Job share announcement!Carly Thomas & Lucy Kennelly are joining forces to work as one. Adrem is thrilled to announce that we have a brand-new job share in our business support team. Lucy is moving from her candidate lead role into a recruiter position. Job share is a great way to create consistency, whilst facilitating part-time working solutions for employees. Adrem is delighted to support flexible working arrangements.#newwaysofworking#jobshare#teamwork

Refer A Friend Scheme

We are always on the look out for good candidates; therefore, your friend and colleague referrals are very important to us. Referrals are a great way to assist your network in their job search and are something we like to show our thanks for. To show our gratitude, we reward successful referrals with a gift card to the value of £150 for a permanent candidate upon placement in a job and completion of 12 weeks employment.To register your referral, please send your details and theirs and we'll get back to you shortly.Terms & ConditionsYou must have the permission of the candidate before recommending.The candidate must not already be registered on Adrem database.A recommended candidate can only be nominated once and the first person to nominate such candidate will be eligible for payment.The referee is eligible to receive a voucher if they refer a person who is placed in a permanent position within 6 months of registration by Adrem.Payments will be made in vouchers.In the event of any disputed fees, Adrem reserves the right to vary or terminate all or part of the terms of the referral Scheme at any time without notice. There is no alternative offer and the offer must be redeemed within three months of notification.Following all reasonable reference checks, the decision of a Director of Adrem will be final.Adrem reserves the right to amend or change the terms and conditions of the Referral Incentive Scheme without written notice. These terms are final and non-negotiable.

EU Settlement Scheme - Less than 10 days left to apply

On Monday 21 June, there will be less than 10 days to go until the deadline of 30 June 2021 for applications to be made to the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS).The Home Office will be marking this milestone with a daily count down on our social media platforms between now and the final day of the scheme to reach non-applicants with the urgent call to apply as soon as possible.An application to the EU Settlement Scheme by 30 June 2021 secures your existing rights in UK law until you’re granted a status, so we’re urging eligible to people to apply now, and not to delay. Over 5 million people have already been granted a status that allows them to continue to continue to work, study, and access free healthcare and benefits in the UK after 30 June 2021.Help to applySupport is available seven days a week by telephone and by email, for anyone who needs help with their application. The Home Office has a dedicated team of more than 1,500 people working alongside a UK-wide network of 72 charities and local authorities dedicated to supporting the most vulnerable and hard-to-reach applicants including those who are disabled, elderly, isolated, have language or literacy problems, are the victims of domestic abuse, struggle with technology or have further vulnerabilities.Your contributions are invaluable in helping to reach these people in the final few days left before the deadline of 30 June 2021. Thank you to everyone who shared content for the 30 days to go milestone earlier this month. The response was incredible with over 293 separate organisations participating in the activity with a combined reach of 7.1 million across Twitter and on Facebook. As an employer it is not your responsibility to make sure your EU employees have applied, but you can play a role by reminding them of the approaching deadline and cascading the information in the employer toolkit available on GOV.UK. You will not need to carry out retrospective Right to Work Checks on existing employees after the 30 June 2021 deadline. However, from 1 July, new EU, EEA and Swiss employees that you hire will need to demonstrate their right to work either with the pre-settled or settled status, or with a visa under the points-based immigration system. These Right to Work Checks can predominantly be conducted digitally for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens.We have published a new guide for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens on viewing and proving their immigration status (eVisa). The guide explains how people can view, prove and share their immigration status, update their details, what they should expect when crossing the UK border and how to get help accessing their immigration status. Please feel free to share this with your employees or networks.Key points to remember in the run up to the deadline• A range of support is available to those who need help to apply. Please help us reach these people by sharing the link to support services across your channels. • Share this link: www.gov.uk/help-eu-settlement-scheme• If an EU, EEA or Swiss citizen and their family members have lived in the UK for many years or have a permanent residence document or EEA Biometric Residence Card (BRC), they still need to apply to the EUSS (or apply for British Citizenship) by 30 June 2021 to continue to live and work in the UK. • An application must be made for every eligible child within a family. Parents should apply on behalf of their children, even if they have already applied and been granted a status themselves. • Eligible close family members living overseas can apply to join an EU, EEA or Swiss family member who started living in the UK by 31 December 2020. They can apply to come to the UK at any point. More information on joining family members can be found on GOV.UK.• An application to the EU Settlement Scheme by 30 June secures your existing rights in UK law until you’re granted a status, It usually takes around 5 working days for complete applications to be processed, but it can take up to a month. Some cases may take longer to process applications if they are more complex, such as where the person has a relevant criminal record.• Those who have successfully applied to the EUSS can access their pre-settled or settled status online, update their personal details, and get a ‘share code’ to prove their status to others at www.gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status. More information and guidance can be found in the guide for EU, EEA and Swiss citizens on viewing and proving their immigration status.• Individuals with status under the EUSS should ensure that they update their online account with all valid travel documents (such as passports or national identity cards) that they hold and intend to use for travel, to avoid any unnecessary delays at the border. They can do this online by going to www.gov.uk/view-prove-immigration-status• We have published non-exhaustive guidance on reasonable grounds for missing the deadline on GOV.UK. Examples of reasonable grounds include instances where a person had a serious medical condition, which meant they were unable to apply by the relevant deadline, or someone who is isolated, vulnerable or did not have the digital skills to access the application process. Thank you for your continued support in assisting EU, EEA, and Swiss citizens to apply to the EUSS, helping to secure their future in the UK.

Black Females in Architecture

Let’s talk ‘getting a job’. Adrem have been collaborating with Black Females in Architecture (BFA) to support the diversity and inclusion of women from black and minority backgrounds in architecture and design roles.We gave a presentation and held one-to-one workshops with members of BFA. We offered tips and tricks on how to put together your CV and portfolio, submit applications, and make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to scratch.Watch the video from the day here.

Adelaide Damoah by Francisca Mc Arthur.

British-Ghanaian Adelaide Damoah is a London based multidisciplinary artist, who uses her body as a “living paintbrush” to paint or print onto various surfaces. According to Adelaide: ‘all of my performances have at their core the principle of Sankofa- ancient Akan (Ghanaian) idea which tells us to learn from our past in order to live a better present and future.’ Her interrogation are colonialism, spirituality and intersectional feminism, subjects which she juxtaposes across her work, re-valuing and re-focusing the specs through which we view the modern history of West African colonialism and its effects on its people and the diaspora.by Francisca Mc Arthur.

Black History Month

In honour of Black History Month UK, Adrem Group would like to underline the steps we will be taking as a company to support our Black colleagues, employees, clients and candidates:Listen to and engage with our workforce on issues relating to racial discrimination and social injustice – We wish to create an environment in which employees feel able to have open dialogue and raise any issues they encounter. Establishing a diversity and inclusion committee to drive change with hopes to encompass organisational change within the office and industry. They will review our equal opportunities policies as well as counsel allegations of discrimination in the workplace internally and with our clients.Review our recruitment practices and our diversity & inclusion statistics – we can always do better! We hope these small steps help to implement true systematic change within in the industry and open a platform for the conversations to continue. Please check out the AJ Festival’s Diversity panel discussion with our very own MD Del Hossain here.If you have any inquiries or comments please do not hesitate to contact Del Hossain, Malaika Sellen-Ferere and Francisca Mc Arthur.

Del Catches Up with Peter Murray

Del catches up with Peter Murray, Curator-in-Chief of New London Architecture, about how the architecture industry has survived every downturn, new areas for development during the pandemic, and his three top tips for practitioners, and people generally, as a result of what we’ve all been experiencing, and continue to experience.Watch the full interview here.

Del Talks Increasing Diversity in Architecture

Del talks increasing diversity in architecture in this months upcoming AJ100 Festival. The debate, chaired by Kunle Barker and featuring speakers including Del Hossain, Sarah Akigbogun and Yasmin Shariff, will examine routes to a more representative profession and a more equitable work environment.The results of the AJ100 awards will be announced at the Festival, which also offers a compelling programme of inspiration and learning on tackling major challenges such as diversity, Covid-19 and the climate emergency.17th September 2020 11.30 - 12.30CHAIRKunle Barker, Property Expert, Journalist & TV PresenterPANELTimothy Onyenobi, Architect, AA ArchitectureYasmin Shariff, Director, Dennis Sharp ArchitectsDel Hossain, Managing Director, Adrem GroupAngela Dapper, Principal, GrimshawSarah Akigbogun, Architect & Filmaker, Studio AkiRead more here

Five Minutes with Del Hossain

David Taylor catches up with Adrem group managing director, business coach, psychologist, Bartlett tutor and now podcaster, Del Hossain about inspirational people, the launch of his new podcast WoW Mind, his new adventure with ThinkHub, how to cope through recessions, and the ‘in passing’ people-benefits of being back in the office versus productivity and no-commute gains. Read it here:https://bit.ly/2ZabOFi

Del on BINSPIRED Vodcast

Our MD Del was recently interviewed by Abdal Ullah for the BINSPIRED Vodcast. Watch Del and Abdal discuss Del's career as an Entrepreneur, Architect, and wellbeing psychologist, as well as a Senior Teaching Fellow at UCL. Soon to launch 'The WOW Mind' on Spotify, Del provides an insight into what to expect from the much-anticipated series focused on wellbeing psychology. Watch BINSPIRED here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7iYtQkr-9M

ThinkHub: An Avenue to Advice

Adrem have partnered with three Built Environment specialists working across the fields of HR, marketing, wellbeing and fitness to form ThinkHub. ThinkHub brings together industry experts across a wide spectrum to offer guidance and advice to those who may seek it. As COVID-19 makes us reconsider all aspects of life, ThinkHub aims to offer support to those who find themselves searching for advice. By bringing together experts in the fields of HR, marketing, wellbeing and fitness, ThinkHub covers a variation of topics, offering one-to-one guidance through COVID-19 and beyond. Del, Managing Director of Adrem said ‘The present environment has left people anxious about the future and we have had numerous clients and employees reaching out to us seeking advice about their security, jobs, their commercial futures and their general wellbeing. We have decided to create a hub of experts that will offer advice. ThinkHub’ is an avenue for support, to help you turn negatives into positives, so that you can progress your thinking.”The one-to-one sessions can be via video call or telephone with your chosen specialist. Below is the full list of the industry experts that are participating within ThinkHub. Del | Business advice & Wellbeing www.adremgroup.com/Del practiced as an Architect, and then went on to qualify as a Positive Psychologist and Wellbeing Coach, skills which he has combined with his professional experience to offer guidance on business psychology. Covid-19 will have drastically affected the way that businesses operate, with business environments and leadership essential in refocusing teams to look towards the future. Del has worked with organisations, leaders and individuals for 20 years, and brings to ThinkHub a wealth of knowledge aimed at transforming your business for the better. Contact Del hereNiki | HR Specialist in the Built Environment https://hrevolutionllc.com/Before co-founding EvolutionHR, Niki was HR Manager at a leading global architecture practice. After mass furloughing in the industry, there have been several questions as to what happens next. Does this mean my job is secure? What does this mean for employers, how can they offer support? Niki has joined ThinkHub to offer HR support, with her particular expertise covering the implementation and practical application of HR policies and procedures making her perfectly placed to answer these burdening questions. Contact Niki hereFarzana | Keeping fit and healthy www.instagram.com/recipearchitect/Farzana began her career as an architect, going on to become a fitness and nutritionist guru at Recipe Architects. As working from home has become common place for many of us, questions over how we can maintain a healthy body and mind have arisen. Farzana's global track record in training and advising clients from 'illness to wellness,' makes her a fantastic addition to the ThinkHub team, helping you get fighting fit for your career.Contact Farzana hereCarl | Career, Portfolio & CV advice www.adremgroup.com/Architecturally trained and Head of Architecture at Adrem, Carl can help you stand out from the crowd, providing useful ways to approach a search for employment. His knowledge of the Built Environment allows him to provide essential insights into the market, knowing exactly which software and skills you should be learning to stay relevant in today's market. Contact Carl hereOlivia | Keeping up appearances www.concretecomms.com/Before founding Concrete, Olivia practiced as a Landscape Architect and previously worked for a leading developer, providing her with a wealth of experience and insight into the Built Environment. She brings to ThinkHub her expertise in marketing and business development, offering advice into how you can boost online traction and make your brand stand out from the crowd. Contact Olivia here

ThinkHub: Del

Adrem have partnered with three Built Environment specialists working across the fields of HR, marketing, wellbeing and fitness to form ThinkHub. ThinkHub brings together industry experts across a wide spectrum to offer guidance and advice to those who may seek it. As COVID-19 makes us reconsider all aspects of life, ThinkHub aims to offer support to those who find themselves searching for advice. By bringing together experts in the fields of HR, marketing, wellbeing and fitness, ThinkHub covers a variation of topics, offering one-to-one guidance through COVID-19 and beyond. Del | Business advice & Wellbeing www.adremgroup.com/Del practiced as an Architect, and then went on to qualify as a Positive Psychologist and Wellbeing Coach, skills which he has combined with his professional experience to offer guidance on business psychology. Covid-19 will have drastically affected the way that businesses operate, with business environments and leadership essential in refocusing teams to look towards the future. Del has worked with organisations, leaders and individuals for 20 years, and brings to ThinkHub a wealth of knowledge aimed at transforming your business for the better. Contact Del here

ThinkHub: Niki

Adrem have partnered with three Built Environment specialists working across the fields of HR, marketing, wellbeing and fitness to form ThinkHub. ThinkHub brings together industry experts across a wide spectrum to offer guidance and advice to those who may seek it. As COVID-19 makes us reconsider all aspects of life, ThinkHub aims to offer support to those who find themselves searching for advice. By bringing together experts in the fields of HR, marketing, wellbeing and fitness, ThinkHub covers a variation of topics, offering one-to-one guidance through COVID-19 and beyond. Niki | HR Specialist in the Built Environment https://www.evolutionhr.co.ukBefore co-founding EvolutionHR, Niki was HR Manager at a leading global architecture practice. After mass furloughing in the industry, there have been several questions as to what happens next. Does this mean my job is secure? What does this mean for employers, how can they offer support? Niki has joined ThinkHub to offer HR support, with her particular expertise covering the implementation and practical application of HR policies and procedures making her perfectly placed to answer these burdening questions. Contact Niki here

ThinkHub: Farzana

Adrem have partnered with three Built Environment specialists working across the fields of HR, marketing, wellbeing and fitness to form ThinkHub. ThinkHub brings together industry experts across a wide spectrum to offer guidance and advice to those who may seek it. As COVID-19 makes us reconsider all aspects of life, ThinkHub aims to offer support to those who find themselves searching for advice. By bringing together experts in the fields of HR, marketing, wellbeing and fitness, ThinkHub covers a variation of topics, offering one-to-one guidance through COVID-19 and beyond. Farzana | Keeping fit and healthy www.instagram.com/recipearchitect/Farzana began her career as an architect, going on to become a fitness and nutritionist guru at Recipe Architects. As working from home has become common place for many of us, questions over how we can maintain a healthy body and mind have arisen. Farzana's global track record in training and advising clients from 'illness to wellness,' makes her a fantastic addition to the ThinkHub team, helping you get fighting fit for your career.Contact Farzana here

ThinkHub: Carl

Adrem have partnered with three Built Environment specialists working across the fields of HR, marketing, wellbeing and fitness to form ThinkHub. ThinkHub brings together industry experts across a wide spectrum to offer guidance and advice to those who may seek it. As COVID-19 makes us reconsider all aspects of life, ThinkHub aims to offer support to those who find themselves searching for advice. By bringing together experts in the fields of HR, marketing, wellbeing and fitness, ThinkHub covers a variation of topics, offering one-to-one guidance through COVID-19 and beyond. Carl | Career, Portfolio & CV advice www.adremgroup.com/Architecturally trained and Head of Architecture at Adrem, Carl can help you stand out from the crowd, providing useful ways to approach a search for employment. His knowledge of the Built Environment allows him to provide essential insights into the market, knowing exactly which software and skills you should be learning to stay relevant in today's market. Contact Carl here

ThinkHub: Olivia

Adrem have partnered with three Built Environment specialists working across the fields of HR, marketing, wellbeing and fitness to form ThinkHub. ThinkHub brings together industry experts across a wide spectrum to offer guidance and advice to those who may seek it. As COVID-19 makes us reconsider all aspects of life, ThinkHub aims to offer support to those who find themselves searching for advice. By bringing together experts in the fields of HR, marketing, wellbeing and fitness, ThinkHub covers a variation of topics, offering one-to-one guidance through COVID-19 and beyond. Olivia | Keeping up appearances www.concretecomms.com/Before founding Concrete, Olivia practiced as a Landscape Architect and previously worked for a leading developer, providing her with a wealth of experience and insight into the Built Environment. She brings to ThinkHub her expertise in marketing and business development, offering advice into how you can boost online traction and make your brand stand out from the crowd. Contact Olivia here

The Free Gift We Take For Granted..

Today is the 50th Anniversary of the UN’s International Mother Earth Day.The brainchild of the American Senator Gaylord Nelson in 1970, who himself was moved by the student protests of the 1960’s at the rise and objection to industrial pollution in the environment. These protests and rallies by activists created the first environmental groups, notably organisations Friends of the Earth in 1968 and Greenpeace in 1970 amongst others. The irony is not lost on us that on this 50th birthday, that the country that initiated this vision is the greatest pollutant and denies the facts of the changing environment and climate change, when really they should be the global guardians of it.Today as we sit at home with the reality check that a virus can break down all of our 21st century cleverness and sophisticated economic systems and as leave the smartest minds to ponder possible solutions; we have noticed a few things like the sound of birds singing in the morning, the clearness of the blue sky and how wonderful a sharp intake of breath can be when the reward is clean air. London has never smelt so clean and looked so green. Even the sunshine feels like a welcomed old friend, when she touches your skin in the one hour you have with her outside during this lock-down. All this reminds us is that as human beings we are a lot more basic and simple than we thought.We are now firmly in the hands of scientists to guide us past this invisible terrorist and to come up with solutions that no defense or armaments spending could have protected us from, but maybe acknowledged investment into science and healthcare could have, just saying. It is the same scientists that have been telling us for years that we are ruining the earth, maybe we should be seriously listening to them. The take away from this, when we eventually emerge into the new normal could be that as business leaders we could write into our company policies how we as organisations, proactively give back to the earth, it’s not as unreasonable as it sounds. We should not only be using but proactively supporting the flourishing of our greater environment, there is your 'Wellbeing' Policy right there!In addition is to support those scientists and general people in the caring professions that actively look after the rest of us when we are at these low points, this is not an 'act of kindness' like charity or 'corporate social responsibility,' it is basic human decency and a moral obligation, there in lies the 'Ethical Strategy' that will underpin your new old business. Let’s not stop and forget this when we get back into the 'soup of the city' and get consumed with the 'crapola' that awaits us. After all what have we discovered, that a walk in the park or appreciating the wind on our face is a beautiful free gift that we have taken for granted until now, let’s not take those people for granted either. Del HossainManaging Director

IR35: Put on hold for a year

During this tumultuous and unprecedented time, a few things have surprised me. Firstly, the French pledge of 300 Billion Euros was most impressive, which was then followed by Rishi’s UK pledge of £330 Billion, but now as part of that package the government has announced the delay of the off payroll implementation, or IR35 as it is better known, until 6th April 2021.IR35 is the tax avoidance scheme introduced to curtail freelancers working through limited companies. In reality, contractors with no job security because they aren’t permanent employees describe IR35 as being a bit like having a little brother who nicks your stuff, you know he is not right and is taking your cash when you are asleep, but you kind of get used to him and his bad ways because…. well he is your brother. The delay in introduction just means the little brother has been caught and locked up for a year. Maybe he’ll be locked up for good!

Designer, Maker, User.

In 2020 we buy stuff that makes us happy and then we unbox these exquisitely packaged things ready for consumption; this is the hit of why we buy. However, probe a little deeper and question how did this happen; where did inventiveness and ingenuity go and is creativity at all central? There are three participants in product design - designer, maker, and user.Nowadays people consume and use, but it was not always so. Looking back, products were dreamt up, made or fixed and then used, ‘Designer,Maker,User’ the ultimate in sustainability. There was a joy to fixing things that we have lost thanks to consumption. Think about the last time you sewed anything? Yet my parents talk about a time when they had sewing classes at school.The Design Museum exhibited ‘Designer Maker User’ in a book by Newson, Suggett and Sudjic alongside the launch of their exhibition through which these participatory stages were explored. This new enforced WFH may be perceived as limiting as we have restricted physical movement and socialisation, however it could be a catalyst for us all to become more participatory in the design process, not just users, but makers and designers. Just how much more resourceful, utilitarian and confident would you feel? Not just as a consumer, but as a creator and utiliser of your own resources and existing environment. This could have all kinds of repercussions, for example, using your creativity to keep the kids busy and entertained whilst increasing intellect by making. This can also contribute to one’s self esteem; the pleasure of designing, making and using has the same affect in a three year old as it has in a 93 year old. It’s a lot easier to keep the British stiff upper lip if we have access to creative outlets that consequently raise our self-belief.The problem can be anything and design can fix it. The making can be a 30 second tweak or a weekend construction project. The using can be a brain training exercise or an evening socialising when we are eventually permitted to do so. Product design is everywhere and we are weakest when we are not engaged, so keep busy and remain at your strongest, as this unprecedented period shouldn’t stop us. Dan Cheek, Product Design Consultant – AdremBSc Industrial and Product Design

Advice & Support

COVID-19 At Adrem, the health, welfare and well-being of our clients, colleagues and staff is paramount. If you would like to speak to us directly for advice during these unprecedented times please email us at marketing@adremgroup.com or call on 0207 562 8282.

Working from Home: Trust at Last

Over the last few years more companies have 'talked' about agile working, including those companies that design workplace strategy and in agile working, but the reality is few take their own advice.Many bosses are uncomfortable with the notion of staff being out of sight and out of mind if they aren't on site, with the conclusion being a drop in productivity. This is an apprehension about employee accountability, when employers have never tested this theory.Perhaps this is an ideology that stems from the industrial revolution, ‘be seen to be paid!’ Back then people were paid for their time, which was the same mentality as hiring labourers to work on the land. Time is measurable, but now most companies produce services, which is communicated intangibly.COVID-19 could finally reframe employers views on supervision, so the technological advances will allow them to function without physically being on site. The one thing employers will have to rediscover is ‘trust’ and in reverse whether they have done enough to earn their employees trust back. We are now putting it to the test, but the real test is to see those environments that have changed as a result of these experiences.

How to avoid Cabin Fever

Following the latest recommendation from the government to stay indoors and avoid going out unless absolutely necessary, we are now facing a new challenge: how do you look after your psychological well-being during long periods of self-isolation?Although working from home might feel like a dream come true for some individuals, others may struggle to adapt to this new way of living/working. Research suggests that people living in confined spaces for extended periods of time can experience “cabin fever”, with some reporting going “stir crazy”. During this time, various factors can come into play that can be either beneficial or detrimental to our wellbeing.As we are social beings, lack of human interaction can have a negative effect on our psychological and physical health, which could lead to decreased immunity. In order to help combat this, it is vital to maintain a balanced diet and keep active. If you want to stay inside and exercise you can access free exercise classes online, with just your body weight (no equipment needed) and family-oriented activities. Extended periods of confinement can lead to insomnia, poor memory, lack of concentration, low mood, irritability and decreased motivation. This has been reported by people working in polar stations, submarines, space missions, etc. The majority of negative thoughts and feelings can be significantly reduced by applying structure to your day. Setting aims/goals, scheduling regular breaks, planning meals and having a set bed time can help to increase motivation, concentration and overall mood.We cannot underestimate the importance of having a social network to rely upon and being able to reach out to friends and family when needed. It is widely documented that people with lack of social support experience higher levels of anxiety and depression and tend to adopt negative coping strategies such as alcohol. So, we must be mindful that dedicating time to reach out to friends and family, even for light-hearted chats, can be incredibly uplifting.Spending extended periods of time in confined spaces can lead to conflicts, especially between family members. Taking some time out as well as exercise can help to reduce tensions. There is also some evidence to suggest that separating yourself from work through meditation or mindfulness-based exercises can help to promote better work (from home) life balance.HOW TO AVOID CABIN FEVER?• Boost your immunity – get moving and eat healthy!• Structure your day – don’t forget to schedule meals, breaks and have a set bedtime• Maintain social contact – share your worries or concerns with friends and family• Avoid conflicts – exercise or take some time outFinally, if you or any of your friends and family find it hard to cope with self-isolation, please seek professional advice.Monika Michalska, Principal Architecture Consultant- AdremMSc Organisational PsychologyBSc Psychology

IR35 Event Cancelled! (16/03/2020)

Unfortunately due to the present situation and the current advice around Covid-19. We have decided for the interest of candidate safety to postpone the event, until we have clearer information from the NHS that it is safe to meet in large groups. We will be forwarding a PDF of information to help with IR35 (Adrem, IR35 made easy!). Should you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.

Kahmarl is on the tube!

Our very own Kahmarl Gordon has been featured in LinkedIn’s latest campaign! Kahmarl is our digital recruitment consultant and is a specialist in user and data centred design, working across the entire digital product lifecycle from conception to delivery. After spending a decade as a designer across UX/UI and Digital Design, he now recruits across the digital space. Fancy a chat? You can contact him at Kahmarl.gordon@adremgroup.com or call him on 0207 5628282

Meet Us At MIPIM!

The Adrem team will be at MIPIM 2020. If you would like to arrange a meeting, please contact us!

Meet the Team

Meet the team finding YOU your dream job.Established in 1981 Adrem is London’s original architecture, construction and design recruitment agency. Specialising in architecture, BIM, interiors, graphics, product and creative support, for 39 years Adrem has been changing careers and growing practices globally.

Traits of a Bad Boss

Sixty-two per cent have left a role and more than half have considered looking for a new job – just to get away from their manager. So, what makes these people bad bosses? We’ve highlighted three key traits to look out for in our salary guide on p.30

Top Ten Tips for Hiring Temps

The top ten tips for hiring temps, from identifying your needs to planning ahead and from communication to thinking long term, read more about it in our #salaryguide on p.20

HR for Creative Companies

“List what resources you have… when you add it all up, you may have certain advantages over your larger competitors.” Read more about Kate Marks’ HR for Creative Companies on p.15 of our #salaryguide.

What Do We Know About IR35

Off-payroll working rules change on 6 April 2020 and are applied differently. From this date, all public authorities & medium and large sized clients will be responsible for deciding the employment status of workers. Read more on p.34 of our #salaryguide

Rewards and Benefits

Rewards and benefits differ from company to company, so it is essential that you establish what rewards mean to your business and employees. Read more on page 14 of our #salaryguide

2020 Salary Guide

Are you getting paid or are you paying enough? See our 2020 Salary Survey

5 Reasons for Appraisals

Employees sometimes perceive their annual appraisal as a threat. However, if the appraisal system is well-constructed, and seen to be fair to the individual and organisation, this threat could be overcome. Read more about this in our #salaryguide on page 8

A Word from Del

A word from our Managing Director, Del Hossain .Read more in our Salary Guide.

Affiliations

We have established several valuable relationships over the years, having affiliations with RIBA, New London Architecture, London Festival of Architeceture, The Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London, WeWork and Concrete Communications amongst several others.Read more in page 42 of our Salary Guide

VEGANuary with Joe Morris

Joe, Founding Director of Morris + Company, is an advocate for fair and transparent practice, and champions inclusivity and equality. He believes in the potential for a more compassionate, sustainable global economy and seeks to raise awareness of these issues. He follows a strict vegan diet and advocates for other to do the same. You can read more on this story in our salary guide on page 40

Del talks POWER with Adjaye Ass. for LFA.

On Wednesday 29th of January, Del sat down with Doron von Beider, Head of Research at Adjaye Associates to explore the ways in which Doron’s Israeli heritage was crucial in the formation of his approach to his discipline. Covering cross cultural influences on architecture and design, Del and Doron discussed how the rigour of research is essential in influencing design decisions and the work of David Adjaye, with the conversation followed by a Q&A. The event was the first in a series put on by UAL’s Jewish Society about Israeli arts and culture. Read more on the LFA website here.

Why You Should Start Your Job Search Before Christmas

The majority of job seekers assume that most companies are not hiring during the holiday season and they should wait to start their search in the New Year, but that’s simply not true. You can land a new role before Christmas, but if it doesn’t happen, make sure it’s not for lack of trying. Get yourself out there!Reasons why you should start your job search before Christmas:Less competition More networking opportunities Stand out from the crowd Less stress in the New YearSome tips on how to secure that job:Keep your schedule flexible Clean up of your social profilesSend speculative applications Stay in touch with decision makers For more tips on preparing for your job search, read more on How to Write A CV That Works and How To Prepare For An Interview.

How Employee Branding Helps Your Business

The Benefits of Employee BrandingEmployee branding is very important when it comes to attracting new talent and retaining existing staff. When your company’s values and goals align with your employees’, they are more motivated to perform better — and that’s great for business.A brand can be defined through its personality and culture and we’ve found that happy employees make a strong brand. Involving your employees in your company’s social media can demonstrate the work environment and common behaviour among workers, which will effectively increase your brand’s reach and engagement. Research shows that 84% of job seekers value recommendations from friends and family above all forms of advertising. Therefore, featuring authentic testimonials from existing employees will enable any new talent to imagine themselves joining your brand.Employee branding doesn’t only help the external brand but it also creates positive behaviour internally. Hinge Research Institute teamed with Social Media Today to find that almost 86% of advocates said that being involved in social media, such as Linkedin, had a positive impact on their own careers. It has demonstrated that it allowed them to expand their professional networks as well as keep them up-to-date with industry trends. Other notable benefits also include the ability to develop skills that are in high demand, become recognised as thought leaders and differentiate themselves from their peers.Three Ways to Enhance your Employee BrandingThere is no one-size-fits all strategy so it is key to deliver in a medium that feels true and authentic to your brand. But here are some ideas:Social mediaLive eventsEmployee reviewsIt’s important your employer brand is authentic. Once the candidates become new employees, they’ll expect to encounter the brand they experienced during the recruitment process. So your employer brand must closely align with your actual organisational culture and employee experience. When it does, your new hires will quickly become engaged and passionate employees that can themselves become part of the employer brand.

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2019 RIBA Stirling Prize Winner

Winner of the 2019 RIBA Stirling Prize goes to Goldsmith Street by Mikhail RichesAs the first social-housing scheme to win the RIBA Stirling Prize, Goldsmith Street by Mikhail Riches with Cathy Hawley had also won the first Neave Brown Award for Housing at last week’s event in the Roundhouse.The 2019 RIBA Stirling Prize judges, chaired by Julia Barfield, said:“Goldsmith Street is a modest masterpiece. It is high-quality architecture in its purest, most environmentally and socially conscious form. Behind restrained creamy façades are impeccably-detailed, highly sustainable homes – an incredible achievement for a development of this scale. This is proper social housing, over ten years in the making, delivered by an ambitious and thoughtful council. These desirable, spacious, low-energy properties should be the norm for all council housing.”The project for Norwich City Council is made up of almost 100 highly energy-efficient homes. Rows of two-storey houses are bookended by three-storey flats, each with their own front door, generous lobby space for prams and bikes, and a private balcony.Neave Brown AwardThe award, named in honour of the late Neave Brown (1929 – 2018), recognises the best new example of affordable housing in the UK. Projects eligible for the award needed to have won a RIBA Regional Award be 10 or more homes completed and occupied between 1 November 2016 and 1 February 2019; and have one third of the housing be affordable and demonstrate evidence of meeting the challenge of housing affordability.Chair of the Neave Brown Award for Housing Jury, Immediate RIBA Past President Ben Derbyshire, said:“Goldsmith Street is an exemplar for social housing. Over 10 years in the making, the architects, working with the City Council, have shown impressive sensitivity and prowess at every stage of the process. The result is not just a highly desirable new neighbourhood for Norwich, but homes of the highest quality and most exacting environmental standards. That the outcome appears so naturally at ease in its context requires skill and determination belied by the scheme’s apparent simplicity. RIBA Stirling Prize 2019: The People’s VoteCork House by Matthew Barnett Howland with Dido Milne and Oliver Wilton – 9.8%Goldsmith Street by Mikhail Riches with Cathy Hawley – 10.1%London Bridge Station by Grimshaw – 24.6%The Macallan Distillery and Visitor Experience by Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners – 17%Nevill Holt Opera by Witherford Watson Mann Architects – 28.8%The Weston, Yorkshire Sculpture Park by Feilden Fowles Architects – 9.7% Winner of the Stephen Lawrence Prize – Cork Houseby Matthew Barnett Howland with Dido Milne and Oliver WiltonThe Stephen Lawrence Prize rewards new, experimental architectural talent, celebrating projects with a construction budget of less than £1 million. Stephen Lawrence Prize founder Marco Goldschmied said:“Cork House is a unique fusion of ancient construction methods and cutting-edge technical research to produce a highly innovative, low carbon solution with a wide variety of applications from mass housing to emergency shelters. We are delighted to present Matthew Barnett Howland, Dido Milne and Oliver Wilton with the Stephen Lawrence Prize 2019.” Winner of Client of the Year Award is Network RailNetwork Rail have been named RIBA Client of the Year 2019. The annual award recognises “the key role that a good client plays in the creation of fine architecture.”Jo Bacon, Chair of the RIBA Client of the Year jury, said:“Network Rail have made considerable investment in projects to transform rail infrastructure across the UK. With their incredible record of commissioning RIBA chartered architects and their commitment to the creation of high-quality civic spaces, Network Rail is a worthy winner of the 2019 RIBA Client of the Year.” Read more on other RIBA Award winners.

Archiboo Web Awards 2019

This week we celebrated the 4th annual Archiboo Web Awards at the Royal College of Pathologists in London, designed by Bennetts Associates. We were delighted to be a part of this great celebration, as we have been from the beginning, and have our MD Del Hossain exclusively invited to co-host with Amanda Baillieu was a honour.The Archiboo Web Awards are all about celebrating the creative use of the Internet to communicate great architecture whether that’s using images, sound, video, words or VR and other immersive technologies which allow us to experience architecture in new ways.Some of the winners are mentioned in Archiboo’s white paper ‘How to design an award winning website‘ which launched last week, written by Amanda and designed by Mark Ferguson of Very Own Studio. The white paper can be downloaded here.These are the winners for 2o19Winner of Best HomepageWhite Arkitekter – Created by Creuna“The judges said this is a people-focused homepage that’s user-friendly with simple navigation that clearly expresses the practice ethos”.Winner of Best Mobile ExperienceGruff Architects – Created by TM“The winning mobile website gives an instant snapshot of the practice’s design ethos and projects and feels crafted and carefully thought through. Visuals are engaging and the pages flow well with obvious links to other projects.”Winner of Best NewcomerMorris+Company – Created by BOB Design“The winning website was praised for being is awash with colour, textures, patterns and emotion and sending out messages to do with sharing, research and innovation. Other architects can learn much from this site and this practice.”Best Architectural PhotographyManalo & White – Images by Morgan O’Donovan and other“The judges described the winning images as strong and emotive, impeccably composed and masterfully lit. The portfolio it has put together is carefully edited to show the different types of projects it has worked on and there’s a warmth to even the most barren of these images which is intriguing, as if those rooms are just waiting to be enjoyed.”Best Use of TechnologyZHA – Created by Zaha Hadid Virtual Reality Group“This winning project pushes the boundaries of virtual reality and its application to the architectural field. It dramatically engages the user and could lead to entirely new methods of designing and testing pointing to an exciting direction for design and collaboration.”Best Consultants WebsiteFriendly Materials by PMMT – Created by iEstrategic“The winning website is fresh, graphically clear and beautifully laid out with intuitive navigation and content that feels right for its subject.”Best Use of VideoUNStudio – Created by UNS & Bwefar & de Boer“This is an engaging and energetic film that has lovely cinematography with a very light touch, great interviews and very well-structured narrative to include some surprising elements of the story” Best Use of Social Mediamake:good – Created by make:good“The winner has created a set of channels that genuinely feel completely different to the competition – both in content and design.”Winner of Best Digital TeamBDP – Created by BDP“The winner stood out because of its forward thinking approach to digital including listening tools and the use of live digital data to inform their strategy.”Winner of Best Visual DesignThreefold Architects – Created by Studio Thomas“The judges said the winning design was calm and inviting and the navigation and overall presentation of content conveyed a rational approach, giving the user a feeling for who the practice is with just the right amount of information”.Winner of Best Written ContentWalters & Cohen Architects – Created by Lucy Keens“The judges said this is a people-focused homepage that’s user-friendly with simple navigation that clearly expresses the practice ethos”.The Alan Davidson AwardThe penultimate award is the Alan Davidson Award sponsored by the Alan Davidson Trust and to present it is David Bullock joint managing partner at Hayes DavidsonSquint/Opera – Images by Squint Opera“The judges praised the playful narrative and the use of illustrative elements together with realistic CG animation that gives a real sense of the spaces. One judge said there is sometimes a danger that this kind of animation can distract you away from what is really important, but that is not the case here.” Winner of Best Overall ExperienceGruff Architects – Created by TM“The winner has used the website to make the practice much more than the sum of the parts, but without over claiming which is clever. It feels playful and experimental and it’s a real treat for the user across all devices and browsers.” Congratulations to all the winners and to the designers, film makers, writers and photographers whose contribution is so essential to a great website.We look forward to seeing you all again next year in another equally fabulous new building.Images from the evening can be viewed and downloaded from Flickr here.All images by Lily Pagano

2020 LFA Theme Announcement

Earlier this week Adrem, in association with WeWork, were delighted to co-host with the London Festival of Architecture (LFA) to announce that ‘Power’ will be the theme of the next festival, taking place across London from 1 -30 June 2020. As one of the world’s largest annual architecture event, London Festival of Architecture celebrates a global hub of architectural experimentation, practice and debate. Each year the programme is delivered by architecture and design practices and practitioners, cultural and academic institutions, artists and many others. The festival appeals to a huge public audience: in 2019 a vibrant programme of 566 events attracted over 800,000 people and reached a global audience of 138 million people, making the London Festival of Architecture one of the most important events in the cultural calendar.Every year the London Festival of Architecture takes a different theme to inspire its programme of public events, and in 2020 will examine power from multiple perspectives. The London Festival of Architecture will open its call for entries in October, inviting anyone with an interest in London and its built environment to respond with ideas for events – from serious academic debate to activities for children, and everything in between.Tamsie Thomson, director of the London Festival of Architecture, said:“The theme of ‘Power’ opens questions about how we can better fuel our buildings. From fuel cells in basements to solar cells on roofs – where does our power come from and who’s going to be supplying it? Research points to the fact that the construction, operation and maintenance of buildings accounts for 45% of total UK carbon emissions. For architects, reducing the impact on the environment and biodiversity should be a priority, but are they paying lip-service to their concerns rather than taking in real action? Is there a willingness to make the tough decisions required to change direction or are architects sitting on their hands while our window of opportunity becomes smaller and smaller?Event Photos What does POWER mean to you?Whether its the power of leaders, power of the future, power distributed along lines of class, gender and race. We’d like you to email us your definition of POWER for your chance to win a prize!

Adrems Top 5: TED Talks for Career Development

TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or less). TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, and today covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues — in more than 100 languages.As part of Adrems Top 5 this week, we have rounded up 5 TED Talks you need to watch for your career development and success. TED talks are a great way to spend your lunch break, or your commute home. Enjoy this list of ideas, creative thoughts and ways you can grow personally and in your career.1. How to find work you love – Scott Dinsmore About the talk: Scott Dinsmore quit a job that made him miserable, and spent the next four years wondering how to find work that was joyful and meaningful. He shares what he learned in this deceptively simple talk about finding out what matters to you — and then getting started doing it.About the speaker: Scott Dinsmore founded Live Your Legend, a career and connection platform to inspire people to find their passion.Why you should listen: Entrepreneur Scott Dinsmore left life at a Fortune 500 company to help others do work that they love. After researching what thousands of employees truly wanted out of life, he founded the organization Live Your Legend. As the Chief Experimenter, he not only supplied practical career tools but connected more than 100,000 people worldwide to encourage each other’s dreams — putting community at the center of success. Dinsmore died in September 2015 while on a year-long trek around the world. His legacy will live on through his passion, dedication and strong community of dreamers and doers.2. How great leaders inspire action – Simon Sinek About the talk: Simon Sinek has a simple but powerful model for inspirational leadership — starting with a golden circle and the question “Why?” His examples include Apple, Martin Luther King, and the Wright brothers.About the speaker: Simon Sinek explores how leaders can inspire cooperation, trust and change. He’s the author of the classic “Start With Why”; his latest book is “Leaders Eat Last.”Why you should listen: Fascinated by the leaders who make impact in the world, companies and politicians with the capacity to inspire, Simon Sinek has discovered some remarkable patterns in how they think, act and communicate. He wrote Start With Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action to explore his idea of the Golden Circle, what he calls “a naturally occurring pattern, grounded in the biology of human decision making, that explains why we are inspired by some people, leaders, messages and organizations over others.”3. Smash fear, learn anything – Tim Ferriss About the talk: From the EG conference: Productivity guru Tim Ferriss’ fun, encouraging anecdotes show how one simple question — “What’s the worst that could happen?” — is all you need to learn to do anything.About the speaker: Tim Ferriss is an early-stage tech investor, best-selling author and podcaster.Why you should listen: Tim Ferriss has been listed as one of Fast Company‘s “Most Innovative Business People” and one of Fortune‘s “40 under 40.” He is an early-stage technology investor/advisor (Uber, Facebook, Shopify, Duolingo, Alibaba, and 50+ others) and the author of four #1 New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestsellers, including The 4-Hour Workweek.4. The happy secret to better work – Shawn Achor About the talk: We believe we should work hard in order to be happy, but could we be thinking about things backwards? In this fast-moving and very funny talk, psychologist Shawn Achor argues that, actually, happiness inspires us to be more productive.About the speaker: Shawn Achor is the CEO of Good Think Inc., where he researches and teaches about positive psychology.Why you should listen: Shawn Achor is the winner of over a dozen distinguished teaching awards at Harvard University, where he delivered lectures on positive psychology in the most popular class at Harvard. He is the CEO of Good Think Inc., a Cambridge-based consulting firm which researches positive outliers — people who are well above average — to understand where human potential, success and happiness intersect. Based on his research and 12 years of experience at Harvard, he clearly and humorously describes to organizations how to increase happiness and meaning, raise success rates and profitability, and create positive transformations that ripple into more successful cultures.5. Why you will fail to have a great career – Larry Smith About the talk: In this funny and blunt talk, Larry Smith pulls no punches when he calls out the absurd excuses people invent when they fail to pursue their passions.About the speaker: A professor of economics at the University of Waterloo in Canada, Larry Smith coaches his students to find the careers that they will truly love.Why you should listen: Larry Smith is a professor of economics at University of Waterloo. A well-known storyteller and advocate for youth leadership, he has also mentored many of his students on start-up business management and career development. The most notable start-up he advised in its infancy is Research in Motion (RIM), maker of the BlackBerry.

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5 Ways Your Company Culture Can Promote Mental Wellbeing

With work pressures rising in our fast paced world, a mentally healthy workplace promotes a positive outlook to improve its employees wellbeing. A culture that supports wellness would automatically grow productivity and the general welfare of your staff. There are a few ways to instil that culture, and being one of London’s leading recruitment agencies – let us give you some tips on how.Companies need to focus on fostering a wellbeing environment and explore how a culture of supporting mental health would fit in with their organisation. Even though this may require changes – these are the first steps you can start with.1. Employee EngagementThis refers to the overall engagement an employee has with their work. Working in a relaxed environment lets employees be engaged with their work in all ways – physically and mentally. Employee engagement is about understanding one’s role in an organisation, and being sighted and energised on where it fits in the organisation’s purpose and objectives. It is important to be engaged with their work in all ways to provide a boost in morale, self-esteem and eventually productivity.2. Encouraging a Work Life Balance Studies show that employees with a positive work-life balance have high productivity and do a better job over all. A company which promotes this would see a rise in wellbeing. Through flexible work timings, working from home options and understanding your employees ways of efficient working – a work-life balance would even give them an option to be more aware of their mental wellbeing.3. Speak Openly About WellbeingEducating employees on the importance of this would be the first step. Having a clear recognition of when your employees are overworked and stressed would be a way of giving support as soon as they need it. If they understand that your business is open to caring about their wellbeing, they will be more expressive about it. Providing safe and open communication throughout the work environment leads to a wellbeing oriented culture.4. Promoting Professional DevelopmentCreating conditions that let employees shine is as essential as providing them with company goals in the first place. For instance, recognition for achieving organisational targets or other work-related aims. Professional Development not only refers to the work that they are doing, but also an overall development such as skills, learning and training they may require at certain points in their career.5. Encourage Out of Work InterestsIf your culture helps employees revitalise, through outdoor activities and external entertainment, they will focus on how they feel when they are taking part in these. Promoting creative thinking and teamwork even improves the way in which people perform during work hours. For instance, weekly football games or Friday evening activities can help.For other ways to improve wellbeing, read our Wellbeing Tips, and Advice and Tips for the Modern Professional

Architecture Masters Podcast with LFA

Our Managing Director Del Hossain was delighted to be this week’s special guest on Architecture Masters: the podcast from the London Festival of Architecture featuring conversations with some of architecture’s leading lights.Del Hossain was born and grew up in Manchester before moving to London to study architecture – first at London South Bank University and then at the Bartlett School of Architecture.After working at a number of practices including Orms and Foster + Partners he left to briefly setup his own architecture firm with his wife. The work quickly came in – but so too did the realisation that practicing as an architect wasn’t for him.From there, in 1998, he joined Adrem, where he remains as our managing director.Listen here for the full podcast:Audio Player00:0000:00Use Up/Down Arrow keys to increase or decrease volume.About Architecture MastersArchitecture Masters is the new podcast from the LFA which extends this celebration throughout the year. In the podcast they talk to the people behind the buildings: a series of conversations with some of architecture’s leading lights.These are the people quietly shaping our cities – all hugely respected within the architectural profession, yet somehow their modest profile often belies the impact they have on the world around us.You might have seen the stunning buildings they create, but what drives the creative genius behind these designers as they balance the difficult and often conflicting demands of running a profitable business with their passion for delivering beautiful, functional and uplifting spaces.Architecture sits at the boundary between the arts and sciences. As architects they are all natural polymaths – their expertise and interests spans engineering to economics, transport to typography. And their work touches every area of how we live today. They’re people buzzing with ideas, energy and a desire to change the world around them.Architecture Masters take architecture as our starting point and let the conversation flow freely from there. This is a programme for those that are interested in the people who are shaping our world.Subscribe to more podcasts.

9 Ways Linkedin Can Get You Your Next Job

From tweets to snaps, social media has become the main communication tool for today’s society. With LinkedIn as the top social media platform for professionals, it’s only obvious you keep it up-to-date in order to land you your next dream job.Here are 9 tips on how to maximise your profile and get noticed on Linkedin.1. Use a professional photoFirst impressions count! The first thing someone sees on your profile is your picture. By adding a professional photos that shows you are warm and welcoming is a great addition to any profile.A good picture makes you look more approachable and increases your chances to have a positive connection with your next employer. Additionally, putting up a background photo would add some personality into your page – it can be a project you are proud of or a picture from your travels.2. Consistency is keyBuilding your personal brand can be challenging, however being consistent is important. Your paper CV and portfolio should be in line with your LinkedIn profile. Even in aspects of your positions, dates as well as language, must all be consistent throughout. Hiring managers don’t appreciate switching from past tense and then present or from first person to third3. Create your own URLLinkedIn now has the option of creating your own profile URL personalised to what you want it to be, not to mention it makes it much easier for you to be found on search engines. After all, it looks a lot neater than a bunch of random letters and numbers attached to your profile.4. Include a current job title even if you’re not employedMost hiring managers can search for current job titles. Having a title such as “Graphic Designer” and “Currently Seeking” in the company title would help your profile appear in searches more frequently.5. Write a great profile summary & headlineYour headline should not just provide information about what you do – but provide your value-added benefit to the viewer. What is your value proposition? Answer that question in your summary and headline.6. Add effective sections in your profileYour profile should be as full as possible – adding relevant experience, volunteering and accomplishments. Make them more effective by using action words that are from your targeted job description. Elaborate on times you were picked for a project or gained quantitative results. 7. Showcase your skillsLinkedIn provides you with up to 50 skills to show recruiters how experienced you are. Ideally, use all 50 of them. If you’re going for a Marketing position, add skills such as ‘marketing strategy’, ‘digital marketing’ etc. This simply improves the chances of you being found by your skills to fill a role. It may even start a conversation between you and a connection who wants to know more about your diverse skills.8. Showcase your projects: Add mediaAdding work experience is useful, but details about a project your proud of can really make your profile stand out. Visuals are a great way of showcasing your talent on LinkedIn. It will not only catch the viewers’ attention, but also make your work memorable.9. Ask for recommendations and endorsementsGenuine comments on your work strengthens your display of acknowledgement. Endorsements might not always be useful, however it increases the credibility of your profile and work. Overall, keep your profile up-to-date and relevant. Make changes as it happens and don’t be afraid to connect with people that have common interest. Who knows, that might be your next boss.Get in touch if you want to know more on how to utilise your professional social media account!

New London Awards 2019 Winners Announced

The 2019 New London Awards at the Guildhall have announced their winners. These projects not only reflect the high quality of design coming up in the capital, these projects are also selected because they deliver something positive for their local area or for London. New London of the YearJohn Burns, Chairman, Derwent London. John’s selection as New Londoner of the Year 2019 marks his retirement from Derwent London as Chief Executive, although he will remain Chairman. We recognise his contribution to the delivery of high-quality design and his commercial brilliance, but most of all his — and Simon’s — dedication to and faith in London, its character, its villages, its emerging businesses —particularly in design and tech — and its people.| New London Awards – John BurnsHidden HeroWinner of the new Hidden Hero Prize was 85-year old Nano McCaughan, who was involved from the very start in the Community Land Trust project in Lewisham to build 11 affordable homes, each home sold at a price linked to local wages. She visited many local residents and councils and with her strong determination put together a team to deliver the scheme. The Award was created to recognise individuals that make a significant contribution to the creation of great places, whose efforts often go unseen and unrecognised, yet without them we would not have the city we have today. Overall WinnerWINNER Agar Grove Phase 1a, NW1 by HawkinsBrown for LB CamdenPeople’s ChoiceWINNER The Aga Khan Centre, N1 by Allies and Morrison and Maki & Associates for Aga Khan Development NetworkSustainability PrizeWINNER Agar Grove Phase 1a, NW1 by HawkinsBrown for LB CamdenMayor’s PrizeWINNER Chobham Manor, E20 by AHMM, Haworth Tompkins, Karakusevic Carson Architects, Make, muf architecture/art, Nord and PRP for Chobham Manor LLP (Taylor Wimpey & L&Q) and LLDCCommunity PrizeWINNER The Granville, NW6 by RCKa for LB Brent Wellbeing PrizeWINNER Aldgate Highway Changes and Public Realm Improvements Project, EC3 by City of London Conservation & RetrofitWINNER Pitzhanger Manor and Gallery, W5 by Jestico + Whiles and Julian Harrap Architects for LB Ealing and Pitzhanger Manor and Gallery TrustWINNER Great Arthur House, EC1 by John Robertson Architects for City of London Corporation CultureUNBUILT WINNER Illuminated River, by Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands and Leo Villareal Studio for Illuminated River Foundation BUILT WINNER Drayton Green Church, W12 by Piercy&Company for IPC Ealing EducationWINNER The Royal College of Pathologists, E1 by Bennetts Associates for Royal College of PathologistsHealth & CareWINNER Burbridge Close, RM8 by Peter Barber Architects for LB Barking and Dagenham HomesWINNER Aikin Villas, N16 by Stephen Taylor Architects for LB Hackney Hotels & HospitalityWINNER The Kimpton Fitzroy, WC1 by EPR Architects for Starwood Capital and Principal Hotels HousingUNBUILT WINNER Beechwood Mews, N3 by Peter Barber Architects for Kuropatwa BUILT WINNER Hoxton Press, Colville Estate, N1 by Karakusevic Carson Architects and David Chipperfield Architects for LB Hackney WINNER Marklake Court, SE1 by Bell Phillips Architects for Leathermarket Community Benefit Society Masterplan & Area StrategiesWINNER (Area strategy) New Cross Area Framework and Station Opportunity Study, SE14 by 5th Studio for LB Lewisham, TfL, GLAWINNER (Masterplan) Sugar House Island, E15 by ARC-ML for Vastint UKMeanwhileWINNER Meanwhile Croydon, CR0 by LB CroydonMixed UseUNBUILT WINNER Carlton & Granville, NW6 by Adam Khan Architects for LB Brent BUILT WINNER Energy Hub, SE17 by Morris+Company for Lendlease Public SpacesUNBUILT WINNER West End Project Public Spaces, W1 by LDA Design for LB Camden BUILT WINNER Bond Street public realm improvement project, W1 by WSP, Publica, Norman Rourke Pryme, FM Conway for City of Westminster, New West End Company and Transport for LondonRetailWINNER Quadrant Arcade, W1 by Barr Gazetas for The Crown Estate Transport & InfrastructureUNBUILT WINNER Royal Wharf Pier, E16 by Nex— for Ballymore & OxleyBUILT WINNER Hackney Wick Station, E9by Landolt + Brown for LLDC and Network RailWorkplacesUNBUILT WINNER Capital Corner, E1 by Vine Architecture Studio for Capital Estates Limited BUILT WINNER 40 Beak Street, W1 by Stiff+Trevillion for LandCap and EnstarSee the full article on New London Architecture

AJ100 Winners Announced

The AJ100 is a ranking of the largest architectural practices in the UK, measured by the number of qualified architects employed. The most successful and innovative AJ100 practices were announced this month at the gala dinner and awards ceremony at the Tower of London. Best Use of Technology: Bryden Wood for the Creative Technologies TeamThe judges said: ‘These ingenious tools, which can be plugged into an architect’s existing 3D modelling programmes, allow designers to quickly get through the complexity of the regulatory landscape and give more time to creativity. As well as removing boredom and waste, these fun apps also democratise the design process and empower clients.’ Building of the Year: Grimshaw – London Bridge StationThe judges praised the resolution of such a layered and multifaceted brief for the London Bridge Station project. One commended how ‘the design process seems to have peeled away the complexity to come to the solution’, while another observed: ‘Such a complicated building, yet so much clarity’. Client of the Year: Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery Trust, Ealing Council nominated by Jestico + WhilesJestico + Whiles nominated its clients for resolutely driving the transformation of Pitzhanger into an exemplary historic venue that does full justice to Soane’s original design.AJ100 HTA Clients Choice AwardClients’ Choice Award: HTA DesignHTA Design has had particular success pioneering modular design, with projects including 295 Holloway Road, a 13-storey development of student accommodation in London’s Islington, which took just 15 months from planning to completion. The practice is currently building the tallest modular development in the world, 101 George Street, which will rise to 44 storeys in Croydon.Collaboration of the Year: Squire + Partners with SAWA (Socially Active Workshop Architecture) for Cambodia Agriculture & Technology CentreSAWA and Squires worked together not only on design development but on fundraising and promotion. This included holding a number of supper clubs at the practice’s office in Brixton and showing illustrations and concept models at the 2018 Royal Academy Summer Exhibition. They also developed a travel package for design and engineering professionals willing to volunteer their expertise during the four-month construction period.Contribution to the Profession: Sadie Morgan‘I’m a great believer in enabling others,’ she says. ‘We have an extraordinarily great team at dRMM which has grown up with us. There’s nothing more satisfying then seeing the team make fabulous architecture, and I can help and support that. But I feel like it’s time to let others spread their wings, and they need to be given the space to do that.’ She is, she says, someone who needs to be active, whether championing design to industry and government or pursuing an impressive variety of energetic hobbies, including sailing, cycling, riding and mountain climbing. Treatment for cancer three years ago only spurred her on further. Employer of the Year: JTP‘JTP’s architecture is about people and collaboration and this runs through everything the practice does,’ said the judges. ‘They really walk the talk in terms of their values.’ Executive Architect of the Year: Design Delivery Unit (Part of Scott Brownrigg Group)‘They added an extraordinary amount of value without diminishing the design at all – with a good heart and sensitivity.’ This was the judges’ enthusiastic verdict on the winners.AJ100 Darling Associates – Fastest Growing Practice AwardFastest Growing Practice Award: Darling AssociatesThe practice has principal offices in London, Manchester, and Poznan in Poland, and saw a 62 per cent increase in total permanent staff in the UK, with total architectural fees rising by a fifth to £8.4 million since the previous year. International Practice of the Year: Foster + Partners‘Foster + Partners has, with exceptional consistency, defined the highest standards of professional practice in a world of rapid and complex change,’ one judge noted. ‘Operating as a synthetic and diverse design and research ecology, its work spans the honing of fine detail to the evolution of policies and tools.’ New Member of the Year: Arney Fender KatsalidisThe practice was founded in 2013 and has 42 architects in the UK. The practice has another studio in Toronto, set up in 2017. Together with its Australian sister practice Fender Katsalidis, the firm’s total staff headcount is about 200.AJ100 Awards 2019 GrimshawPractice of the Year: Grimshaw‘The work they are doing in diversity is remarkable and should impact on other big practices,’ one judge remarked. Another said: ‘They are taking a risk by changing the way they operate and are using their size and resource to great advantage. Grimshaw seems to be cost-focused rather than profit-focused and that means they can focus on process and on quality of design not just on “getting it done”. Sustainable Practice of the Year: ArchitypeJudges felt that sustainability was in Architype’s DNA, with the practice leading ‘across the board in breadth and depth because sustainability permeates the ethos of the practice’. See the full AJ100 table here.

Referral Reward Scheme

Simply refer a friend, a family or anyone else you know who we haven’t already spoken to and you can earn yourself £150 for contract placements and £300 for permanent placements.Terms & Conditions: For permanent placements£150 of Selfridges vouchers will be given once a candidate starts work, and a further £150 in vouchers will be paid three months after the start date provided that candidate is still employed with the client. For contract placementsCandidates who are referred and placed, £150 in vouchers will be paid after 8 weeks of continuous employment. Definition: “New Candidate” means a candidate who has not previously been registered with Adrem Group OR a candidate with whom Adrem Group have had no contact for 12 months prior to the date of referral. Established in 1981 Adrem is London’s original architecture, construction and design recruitment agency.Specialising in architecture, BIM, interiors, graphics, product and creative support, for over 35 years Adrem has been changing careers and growing practices globally.

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Guide To Living And Working In UAE

UAE AccommodationThe tax-free, high salary haven that was once prescribed to the life of the ex pat in UAE is no longer the same. While you can still thrive there, costs of living have gone up and benefits packages are looking less impressive. It is up to you to live a life of opulence or to live cheaply and conveniently. Based on a 2 bedroom flat: You can find cheap accommodation out of central locations for around £7,000 a year. For around £14,000 you can live closer to a central location in an apartment with a shared pool. For £17,500 you can live in an expat apartment with all amenities.UAE TransportA private car is a necessity in UAE. Public transport is fairly minimal and taxis can end up costing a lot. Petrol is also a lot cheaper here than you may be used to back home. Buying a car in the UAE will cost you more than it would back home. So it is worth working out how much it would cost to ship your current car over. For many, this works out cheaper!One thing to look out for – speeding and parking tickets are extremely high!UAE CultureOften thought of as an ex pat paradise (with 80% of the population foreign born), the UAE’s rapid developments have made it a relatively easy place to relocate to. You can expect an excellent mobile phone system, air conditioning in modern buildings (temperatures can rise up to 50°C in Summer) and plenty of other expats from the UK.Though the majority of those living in Abu Dhabi are foreigners, behaviour in the emirate is nonetheless mandated by the Muslim religion, and its essential expats familiarise themselves with local laws and learn to respect traditional Arab culture. If your new role in the UAE is a managerial one you need to prepare yourself for working with a wide variety of ethnicities – whilst most people we talk to find this a positive and exciting experience, others find it a challenge.UAE FoodLocal food stuffs will be considerably cheaper than western imports. You can eat out at Indian, Arabic, Chinese or African restaurants for little more than the cost of eating in. However, eating in Hotel restaurants or bars will incur a much greater bill. Everyday food items will not be much different from home (15 fresh eggs will cost around £1.50 for example). So it’s really up to you how much you spend on food here. Alcohol is extremely expensive and it is advised that you buy this in duty free areas of the airport. An average bottle of wine will cost you £13.UAE Schooling CostsSchooling costs are extremely high for expats as they will not be allowed to attend public school. You should be prepared to pay around £8,000 a year upwards for a good quality school. School fees is something you should approach your employer about before you sign a contract. Many expats will have school fees paid for by their employer an this makes transition to the UAE a lot easier.UAE Public Holidays (based on 2018 dates)New Year’s Day – 1 JanThe Prophet’s Ascension – 24 AprilRamadan – 27 MayEid Al Fitr – 25-27 JuneArafat (Haj) Day – 31 AugustEid Al Adha / Feast of Sacrifice – 1-3 SeptemberIslamic New Year – 22 SeptemberMartyr’s Day – 30 NovemberThe Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday – 30 NovemberNational Day – 2 DecemberNational Day Holiday – 3 DecemberUAE Healthcare CostsIn Abu Dhabi, employers are legally required to provide expats with health insurance. So luckily, this is one cost assignees won’t need to concern themselves with. That said, some employers use local health insurance, which is not recommended for those at-risk individuals who have significant health issues. If you are older or in poor health, you may need to maintain health insurance in your home country and make sure your employer finances emergency evacuation insurance. Otherwise, local health care is up to standard for minor issues. Healthcare standards are considered to be fairly high in the UAE. Healthcare is free only for UAE citizens.A family of four can expect to pay around £5,000 a year for full medical insurance. A 30 year old female can expect to pay around £700 a year.

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Benefactors of London Festival of Architecture 2019

The world’s biggest annual architecture festival in the world’s capital city for architecture is back and Adrem are proud to be benefactors again this year!The London Festival of Architecture takes place across London this June with a packed programme of events and activities, inviting everyone into the conversation around architecture and our city.Doors open to iconic tours, architectural installations and stunning brick creations; energetic debates to Studio Lates; workshops in extraordinary spaces and tours of new places; exhibitions and bespoke artistic commissions; political discussions and lots of new construction – the London Festival of Architecture has something for everyone.The vast programme of more than 400 exceptional events is delivered by a diverse mix of independent organisations and individuals – helping to radically democratise the debate about architecture and our city. Theme for this year’s festival is ‘boundaries’.Search the whole LFA programme here to find your perfect programme of events.Adrem – London Festival of Architecture Opening Party

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Guide To Living And Working In Hong Kong

Hong Kong Accommodation:Hong Kong has a dense population with a vibrant culture and dynamic night life. Living there as an expat has been made easy with the variety of international opportunities for you and your family. Although, if you feel unfamiliar with the housing and rental marketthen it is recommended to use a real estate agent to help with your search. The average cost to rent in the city centre of Hong Kong is GBP £1,200 per month for a 1 bedroom apartment, £2,700 for a 3 bedroom apartment. If living outside the centre a 1 bedroom apartment would cost £800 per month and £1,600 for a 3 bedroom. Monthly utilities cost roughly £100 an apartment.Hong Kong Transport:The streets of Hong Kong are usually very crowded with a great deal of traffic jams soto own your own car may not be a great option. The cheaper and more convenientway to travel around town would be by public transport. Apart from the usual buses, minibuses, ferries and trams, the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) has 11 train lines that run frequently including 12 trains that operate across the border to mainland China. The regular price of a monthly public transportation pass costs approximately under £40 and if you own your own car then gas will cost about £1.35 per litre.Hong Kong Food:Hong Kong is well known for its cuisine and its bizarre variety of foods. You may find many street markets with exciting range of eateries that sell delicacies the locals enjoy. If you like to eat out at mid-range restaurants it will cost on average £30 for a 3 course meal. Domestic beer ranges from £1.50 – £4.00 a pint. But if you prefer to cook at home and shop from the local markets it is calculated to cost approximately £30 – £60 per month per person.Hong Kong School Costs:There are 3 types of schools in Hong Kong; Private; Government and Subsidized. Government schools are free and fully funded by the Government. They teach Chinese and English but the use of each language is determined by the school. The English School Foundation is subsidized by the Government and provides an English language educationfor those students who don’t speak Chinese.Costs up to £7,000 per year.Private International schools can often be very competitive and quite expensive. Most international schools use English base curriculums but require applications to be submitted a year before.Costs up to £14,500 per yearHong Kong Language, Religion and Government:Chinese (especially Cantonese) and English are official languages of Hong Kong however many other Chinese dialects and other languages are also used. The use of Mandarin has known to increase since Hong Kong has reintegrated with China. There is a wide variety of beliefs in Hong Kong varying from Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism and others. Although temples are normally dedicated to one or two deities there are usually images of other Gods and Goddesses found inside. Small numbers of Christians, Muslims, Hindus and Jews also populate in Hong Kong. The Government is run by the Chief Executive who is the head of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. He or she is appointed by the Central People’s Government through an election by the Election CommitteeHong Kong Culture:Hong Kong celebrates many festivals and holidays of the East and West. A few traditional celebrations include the Dragon Boat Festival, Mid-Autumn Festival, Lunar (Chinese) New Year, Christmas, Western New Year and more.A few of the main public holidays of 2018 include:Western New Years Day – 1st JanuaryLunar New Years Day – 16th FebruaryEaster Weekend – 30th March – 2nd AprilChing Ming Festival – 5th AprilLabour Day – 1st MayThe Birthday of Buddha – 22nd MayTuen Ng Festival – 18th JuneHong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day – 2nd JulyDay After Mid-Autumn Festival – 25th SeptemberNational Day – 1st OctoberChung Yeung Festival – 17th OctoberChristmas Day – 25th DecemberBoxing Day – 26th DecemberHong Kong Health CareHong Kong is known to have one of the best healthcare service facilities in the world. Its medical infrastructure is made up of a combination of 12 private hospitals and 50 public hospitals. For those who prefer to be treated by Western practitioners should expect to pay a higher fee for the service. Private healthcare with a basic cover, including hospital, dental and outpatient costs, range from £1,000 to £6,000 a year.See more jobs and information on living in Hong Kong.

Guide To Living And Working In Singapore

Singapore AccommodationMost ex pats tend to move into Condominiums. They will have facilities like large swimming pools, tennis courts and play areas for children. These are often good places to socialise with other ex pats. The costs of living in a private 3 bedroom condo ranges (depending on area) between £3,000 a month to £7000.The costs for a 1 bedroom apartment, again depending on location, ranges from £900 to £1,200 per month. You can live on the cheaper side by renting a room in a private apartment for between £400 and £900.Singapore TravelRunning your own car in Singapore is by far the most expensive form of travel. The government has imposed heavy taxes on private car ownership in an effort to reduce road congestion and pollution. However, travelling around Singapore on public transport has been made very easy thanks to the MRT (Mass Rapid Transit) and Bus services. If youneed to commute to work and plan to travel around at the weekend you will expect to be paying around £150 a month. A bonus in Singapore is the taxi services – they are extremely efficient and relatively cheap.Singapore FoodLuckily, food is not very expensive in Singapore, to eat in or to eat out. Basic meals at home should come to no more than £100per month. You can eat out at one of the (many) hawker centres and food courts (see right). You can eat at one of these for as little as £2. A meal at a restaurant will cost you about £10 – 20 per person for fairly basic meals. For those who wish to live a more lavish lifestyle, Singapore has a string of fine dine restaurants from Japanese to French cuisine.Singapore Schooling CostsSchooling standards are high in Singapore where you can choose to send your children to state schools or international schools where your children learn an internationally recognised curriculum. State schools will cost you £125 – 175 a month for primary education and £175 – 250 for secondary education. International schools will cost around £6,000 – 15,000 a year.Singapore Population / ReligionSingapore is populated by Chinese, Malays, Indians, Caucasians and Eurasians. 42% of the population are foreigners and its culture reflects that of the variety of different nationalities living there. Most people speak English, other common languages are Mandarin, Malay, Tamil or Singlish (Singapore Colloquial English). The Government of Singapore is democratic and claims its policy is based on meritocracy. Singapore is generally ranked fairly high for political and civic freedoms.Singapore Public Holidays (based on 2018 dates)New Year’s Day – 1st JanuaryChinese New Year – 16th -17th FebruaryGood Friday – 30th MarchLabour Day* – 1st MayHari Raya Puasa – 29th MayNational Day – 9th AugustHari Raya Haji – 22nd AugustDeepavali – 6th NovemberChristmas Day – 25th December*The following Monday will be a public holidaySingapore Health CareYour health is certainly in good hands in Singapore, with its health-care system being ranked 6th in the world by the WHO in 2000. It is not a legal requirement for employers to offer health insurance for their employees but many companies will add this to their employment packages. Most Singaporeans buy their medical insurance through a state insurance scheme called Medisave, this covers most big treatment costs. Themoney that goes into these accounts are tax-free, gain interest and become part of the person’s estate after they pass away. However, most expatriates will invest in private healthcare which will be more costly.TaxesSingapore’s personal income tax rates for resident taxpayers are progressive. Read more on Singapore taxes here.

Adrem Pre-CDW Party

As Spring comes to an end it was that time of year to admire leading UK and international design brands across Clerkenwell Design Week. To get things rolling, Adrem hosted a Pre-CDW Party to welcome some of our friends to our new home in Devonshire Square.Thanks to those who joined us on that evening at our WeWork open house. Check out the party photos below.

Will Alsop Memories of a Unique Character

Will Alsop 12/12/47 – 12/05/18I first met Will in a rather dingy lower ground floor office in Wigmore Street, London W1 in the late 1970’s. I was a fresh faced design graduate who had morphed into an architectural recruitment consultant. Will was an ambitious young architect seeking “fill in” temporary work while establishing his own practice after graduation. I recall at the time he didn’t quite know what he wanted ‘Will Alsop – Architect’ to be, but he did say that ‘whatever it becomes it must be memorable’ and indeed memorable it was. Even as a young designer with no real projects under his belt, there was something about him. I was enthralled by his personality, optimism and huge ambition, all this coupled with an amazing portfolio, the likes of which I had not seen before (and very rarely seen since!). Will asked me to create a lifeline to give him some breathing space, a bit of drawing board work so that he could practice on his own competitions in the evenings & weekends. Sheepishly I sent him to meet a client for a contract job that was available. The client subsequently scalded me for sending someone who was a ‘million times better” than what was needed for the position available. Will would often refer to this occasion whenever we would subsequently meet. Fast forward to the 1990’s when Will called me out of the blue from his practice Alsop & Stormer and said ‘Malcolm, we have won a competition in Marseilles, can you help me build a team?”. This was the Hotel Du Department, arguably amongst the best buildings of his legacy. A few years on, Will’s practice faced difficult times and we spoke about an opportunity that had become available to merge with RMJM. This became the brand “Will Alsop at RMJM which Will himself jokingly likened to “Gordon Ramsey at Claridge’s”. I last spoke to Will in January this year to organise a get-together over a bottle of Premier Grand Cru Bordeaux. Unfortunately we just didn’t quite get to confirm a date to meet, moving it forward from month to month. In hindsight, like so many things, I now regret not having set a date in stone while time was available. Often called the “Enfant Terrible” of the architectural world, he will remain in my mind as a larger than life character, who challenged the norm of design and bent the rules of conformity. We shall never see the likes of him again!

Salone del Mobile 2018

It is huge. Gigantic. Stupendous. Each time I go, I wish I gave myself more time and comfier shoes, although I don’t know how much more sensible you can get than a pair from Clarks. There was a plethora things to see and do, from small independent accessory manufacturers where you can buy product on the spot (wishfully thinking you will manage to cram it into your carry on), right through to large furniture manufacturers selling concepts and ideas. 2018 felt busier than ever, the exhibition was heaving with people from dawn till dusk and out on the streets in the design districts were equally if not more busy, most likely due to the extremely favourable weather. According to the talk on the town, around half a million people will have visited Salone del Mobile this year. For an event that started out to promote Italian furniture and furnishings for export, it is quite the success story.Adrem – Salone del MobileLook and FeelGenerally, the show was laid out like a series of large showrooms and the majority of stands were bang on trend, as expected. Lots of brass, lush textiles, mirror finishes, terracotta pinks and muted greens with the occasional pop of purple, so it seems Pantone will have it’s way and the interiors world is due to swallow Willy Wonkers 3 course dinner gum.SCABThe Italian manufacturer Scab showed a very product focused stand which was effective, their Lisa chair and stool designed by Marcello Ziliani hit the spot.Adrem – Salone del Mobile – ScabDIESELIt’s a marmite brand, but that is what I find appealing about them. Diesel aren’t a slave to trend forecasts, there wasn’t a drop of green to be seen. Their designs are bold, unforgiving and say “love it or leave it”. Confidence is an attractive trait.SP01Australian design, made in Italy, SP01 showed a very sophisticated range of soft furniture, mirrors and some gorgeous coffee tables that had mezzanine levels for those of us who find normal coffee table height just that little bit too low.Adrem – Salone del MobileMIDJI loved the balanced design of the Appelle and Guapa chairs by MIDJ, beautiful combinations of line and organic curves.Adrem – Salone del Mobile – MIDJKriptoniteThis manufacturer of high-quality shelving and accessories was like a beacon of light, almost a relief to see such purity amid a sea of muted finishes and soft lighting.Adrem – Salone del Mobile -KriptoniteContainerwerk x friendsWe are all consumers. Some try harder than others to curb the desire but to me, honestly it seems like a losing battle. This is why, giving value to something that was otherwise seen as useless is absolutely key to a more sustainable world for us all. When I found this installation by Containerwerk and friends I was filled with awe and hope. Containwerk take used shipping containers and use them to build spaces…that people would LOVE to be in. Walking around the interior and exterior spaces of this living space was such an experience, despite the other 40 or so people that were in it with me. Sure, it helps that the space was fitted out with the help of companies like Kvadrat, Axor, Geberit, Cassina and Bosch but it was architecturally planned and put together so well, an Ikea sofa and Sainsbury’s cushions would still look first class in there.Adrem – Salone del MobileAll in all, I would highly recommend a trip to anybody who has an affinity towards design, adventure or gelato – just book your flights and accommodation for 2019 now to save yourself some left over cash for a pair of Italian shoes that don’t give you blisters.Adrem – Salone del Mobile – ScabAdrem – Salone del MobileAdrem – Salone del MobileAdrem – Salone del MobileAdrem – Salone del Mobile

Val’s View: Job Hunting as an Architect from Abroad

Hi Val, I am not from the UK and was looking for job vacancies in London. What do I need to do in order to work as an Architect? What is your advice for job hunting as a foreign applicant in the UK?The most common observation we come across with foreign applicants is that they certify themselves as Architects on their CV. In short to call yourself a Architect in the UK you must become registered with the ARB but depends on what country you come from as to what route you take through the ARB.If you are not registered as an Architect with the ARB the best thing to do would be to look for jobs as Part 2 Assistants or Architectural Assistants, or depending on your level of experience as Senior Architectural Assistants. Once you begin working at a UK architectural practice and are able to demonstrate your skills and abilities with a few years of UK work experience, you can then qualify to become an Architect by taking the Part 3 Exam. Alternatively, you can also apply for Architectural Technologist roles that don’t require Part 3 qualifications but being proficient in Autocad/Revit will help you find work as will good constructional knowledge.It is also more likely the the larger architectural practices will be able to sponsor the Tier 2 Visa that is required to work within the UK as a foreign applicant. So find out which practices are winning competitions or getting new commissions and contact those offices pro-actively. Make sure your cover letter, CV and portfolio are up to date and tailored specifically for the offices you’re applying to and refer to your strengths and interests in relation to the office you’re applying to. Just wanting to practice as an Architect isn’t enough, you will need to convince these firms that you should be practicing architecture at their studio and that they’d be missing out if you’d work for their competitors.Got something on your mind at work? We believe that a problem shared is a problem halved, so no matter what your dilemma is, Val is here to help.Send your questions to val@adremgroup.com and watch out for more of Val’s Views.

Val’s Views: Job Hunting as an Architect from Abroad

Hi Val, I am not from the UK and was looking for job vacancies in London. What do I need to do in order to work as an Architect? What is your advice for job hunting as a foreign applicant in the UK?The most common observation we come across with foreign applicants is that they certify themselves as Architects on their CV. In short to call yourself a Architect in the UK you must become registered with the ARB but depends on what country you come from as to what route you take through the ARB.If you are not registered as an Architect with the ARB the best thing to do would be to look for jobs as Part 2 Assistants or Architectural Assistants, or depending on your level of experience as Senior Architectural Assistants. Once you begin working at a UK architectural practice and are able to demonstrate your skills and abilities with a few years of UK work experience, you can then qualify to become an Architect by taking the Part 3 Exam. Alternatively, you can also apply for Architectural Technologist roles that don’t require Part 3 qualifications but being proficient in Autocad/Revit will help you find work as will good constructional knowledge.It is also more likely the the larger architectural practices will be able to sponsor the Tier 2 Visa that is required to work within the UK as a foreign applicant. So find out which practices are winning competitions or getting new commissions and contact those offices pro-actively. Make sure your cover letter, CV and portfolio are up to date and tailored specifically for the offices you’re applying to and refer to your strengths and interests in relation to the office you’re applying to. Just wanting to practice as an Architect isn’t enough, you will need to convince these firms that you should be practicing architecture at their studio and that they’d be missing out if you’d work for their competitors.Got something on your mind at work? We believe that a problem shared is a problem halved, so no matter what your dilemma is, Val is here to help.Send your questions to val@adremgroup.com and watch out for more of Val’s Views.

Strength in Diversity Ethnicity Series

Compile a list of the most influential ethnic minority Architects at the top of their game in the UK and making a difference and you might find a very ‘short’ list as opposed to a ‘shortlist’. With the exception of Sir David Adjaye, who has built a design studio that appeals to purists as well as the avant garde, concerned with core principles of space, light, materiality and constantly with a compelling narrative, whilst pushing the envelope in terms of conceptual rigour and technology. He is admired by his contemporaries and his work continues to pick up accolades around the world with his profile growing globally not just as an Architect but as a cultural icon, such is the extent of his ascension. But ask Adjaye what makes his architecture and he will say creating narratives with different influences with motives and agendas (WAF 2018 lecture). He often refers to his observations in Africa and how this has helped him reframe his understanding of culture and therein lies some of the value in a differing interpretations of narratives.Aside from his exceptional talent and highly marketable charisma, what makes him standout is that he is of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) background! It is a shame to draw your attention to this, but can you name another in the UK? Of recent years there has obviously been the late Dame Zaha Hadid who arguably single-handedly created a new paradigm and changed the course of Architecture forever, but beyond that it becomes difficult. We have respected name stay and established design studios in Patel Taylor and Penoyre & Prasad, but shouldn’t there be more notable figures that give rise to the talent from the rest rest of the world, when London prides itself as being the most cosmopolitan city in the world?Zaha-HadidAdmittedly the profession has come a long way since being unchecked for generations, reserved as an exclusive profession for white, upper middle class men, and with more accessible education and awareness of the systemic problems in society these boundaries have been considerably loosened, but there continues to be an alarming disparity.Diversity in any scenario is an obvious way to evolve and improve, to limit the source of ideas is to stagnate and eventually become irrelevant particularly in a global market. Diversity is strength and the creative community thrives on it. That’s why given our current times and with the impending and yet perpetual BREXIT looming on the horizon, diversity seems more relevant than ever. Not only in terms of gender but in terms of ethnicity, which is the next systemic problem that requires our focus.Indeed even if we were not talking about leaving the European Union there is an alarming lack of ethnic diversity in the architectural profession, particularly at senior level. An AJ survey taken on 2016 revealed that the profession was occupied by Architects who were a startling 89% caucasian. And a more recent piece of research undertaken again by the AJ revealed that seven out of ten Architects from ethnic backgrounds felt huge obstacles in their career progression with 80% feeling that there was some form of racism in the workplace which was supported by 66% of white employees who agreed.Clearly this is indicative of a far broader systemic issue within society, but the Architectural profession is we like to think an enlightened profession, in a position to be accountable and take responsibility to lead the way. We can learn from the Women in Architecture movement and ultimately broaden our capacity for innovation and creativity and respond to a rich variety of culture that has always made the UK such a vibrant nation.Then of course we have BREXIT which will potentially make it more difficult to retain overseas talent making the prospect of remaining in the UK less appealing in the longer term. We in the UK boast some of the most revered educational institutions in the world which attracts the very best student from across the globe including many form diverse ethnic backgrounds. Should we not encourage the best talented to remain and give them an equal shot at progressing their careers and in turn our economies and competitive advantage? And furthermore, are we not missing a trick? Having a more diverse leadership gives a far broader reach with international connectivity potentially expanding business opportunities in a time when it would be of real benefit.In a new series of blogs we at Adrem are seeking to utilise our position within the market to raise awareness of this critical issue and to offer up possible solutions looking to the future. We will be interviewing Architects from ethnic backgrounds who have reached the upper echelons of the profession to give case studies on how they were able to succeed and what obstacles, if any, they came up against in their careers.So this watch space!

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Val’s View: Workplace Relationships + Career Change

Hi Val, I have recently started seeing my boss outside of work but am paranoid about what people in the office might say if it comes out. What are my options, should I leave the job? Sensitive subject, so I’ll get right into it! First things first, I would look into your office handbook or contract. I am prepared to bet there is a clause in there about inter-company relationships. Some outwardly forbid it, or it can be highly frowned upon. Ask yourself, is it worth it? If it is, I recommend being discreet and being prepared for the consequences. You might be required to sign a contract with Human Resources or inform your line manager.Most importantly don’t let your romantic relationship effect the quality of your work. Specifically as you mentioned you are seeing your boss, other colleagues might see this as opportunities and praise they give you as favouritism – and I am sure you are aware how quickly office gossip spreads.My advice? Save the romance for outside of the office and discuss from the beginning how you would handle a potential breakup professionally. If it becomes serious, one of the members should consider a new position outside the company. Hey- they could be The One, I wish you the best of luck!Adrem – Career PathHello Val, I’m a recently qualified Architect and now I’ve achieved my aim of qualifying I just don’t know that I enjoy it that much. My friends think I’m mad as it took ages to become one. Do you come across this much and if so what are my options of other careers as it’s not a general degree ? We get this question a lot! The nagging feeling that you are not suited for what you just spent years studying doesn’t often go away—it just continues to grow with time. You can’t ignore it. But there are a great many options that you can consider that are still within the design industry which would utilise your particular skills and experience.Firstly figure out what matters most to you, what you enjoy and what you are good at. For example you could transition into a fields such urban design, interior or product design or become a project manager within the built environment. Changing your career is a big decision, and it’s okay to feel nervous or intimidated. After all, it’s a big change. But at a certain point, you need to stay true to how you want to spend your day.Got something on your mind at work? We believe that a problem shared is a problem halved, so no matter what your dilemma is, Val is here to help.Send your questions to val@adremgroup.com and watch out for more of Val’s Views.

MIPIM: A Skirt in a Sea of Suits

So, I know what you’re thinking, here we go, a woman talking about the gender imbalance and ‘boys club’ culture that comes with the sea of suits that make up MIPIM. Don’t worry, this will be no such rant, in all honesty I was just smug at not having to queue for the restrooms for once!Jokes aside, MIPIM was an exciting haze of conversation, sun, rosé and business – the perfect cocktail for stimulating the many overworked minds of the architecture and property industry.From the moment I stepped off the aircraft, my first observation was the long line of men that were queuing in immigration. Suit, suit, suit, suit, suit, suit, skirt, suit, suit, suit… and so on. But again, not a rant about that, however it was a good illustration of what was to come.Adrem – MIPIM 2019As a MIPIM novice (and youngest of the group) I had only my colleagues’ experiences to go on. It was an interesting juxtaposition being thrown into an environment where I was conversing with directors and visionaries of leading companies that as an architectural student I had studied and revered. The festival itself was much like a base for us to convene and arrange meetings with those we irregularly see, it was the private events and chance meetings in the many watering holes that surrounded the centre that was where the magic happened. As the team had done last year and many years before, we returned to the quintessential Price and Myers party, where you would find many of the seasoned MIPIM veterans. Ending the day watching sunset at HTA’s beach party was definitely something to remember.Adrem – MIPIM 2019As a female, MIPIM 2019 exceeded my expectations as it was not exclusively the ‘old boys club’ that it was perceived. Perhaps it’s the heightened awareness but it seemed that the next generation of delegates, myself included, were representing their respective practices. And many more firms were making the effort to send women out. Notably, Grimshaw sent a full team of women out to Cannes including principal architects Angela Dapper, Annelie Kvick Thompson, managing partner Kirsten Lees and business-development manager Katie Murphy. Though hesitant prior to my arrival that both my age and gender might work against me, I found quite the opposite. If anything, it helped welcome me into the circles of suits. In reverse, it seemed men were trying to get into events such as the Women in Property cocktails at New York New York, which was a brilliant platform to promote women in construction. Soaking up as much as I could in the festival itself, I noticed the way technology has advanced from what I had been taught in architectural education. For one, Vu.city demonstrated their ability to create the largest and most accurate truly interactive digital city model of London. Using a simple “insert address here” I was able to see how the skyline would evolve from my window over the next 10 years. Other things that stood out at the festival this year include the Belfast stand which had a much bigger presence than before and even had their own app. One other memorable stand was the Canary Wharf Group that had 4-5 beautiful models of upcoming developments, including one which was designed by Herzog de Meuron. The sun was kind to us for the entire trip, taking in all the vitamin D the delegates spilled out into the streets of every corner. After 3 full-on days of socialising, parties and information overload I was almost glad it was coming to an end. We were all set to fly out on Thursday and it was unfortunate we couldn’t make the Tom Bloxham party this year (perhaps 2020!?) All in all, it was an amazing first experience at MIPIM and I would recommend any woman to attend.Adrem – MIPIM 2019

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Val’s View: Robots Taking Over + Work-Life Balance

“Dear Val, I came across this piece on social media and thought I’d put it to the test. How do you think robots will affect or worse still take over our jobs as architects?” As much as I love a good post-apocalyptic movie, we aren’t living in one just yet. I appreciate it can be daunting, hearing about redundancies due to automation but no need to panic. There are more jobs created by automation than are being destroyed. Though it would be naïve to say robots will never replace architects, it is more likely that your role or certain tasks will change rather than disappear entirely.An Architect wears many hats: planner, designer, builder… yet human interaction is still vital to the industry. It’s not all a bad thing, BIM as an example, is saturated in the architecture industry and have a huge influence on day to day operations in practice. It is up to us (humans not robots-sorry Jarvis) to continue to train and educate ourselves, using the new tools provided to improve.“Val, we have a culture in our office of working at least until 7.30pm. By the time I get home it’s at least an hour. I don’t feel that I have a life outside work and really miss things like the gym. I like my job and the projects are good, but I have zero work life balance. What can I do?”I feel your pain – from time to time we all struggle with our work/life balance. With the amount of time we all now devote to our professional lives, we can tip the scales towards more work and less play.This can be fine for short periods but long term it can be problematic and can affect both your physical and mental wellbeing. It is worth having a productive conversation with your boss about this and try to find the balance that works for both parties. Ask yourself, what does balance look like for you? This is never the same for everyone. What is your suggestion for a favourable outcome from both sides? A solution to the problem will show your boss you are committed to the company.Be prepared for compromise, you probably won’t get everything you hope for, but this could be the first step in the right direction and a better balance. If you are unfortunately unable to come to a mutually beneficial outcome, it may be time to look for a new opportunity.Got something on your mind at work? We believe that a problem shared is a problem halved, so no matter what your dilemma is, Val is here to help.Send your questions to val@adremgroup.com and watch out for more of Val’s Views.

MIPIM 2019

Taking place between 12-15 March 2019 at Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, 2019 celebrates the 30th edition of MIPIM.MIPIM, the world’s leading property market, brings together the most influential players from all international property sectors: office, residential, retail, healthcare, sport, logistics and industrial. Offering unrivalled access to the greatest number of development projects and sources of capital worldwide, MIPIM gathers all players from the commercial property value chain for a year’s worth of business in four intensive days.As MIPIM 2019 celebrates its 30th edition, the main theme for our Conference Programme is Engaging the Future – a unique opportunity to envision the next 30 years under the lens of ‘durability’: an enabler for economic growth, sustainable performance and community cohesion.At MIPIM 2019, panelists will seek to answer key questions such as:What are the best strategies for long-term benefits?What are the best strategies to ensure optimal quality of life?What practices are the most environmentally responsible and how can we utilise existing resources optimally?For this special edition, MIPIM more than ever focuses on global and societal topics impacting the real estate industry. The conference programme offers food for thought, strategic insights and solution-oriented tools, with leaders from around the world, and influential doers and makers from across the real estate industry.Speakers include the most influential real estate doers and makers of the industry – as well as external thinkers and new entrepreneurs.The conference programme is available online.

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Winners Announced: 2019 Women in Architecture Awards

Sheila O’Donnell, co-founder of O’Donnell + Tuomey, has been named Architect of the Year at the 2019 Women in Architecture (WIA) awards, while Liz Diller of Diller Scofidio + Renfro received the 2019 Jane Drew Prize and 43-year-old Xu Tiantian from China has won the Moira Gemmill Prize for Emerging Architecture.The annual awards by the AJ and The Architectural Review were presented at the annual luncheon on 1st March at The Savoy in London. Architect of the Year AwardSheila O’Donnell competed against three other finalists to win the top prize for her practice’s revamp of the Central European University in Budapest, which was also a contender for the RIBA International Prize 2018.Accepting the award, O’Donnell said: ‘It’s a great honour. We still need the WIA prize. It’s about celebration.The Women in Architecture Awards jury, which included Pritzker Prize chief Martha Thorne and academic and novelist Lesley Lokko said: ‘O’Donnell’s passion for the buildings of the Central European University was rewarded with an exceptionally high-quality building which she evidently fought hard for.‘She is a role model for young women in architecture. Sheila O’Donnell did not have to break the glass ceiling – her and John Tuomey created a new reality.’Also in the running were OMA partner Ellen van Loon for the Qatar National Library in Doha, Eva Prats of Flores & Prats for Casal Balaguer Cultural Centre in Palma de Mallorca, and Carme Pigem of 2017 Pritzker Prize-winning practice RCR Arquitectes for De Krook Library in Ghent. Women in Architecture – Jane Drew Prize – Diller Scofidio and Renfro Centre for MusicWomen in Architecture – Jane Drew Prize – Diller Scofidio and Renfro Concert HallJane Drew PrizeThe founder of New York based architecture firm, Diller Scofidio + Renfro, Liz Diller, was announced the winner of the 2019 Jane Drew Prize. She is the eighth winner of the annual award, which recognises architectural designers who, through their work and commitment to design excellence, has raised the profile of women in architecture.Diller work ranges from the High Line in New York, to The Broad art museum in Los Angeles, to the largest UK project to date: the £288 million Centre for Music at the London Barbican. She is currently working on the expandable cultural venue The Shed, which is scheduled to open in Spring 2019, which is located next to the practice’s famous High Line walkway.Diller commented on the London Centre for Music design: ‘I love the Barbican. In many ways, it is what it is and that’s what so strong about it. At the same time, we’re in a moment when society had changed. Having connectivity between urban space and cultural space is really, really important.’Diller’s cross-genre work landed her a spot on Time magazine’s list of 100 most influential people of 2018, being the only architect to be featured.Women in Architecture – Emerging Architect – DnA’s Dushan leisure centreMoira Gemmill Prize for Emerging ArchitectureThe Moira Gemmill Prize for Emerging Architecture, which recognises excellence in design and a bright future for women designers under the age of 45, went to Xu Tiantian, founder of Beijing-based practice DnA.Xu’s work focuses on the idea of ‘architectural acupuncture’ in the rural Chinese county of Songyang. Projects include a bridge connecting the villages of two villages of Shimen and Shimenyu, a brown-sugar factory, the Hakka Indenture Museum, a tofu factory and the Wang Jing Memorial Hall.The judges said: ‘There is an effortlessness, maturity and deftness about Xu’s work, which is equally translatable and relevant in rural China as North Yorkshire.‘Her projects are all deeply contextual and executed with bravery and conviction. She is attempting to work in a sustainable way with an entrepreneurial spirit, and has clearly had a very positive impact on her client.’

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Women in Architecture Awards

Friday 1 March 2019 – The Savoy, Strand, London, WC2R 0EZThe annual Women in Architecture awards, which have been running since 2012, celebrate the best design by women architects from around the world, and promote role models for young women in practice. This year we are delighted to announce that the awards will be held in the prestigious Savoy Hotel on the Strand in London.In partnership with our sister title The Architectural Review, the AJ seeks to change the profession for the better through the Women in Architecture initiative. Former AJ editor Christine Murray founded Women in Architecture, with a provocative first cover of Architect Barbie restyled in black leather instead of denim and pink, as a tongue-in-cheek explosion of a stereotype.The Women in Architecture Awards, a crucial touchstone of the campaign, seek to inspire change in the profession by celebrating great design by practising architects from around the world. The awards are cherished by our winners, our judges and our luncheon guests, who find the celebration a very special occasion, quite different from traditional awards events. During the luncheon the winners of the Architect of the Year and the Moira Gemmill Prize for Emerging Architecture will be revealed, the shortlists for which will be announced soon. There will also be presentations by the yet-to-be-announced winners of the Jane Drew Prize and the Ada Louise Huxtable Prize.Last year the Ada Louise Huxtable Prize, which recognises the contribution of individuals working in the wider architectural industry, was won by artist Madelon Vriesendorp. Amanda Levete was awarded the Jane Drew Prize, which recognises the work of an architectural designer and in previous years has been won by architects including Denise Scott Brown, Zaha Hadid and Eva Jiřičná.As well as hearing from our Jane Drew and Ada Louise Huxtable prize winners, attendees will have the opportunity to meet colleagues from across the industry and share best practice. Click here to book your seats or tables.

Meet Us At MIPIM 2019

This year, Adrem’s Managing Director, Del Hossain, will be attending MIPIM from 12-14 March with our Architecture & Interior Design Contract Consultant, Niharika Samuel, and our Executive Appointments Principal Consultant, David Horgan. Get in touch for networking and learning opportunities. DEL HOSSAIN – Managing DirectorOriginally qualified as an Architect, Del practiced at Foster & Partners and Orms amongst others. Del has won awards such as London’s Business Mentor of the Year and advises the RIBA on developing the skill sets and careers of Architects.Contact Del NIHARIKA SAMUEL – Contracts Consultant: Architecture & Interior DesignNiharika is our interiors and architecture social butterfly. With a background in architecture, Niharika understands the design world and uses her skills to match top talent with their next role.Contact Niharika DAVID HORGAN – Principal ConsultantDavid, a qualified architect who has practiced at leading architectural practices such as DLA and KSS. David’s connections in the world of construction enable him to assimilate the best talent and strategies for architects and developers in the UK and Europe.Contact David Not going MIPIM?

Breaking Boundaries and Transforming a Society

“Boundaries” is London Festival of Architecture’s theme for 2019. After a trip to Colombia, Del noticed some similarities between the boroughs of East London and the barios in Central America. Here he shares how both places break boundaries to transform society. What do the East End of London and Medellin in Colombia have in common? Beyond the commonality of notorious gangland families immortalised onto film, they have also both existed as impoverished environments. Today, both places have had a miraculous metamorphosis and crossed significant boundaries because of technology and creativity. The once dilapidated terraces of Shoreditch are now a nursery for creativity and state of the art technology-based entrepreneurialism, which has become a threshold of change. Imagine a similar grit and position it into Central America and you have the vibrancy of the barrios with their reconquered spaces in Comuna 13 in Medellin.Communa 13: the transformation of a bario through colourMedellin has 16 favelas, the most notorious of which was Comuna 13. Cradling the side of a valley of a huge hill, boundaries were crossed with catastrophic repercussions and in 1993, Comuna 13 was called the most dangerous place in the world. Violence and car bombs were commonplace but the city’s urbanist leader, Echeverri, created a programme to address these territories. By looking at the urban environment through the planning of a social infrastructure such as schools, play spaces and communal areas, murder rates were significantly decreased by 95%. This in itself is an incredible story of how an unapproachable area with a no-go boundary became approachable but add to that the power of art and the human story emerges.The youth of the community started to depict the narratives and recent history onto the walls through mesmerising graffiti. The amazing street art attracted so much mainstream attention that competitions took place for the best pieces, with artists practicing in sheds used as make-shift artists’ studios.A reference to mothers waving white flags, surrendering to soldiers to stop them from shootingIn the recent years, the internet had brought Spanish Hip-Hop into the favelas as another creative medium. As a result, young internet sensations are able to make a better income through digital streaming. Other creative but more traditional business pursuits such as cooking, and hair dressing salons have also sprung up, alongside collector’s edition street wear such as t-shirts and hoodies.Spanish Hip-HopFurther assisted by government funds, the community now have access to escalators built alongside the hill, saving tremendous time and effort of climbing over 300 steps. With better connectivity to outside communities, local businesses are able to utilise this to develop and thrive.An escalator traversing up the hill introducing a raft of people and interests to the barriosThis is a positive example of boundaries being changed and the transformation of an embattled neighbourhood through improved urban planning, art and a community led culture.

Adrem Have Relocated to Devonshire Square!

We’ve Moved!Adrem is delighted to announce the relocation of our London headquarters to a new and exciting space at 8 Devonshire Square, Liverpool Street from 2nd January 2019. Located in the heart of the City of London, our new office is positioned near Liverpool Street Station and is a short walk from Bank, Moorgate, and Aldgate stations.We have been at Dufferin Street for some 15 years and have had the privilege of seeing the changes in workplace and technology both through our clients eyes and our own, as a result we are transforming our own operation. These changes will enhance the day-to-day experience of work for our team and lead to us being more accessible to our clients. Our new space embeds us into a dynamic community and provides a great space for us to welcome our friends and visitors.This London relocation signifies a new chapter in Adrem’s evolution and journey as an established fixture in the architecture and design industry as we merge our values into a new digital way of working mixed with the value of human contact and experience. Moving into the new space also allows for us to expand our team and we are currently recruiting future consultants, so if you’re an ambitious, self-driven and motivated graduate or sales person, with a keen interest in the design industry and looking to begin a rewarding career in changing lives through recruitment, then we’d love to hear from you.Please get in contact with our Internal Recruitment team or apply online on adremgroup.com/join-team/We look forward to seeing you!

Adrem Winter Social

We’d like to thank those who came to the Adrem Winter Social last week, it was a delight to see all the happy faces in this festive party period.As we’ve mentioned last week, we’re excited about the next phase for our company in 2019 at Devonshire Square, where we will merge our values into a new digital way of working mixed with the value of human contact and experience. We hope to catch you all in the new year at our new home. Thanks again to those who came and made it a wonderful winter celebration at Dufferin Street for the last time 🙂See you again soon!

Val’s Views: Q4 Market Update 2018

Introducing Val’s ViewsAs part of Adrem’s new feature we are introducing our office oracle “Val’s Views” to answer all your questions. Everything from what’s the fastest way to build your office confidence through to the state of the industry or what is worth seeing in London. No question is too small or large, just ask Val!Val’s Views: Q4 Market Update 2018As we count down on our advent calendar to the end of what was perhaps the fastest year we can remember, here is a summary of Val’s Views on one of our frequently asked questions about our insight on the market and what’s in the pipeline for 2019…It is quite easy to watch the news and listen to the latest ‘chess playing’ on Brexit but in reality, no one including politicians really know what that means. What we do know is that as a nation, the UK has been working hard to not just stay active and relevant but domineer on a global scale – and that is certainly clear in the creative design, architecture and digital world. We have seen more UK firms working abroad on jobs in the EU, UAE and Asia than we have ever before. There are also a number of projects breaking into Africa and the US, which shows a worldwide appetite for UK design sensitivities, thought to be sophisticated and exportable. This ranges from banking in Berlin, to healthcare in Haiti, through to retail in Russia.Furthermore, with the value of the pound currently quite low, there has been a stimulating interest in the UK by overseas investors, albeit with funds being released slightly slower. These foreign investors see the UK as the most diverse country in the world, with London considered to be the most cosmopolitan city. There has been also a rumble of commercial and hospitality jobs, as offices are also seeing investors continuing to invest. The GDP growth rate during Q3 of 2018 was 0.6% GDP per capita, which was on a par with South Korea and ahead of Canada from the G20. With that being the case at a time of relatively high nerves due to Brexit, the feeling from our clients thus far is that we can expect the country to settle into a calmer mentality once the Brexit deal is actually implemented.On a more micro level we have seen the number of jobs and clients’ need for design talent persist, as the local market remains fluid. Clients are wanting commercially astute senior candidates who can demonstrate design and coordination discipline, as well as have a commercial acumen for handling client relationships. This is primarily the case in the architecture and design industry. More clients are also expressing shortages of skilled Revit candidates on the shop floor, so there is a great need for talented Part II Architects, who seem to be increasingly taking extended years between college and university, as well as there being a flurry of people taking sabbaticals.All in all, the market in London is mature and we don’t feel there is any reason why businesses shouldn’t be striving towards exuding an underlying confidence. After all, isn’t that the purpose of design?All that remains to be said is have a wonderful Christmas break and glorious New Year. See you in 2019!

Adrem's Darkspace Halloween 2018

On 30th October 2018, Adrem hosted a DarkSpace Halloween Party for their architectural and interior design contractors. A spooktacular evening with a Harry Potter theme, upon arrival our candidates were sorted into the 4 houses for a Halloween Sketch Test. The sketching competition between the houses resulted in some very imaginative haunted house designs and a couple of eerie monsters.Fellow Slytherins sizing up their competitionGryffindors in the houseOne of the attendees thoroughly enjoyed the event, saying ‘Last night was really great. Myself and my friend both came away saying how much we enjoyed ourselves – both of said we had engaging conversations with inspiring people. Your team made great efforts to make the evening fun so I just wanted to pass on my thanks – certainly, in future, I don’t think I will be filled with dread when someone mentions going to a networking event!’Adrem’s Interior Design Team – Deborah D’Silva and Niharika SamuelHalloween Sketch TestWith only 2 minutes to sketch a haunted house, we chose one finalist from each house to compete for the winning prize! The final round was a battle for the most creative monster.Winning design in processWinner of the Darkspace Sketching Competition 2018Runner Up of the Darkspace Sketching Competition 2018Darkspace Photo BoothHere are some of the spooky photographs from the Adrem Darkspace Halloween Photo Booth:Adrem’s Architecture Consultants – Malaika Sellen-Ferere and David HorganOur Architecture Contracts Consultant – Monica Michalska

RIBA Stirling Prize 2018: Bloomberg by Fosters + Partners

The European headquarters of Bloomberg, designed by Foster + Partners won this year’s Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Stirling Prize. The prestigious award is given to the building judged to have made the greatest contribution to British architecture each year.The building was judged on their design vision, innovation and originality, capacity to stimulate, engage and delight occupants and visitors, accessibility and sustainability, how fit the building is for its purpose and the level of client satisfaction. The design was described as having a “restrained exterior and dynamic interior to encourage collaboration” and has pushed the boundaries of research and innovation in architecture.At 1.1 million square feet, the European Bloomberg HQ occupies a whole block in the City and currently provides a workplace for 4,000 staff. It comprises of two buildings that sit amongst three new public spaces and are connected by a bridge. The public arcade reinstates an ancient Roman road, which originally ran through the site. The complex scheme provides access to the Bank Underground station, cafes and restaurants, as well as a museum displaying the Roman Temple of Mithras, which was discovered on the site 60 years ago. It is the largest stone building in the City of London since St. Paul’s Cathedral and has been credited as the most sustainable office building in the world.European Headquarters for Bloomberg, winner of the RIBA Stirling Prize 2018.RIBA President, Ben Derbyshire, commented: “After vigorous debate, the jury reached a unanimous decision – Bloomberg’s new European HQ is a monumental achievement. The creativity and tenacity of Foster + Partners and the patronage of Bloomberg have not just raised the bar for office design and city planning, but smashed the ceiling.”Watch the full video on the Bloomberg HQ:This year’s shortlist of six also included a Jewish cemetery constructed using rammed earth walls (Bushey Cemetery); a small budget yet high-quality student housing for Roehampton University (Chadwick Hall); a reconfiguration and extension of the Post-Modern Tate St Ives (New Tate St Ives); a contemporary community centre for the new residents of North West Cambridge (Storey’s Field Centre and Eddington Nursery); and a theatre for Worcester College Oxford (Sultan Nazrin Shah Centre).RIBA also announced the 2018 Stephen Lawrence Prize, which was awarded to Old Shed New House. Designed by Tonkin Liu, the building was a radical transformation of a farm shed into a sustainable new home. The Stephen Lawrence Prize encourages new and experimental architectural talent, rewarding projects with a construction budget of less than £1 million.2018 Stephen Lawrence Prize: Old Shed New House by Tonkin Liu

Winners Announced: BCO Awards 2018

The British Council for Offices’ (BCO) is the UK’s leading member organisation representing the interests of all those who occupy, design, build, own or manage offices in the UK. It aims to provide thought leadership and best practice in all issues related to the creation and use of office space. On the 3rd of October 2018, Our Managing Director Del Hossain attended the BCO Awards Dinner at the luxurious Grosvenor House.Here are the winners of the 2018 BCO Awards:President’s AwardWinner – Ann MinogueThe BCO National President’s Award: Ann MinogueBest of the Best and Corporate WorkplaceWinner – Bloomberg, 3 Queen Victoria Street, LondonWinner of the National Corporate Workplace and Best of the Best Awards: Bloomberg, 3 Queen Victoria Street, LondonBloomberg, located in the heart of the City of London, consolidates the company’s workforce of 4,000 into a new European headquarters for the first time. The BCO judging panel described it as one of the most significant office developments in recent times, and an ‘exceptional’ workplace for its occupants. They agreed that Bloomberg is an exemplar of sustainability and wellbeing: having achieved the highest BREEAM score of any building to date. The judges also were impressed by the building’s striking central spiral ramp, designed to promote collaboration and communication among its staff.Commercial WorkplaceWinner – Number One Kirkstall Forge, LeedsHighly Commended – White Collar Factory, 1 Old Street Yard, LondonWinner of National Commercial Workplace Award: Number One Kirkstall Forge, LeedsNumber One Kirkstall Forge is the first commercial building within Kirkstall Forge, the regeneration of one of the UK’s oldest continually industrialised sites, which will ultimately be transformed into a mixed-used community with a potential for up to 1,000 homes and a total of 300,000 sq.ft. of office space and supporting amenities. The judges praised Number One Kirkstall Forge for delivering a truly unique workplace environment, which subtly reinterprets the site’s wooded riverside setting whilst setting a high standard of contemporary workplace design.Fit Out of WorkplaceWinner – Registers of Scotland – SVP Platform, GlasgowWinner of the National Fit-Out of Workplace Award: Registers of Scotland – SVP Platform, GlasgowRegisters of Scotland – SVP Platform was designed and delivered as a new smart working environment to support the organisation’s digital transformation programme, relocating staff from their previous Glasgow and Edinburgh offices. The BCO Awards judging panel described the project as a great example of the public sector leading the way in the delivery of excellence in offices. They praised those involved in the project for their seamless and enthusiastic collaboration, which has ultimately lead to the delivery of an excellent working environment for the Registers of Scotland workforce.Refurbished / Recycled WorkplaceWinner – Here East, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, LondonWinner of the Recycled / Refurbished Workplace Award: Here East, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, LondonHere East now provides London with a new tech campus comprising 1.2M sq.ft. of office space for a wide range of tenants and start-up companies. The judges noted the clever architectural interventions, which have transformed the building from a two-storey shed with blank, solid facades to an office with a “dazzling” patterned exterior. The panel describe Here East as a benchmark for tech hubs around the world, as well as a major contributor to the ongoing regeneration of its locale.Projects up to 1500m2Winner – Albert Works, 71 Sidney Street, SheffieldWinner of the Projects up to 1500m2 Award: Albert Works, 71 Sidney Street, SheffieldAlbert Works, is a recently completed workplace converted from disused, and previously dilapidated, traditional red-brick industrial warehouses. It is the first phase of a larger £10 million ‘Alsop’s Field’ regeneration project in the heart of Sheffield’s Cultural Industry Quarter (CIQ) conservation area. The BCO Awards judges praised the sensitivity and quality of both the restoration of the brick warehouse and the seamless integration of the newer intervention, describing the main external façade as boldly different, yet delicate and sympathetic to the building’s historic industrial context.InnovationWinner – White Collar Factory, 1 Old Street Yard, LondonWinner of the Innovation Award: White Collar Factory, 1 Old Street Yard, LondonThe 39,285 sqm White Collar Factory, located on Old Street’s ‘Silicon Roundabout’, was lauded by the judges for its ingenuity, creativity and boldness. Notable features of this workplace include a landscaped roof terrace and an elevated running track, both of which have proved popular with tenants. The judging panel commented that the standard set by White Collar factory goes far beyond those of a usual commercial office development and, in their view, will continue to set a high benchmark in innovation for many years to come.

TEDxBath: Light up the Future

Illustration by Stephanie SandallAdrem were proud to sponsor the inaugural TEDxBath conference, titled ‘Light up the Future’, which was held at the Bath Abbey on Saturday 29th September 2018. TEDx conferences aim to spark discussion about ideas worth spreading. There were 12 inspiring talks from leading speakers as well 4 archived TEDx films on a broad range of topics. I would like to highlight 4 of these speakers plus 1 of the films, which I found to be particularly thought-provoking.Rob Wortham: Will Robots Be Our New Best Friends?Dr Rob Wortham, a Teaching Fellow at the University of Bath, researches how to improve transparency on how robots behave, and the ethics of artificial intelligence (AI). Our society needs smart technology but it also needs education on AI, regulation and standards around this technology so we can maximise the advantages and minimise the risk. We tend to anthropomorphise robots, which leave people vulnerable to manipulation. Human interaction with AI is still entirely unregulated, except for some data protection policies. We need to also create awareness in the public about the risks and opportunities of AI so that key players cannot control the technology for their own advantage.TEDxBath – Rob WorthamClaire Henwood: Holiday Hunger: So Much More Than FoodClaire Henwood, founder of the charity MakeLunch Bath, explained how to fight food poverty in our communities. For a growing number of families in Bath, school holidays are dreaded as their children have less to eat, less physical activity and fewer opportunities to socialise. With an additional strain on their budget, parents sometimes skip meals to feed their children or buy cheap foods with more calories and less nutrition. The aim of the MakeLunch charity is to provide a variety of FREE enrichment activities as well as hot, free nutritious two course meals to combat ‘holiday hunger’. These lunch clubs reduce financial pressure, have a positive impact on family well-being, counter isolation and can sometimes even lead to employment.Andrew Grant: Landscape CitiesAndrew Grant, a landscape architect, talked about how we need to re-think how we design our cities. We need to return to our origins of nature, which are lost in our dysfunctional contemporary cities filled with pollution and strained transport systems. Studies show that being part of a green environment reduces stress, improves mental health and enhances creativity. So, why not incorporate nature as the driving essence of our city designs? Bath is an excellent example of a landscape city because of its balance of nature and architecture. But it is also at the frontiers of the future in how it manages its resources and engages their communities to create peaceful yet innovative havens within a busy world.Music by Chartwell Dutiro at TEDxBtah 2018Jonathan SachsA video featuring Jonathan Sachs, ex-chief Rabbi of the commonwealth, conveyed the importance of community and diversity. He spoke of the ramifications of focusing on too much on the self and emphasised that it is the people not like us that in fact enrich us. We can safeguard the future ‘you’ if we strengthen the future ‘us’ in three regards: the ‘us’ of a relationship, the ‘us of identity, and the ‘us’ of responsibility.For the ‘us’ of relationships, he encouraged more face-to-face interactions with those with different views and/or backgrounds to re-learn that despite disagreements people can still be friends. For the ‘us’ of identity to thrive, we need to keep telling the story of who we are, where we came from, and what ideals we live by. With a strong sense of our own identity, we can welcome a stranger to share our lives and our aspirations, instead of being threatened. The ‘us’ of responsibility references that we the people share a collective responsibility for our collective future. We need to move away from the politics of me to the politics of all of us. We can do this by replacing the word ‘self’ by the word ‘other’ in our own vocabulary.Joy Nazzari: The Power in Cities – Using Purpose to Drive ChangeFounding Director of dn&co and brand consultant, Joy Nazzari, was the final speaker at the TEDxBath conference. She spoke about introducing purpose behind the way in which we build our cities. She introduced the idea of Place Purpose – the intentional reason a place exists based on human-centred needs as opposed to Placemaking. She gave the example of Disney Land, a place where people can feel the sense of magic that is represented in every little detail by putting the visitor experience at the forefront. From the design of the garbage disposal to the stage management, anything non-magical was designed to function out of sight of the visitors. She also listed the 7 key factors for creating great spaces and cities: conducting people focused research, be committed to doing good, defining and creating place purpose, authenticity, collaboration, leadership and commitment for the future.TEDxBath – Joy NazzariThe general theme of the TEDxBath Conference was working with a purpose and with positivity. To quote Churchill, “If you’re going through hell, keep going”, and hopefully in the process you will light up the future.Watch the videos for the full live stream of the TEDxBath conference:Adrem are proud sponsors of the inaugural TEDxBath conference.

Winners Announced: Archiboo Web Awards 2018

For architects and designers, September is known to be the busiest time of the year. With London Design Festival, 100% Design and all other design fairs spread across the city, it was great to see so many familiar faces come together to celebrate the third Archiboo Web Awards. Held at the Smithson Plaza this year, the annual event commemorates architects and their collaborators who utilizes their online presence for the best experience.Being supporters of Archiboo since the beginning and having our MD Del on the judging panel in the last 3 awards, we have seen over the years the quality of architects’ websites have developed significantly. This is partly because the best websites must mirror the bigger shifts in how we want information delivered.Here are the winners of the 2018 Archiboo Web Awards:Best HomepageWinner – Trahan ArchitectsWebsite by – For Office Use OnlyJudges agreed the winning homepage is “a perfect balance of beauty, intrigue, information and functionality”. They particularly liked the mixing of still images and film and the way the introductory text fades away to allow the latter to be fully enjoyed. A simple arrow allows smooth access to the deeper content of the homepage where the tiled, mixed-media approach retains an exploratory feel, yet allowing visitors to quickly access the content they’re looking for.Best Homepage Award – The Boundary (on behalf of Trahan Architects) with judge Adam ScottBest Use of InnovationWinner – UniformWhile augmented reality has been a huge buzzword for some time, developers are only just starting to create their own AR apps and features and it’s the former that caught the judges’ eye. While “the project clearly required a lot of work to execute, the judges liked the way “the app allows the user to learn about the planned regeneration project in a playful way and features interesting 3D animations that will appeal to a wide age group”.Best Use of Innovation Award – Albert Taylor-Williamson with Scott McCubbin, UniformBest Offline Experience Winner – UNStudioWebsite by – LavaThe winner has a “fantastic collaborative approach to modular design” which it “bought to life at Milan Design Week”. Judges said this “strategic, smart and slick approach” is a clever way to engage its existing audience “but leaves enough doors open to encourage curious newcomers”. They said “the project was documented exceptionally well through social media throughout build and production”.Best Offline Experience Award – UNStudio with judge Sam Bompas and Harry ParrBest Use of VideoWinner – Foster & PartnersVideo by – Foster + PartnersJudges were unanimous in their praise of the winner’s entry which they said is “magnificent technically and compositionally” leading one judge to comment that Foster has “brought a gun to a knife fight here” They agreed that “it’s an engaging story well told”, which held their interest.Best Use of Video Award – Naomi James, Katy Harris, Mrinal Rammohan and judge Del HossainBest Use of Social MediaWinner – UNStudioWebsite by –LavaJudges were struck by the innovative use of different platforms including podcasting and praised the winners for using social media as an experimental tool to convey ideas during the design process, as opposed to an afterthought or for self-promotion. One judge commented that UNStudio’s “use of social media channels to convey office culture as part of the online identity of the practice is also very effective.”Best Use of Social Media – UNStudio with judge, Carolyn LarkinBest Visual Design Runner up – Page\ParkWinner – Heatherwick StudioWebsite by – Morse Studio and Heatherwick StudioJudges praised Heatherwick Studio’s new website for its “distinctive and confident aesthetic which communicates a message that is recognisably relaxed and original but still good on detail”. The balanced mix of architectural and process focused imagery speaks easily of the studio’s craft centric approach and demonstrates a confident, creative studio at the top of its game”.Best Use of Social Media Award – Neil Hubbard with Hugh Morse and judge, Will Hunter.Best Use of Digital ImageryWinner – Trahan ArchitectsImagery – The Boundary“An excellent range of images that covey both atmosphere and mood and beautifully illustrate the participants full range of skills in this area” said judges who liked the “ great use of technology” which they felt provided a high level of appeal to stakeholders.Steven Man and Aneta Gesiorska from The Boundary with Christian Spencer-DaviesBest Written ContentWinner – Jamie Fobert ArchitectsWebsite – Burgess & Beech The judges all agreed that that the winners had a “no nonsense approach with crisp, honest writing”. They said that the ‘the descriptions of the work have a nice, story-telling quality without too much jargon or too many warm words that lack real meaning”. “You feel as though you’ve got inside the heads of the practitioners a bit and it has character”, said one judge while another said the content was ‘well formatted and laid out”.Best Written Content Award – Judge Marcus Fairs with Benna Schellhorn and Laura SweeneyBest Overall Winner – Foster & PartnersWebsite – AKQAThe judges said Foster & Partners website is “a tour de force in making so much content accessible and easily navigable”. One judge said that “technology is used in a restrained manner that reflects the firm’s design ethos and the projects and information are beautifully presented with a fantastic level of detail. Judges said: “This is a very polished and high quality website, as it should be, and communicates perfectly to the practice’s broad international audience”.Best Overall Award – Foster team, Katy Harris, Gayle Mault, Mrinal Rammohan, Naomi James, Tom Wright and Francis Archer, Arup

100% Design

100% Design announces shake-up to core programming with new exhibitions 100% Futures and 100% Forward, a renewed focus on emerging designers, the best interiors and future innovations for living through design. All within the newly formed West Kensington Design District.100% Design, the UK’s longest standing annual design event, returns for its 24th edition this year and is delighted to announce a shake-up to traditional programming, demonstrating its renewed vision to be the unmissable show for design in London’s creative calendar. 100% Design will present new features, fresh design talents and emerging names alongside a roster of industry favourites, big name brands and innovators.Taking place at Olympia, London from 19 – 22 September, this year 100% Design will present two new features, 100% Futures and 100% Forward, which will focus on emerging designers across innovation and furniture design respectively.West Kensington Design DistrictThis year will also see the launch of the new West Kensington Design District, a hub that is set to inspire design enthusiasts and become the must-visit district during the London Design Festival, with an engaging programme featuring design brands, globally recognised cultural institutions and unmissable events this September. The district will be brought to life by a stellar array of partners including the Design Museum, the world’s leading museum devoted to contemporary design. V&A Blythe House will offer a rare opportunity to participate in guided tours whilst Polish brand Zieta presents Plopp 4.0 at Arthill Gallery amongst many other partner events.100% Futures100% Futures is a new exhibition celebrating forward-thinking design from a selection of British and international talents who have chosen to set up their practices in London. Spearheaded by Max Fraser, 100% Futures will shine a light on some of the most exciting designs under the theme ‘Designing for London’ across travel, technology, well-being, public spaces and sustainability. Alongside this, 100% Futures will also share designs from other cities, looking at ideas around the future of city-living and the best of designing for urban centres across the world.100% Forward100% Forward, curated by journalist Barbara Chandler, will highlight eight emerging design talents across furniture, product, lighting and textile design. Each will be championed by an established designer who carved his or her career during the first decade of 100% Design. Simon Pengelly, who started his career in 1993 when he presented at 100% Design, has selected rising talent Daniel Schofield. In five short-years, Daniel has honed his reductive approach to materials, form and function to create celebrated lighting, furniture and table top products.100% Design’s core exhibition covers Interiors, Kitchens, Bathrooms and Bedrooms, emerging brands and new for this year, 100% Build London, a dedicated show for the construction and architectural industries.100% Build London100% Build London launches as a response to demand from increasing numbers of visitors within the construction trade attending the show each year. Featuring the latest construction materials, innovative glazing technology, exterior surfaces and integrated automation technology; it is the only event to bring together construction, high-end architecture and interior design. 100% Build will also feature an extensive educational programme which includes a Talks Forum, CPD Hub and an area dedicated to Digital Construction including BIM. Further information on programming will be revealed in due course.

Archiboo Web Awards 2018

The Archiboo Web Awards recognise and celebrate architects and their collaborators who best use online to communicate great architecture.The awards are open to architects, engineers, landscape architects and other collaborators or companies whose website is to do with the promotion of architecture.In 2017 the awards attracted over 250 entries from studios around the world. For 2018 an additional category has been added to reflect the importance of mobile devices. We are proud to have our MD Del judge this category – Best Mobile Experience. The awards are collectively judged by a panel of 30 experts ranging from tech to property industries. Reviewing 10 categories to recognise outstanding digital performers from engagingly written content and impactful design to firms pushing the boundaries with the latest technologies such as VR.The 2018 Archiboo Web Award shortlist has been revealed and can be viewed here.The Awards will be announced on September 19th at the Smithson Plaza, St James’s, London.Alison and Peter Smithson’s last remaining building in London, previously known as ‘The Economist Plaza, was designed and built between 1960 and 1964, and is listed Grade 11. Comprising the 15-storey Economist Tower, the five-storey Bank Building, the eight-storey Residential Building and a raised public piazza, the Smithson Plaza is widely recognised as a triumph of post-war Brutalist architecture.For more details and to book tickets please click here.

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Decorex International A Space For Beauty To Flourish

Decorex has established itself as Europe’s leading interior design event, offering the finest furniture, lighting, textiles, craft and accessories from emerging and established names alike. The centrepiece of London Design Festival, Decorex provides an unparalleled opportunity for interior design professionals to discover exquisite creations from more than 400 international exhibitors.Over four days at Syon Park, the finest concepts and products from a hand-picked collection of designers are expertly curated. A series of thought leadership sessions aim to inspire, inform and ignite debate, and there’s ample opportunity to connect with truly inspirational people.THE EXHIBITIONThe show’s exhibitors span furniture, lighting, craft, textiles and accessories, and represent some of the world’s most distinguished names in interior design. Decorex is your chance to see the latest collections, meet the makers behind them and source products and inspiration for your own projects. See more.THE TALKS PROGRAMMEFrom panel discussions with world-leading interior design studios, to future trend forecasts and intimate chats with renowned magazine editors, Decorex’s seminar programme offers something for everyone. See more.THE CONCEPTSEach space at Decorex is conceptualised by exceptional interior designers and makers. See pop-up installations at the acclaimed show entrance, a botanical twist in the reimagined bar and the process behind artisanal craft at immersive In the Making areas. See more

London Design Festival 2018

London Design Festival was conceived by Sir John Sorrell and Ben Evans in 2003. Building on London’s existing design activity, their concept was to create an annual event that would promote the city’s creativity, drawing in the country’s greatest thinkers, practitioners, retailers and educators to a deliver an unmissable celebration of design. The launch of the first Festival took place at Bloomberg on 25 March 2003, with a huge show of support from design, education, government and London organisations. 16 years later, this vision remains ever strong.In 2017, the Festival welcomed a record-breaking 450,000 individual visitors from over 75 countries. These visitors contributed to an overall 991,000 visits to London Design Festival events with 150,000 people passing through Broadgate each day having the opportunity to see Landmark Project Villa Walala. In addition, London Design Festival helped drive a total of 173,250 visits to the V&A over the Festival period with 22% of those surveyed saying they had never visited the museum before and were driven there by the Festival. Flynn Talbot’s Reflection Room and Ross Lovegrove’s Transmission installations were particularly popular.London Design Festival Director, Ben Evans says “London and Design go hand in hand. It is part of our story. London Design Festival is a platform for 100s of design stories to be told. Each of them talks to an expanding audience hungry for design ideas and enjoying the quality and diversity of what’s on offer. It all confirms London’s status as the global centre of design.”For LDF18, visitors to the V&A will explore a range of special displays and installations throughout the museum, complemented by an extensive programme of events, daily tours, and workshops from Global Design Forum, which in 2017 drew 45 speakers from 13 countries and 2,800 visitors.Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, said: “London Design Festival is a fantastic event which brings together designers from across the globe and demonstrates the capital’s position as a powerhouse for the creative industries. London is known for its creativity and continues to attract the best companies and talent from around the world. I’m delighted to support London Design Festival, which shows that London is open to great ideas, innovation and people from all backgrounds.”Check out our LFA events this September in the Dreamspace GalleryLondon Design Festival 2017

Royal Academy of Arts Renzo Piano The Art of Making Buildings

“From The Shard in London to the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the buildings of Renzo Piano have enriched cities across the globe.We reveal the vision and invention behind his pioneering work, showing how architecture can touch the human spirit.” United by a characteristic sense of lightness, and an interplay between tradition and invention, function and context, Piano’s buildings soar in the public imagination as they do in our skylines. Counting the New York Times Building and the Jean-Marie Tjibaou Cultural Centre in Nouméa among his creations, he has cemented his place as one of the greatest architects of our times.This illuminating exhibition follows Piano’s career, from the influence of his Genoese heritage and his rise to acclaim alongside friend and collaborator Richard Rogers, to current projects still in the making. Focusing on 16 key buildings, it explores how the Renzo Piano Building Workshop designs buildings “piece by piece”, making deft use of form, material and engineering to achieve a precise and yet poetic elegance.Marvel in rarely seen drawings, models, photography, signature full-scale maquettes and a new film by Thomas Riedelsheimer that show how inspiring architecture is made. At the heart of the exhibition is an imagined ‘Island’, a specially designed sculptural installation which brings together nearly 100 of Piano’s projects.Designed and curated in close collaboration with Piano himself, join us for the first exhibition in London to put the spotlight on Piano in 30 years.Exhibition organised by the Royal Academy of Arts, London, in collaboration with Renzo Piano Building Workshop and the Fondazione Renzo Piano.

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Adrem’s Top 5: Events for Autumn 2018

As part of our September round up, here are five top events in the design industry, all happening in London. Follow our events page to keep up to date.1.AJ Retrofit Awards 2018Date: 12th September 2018The AJ Retrofit Awards, brought to you by The Architects’ Journal, recognise and celebrate design, engineering and construction excellence that prolongs and improves the life of the built environment. With £500 billion likely to be spent over the next three decades on upgrading existing housing, commercial and industrial buildings, retrofits will play a significant part of the future of the construction industry. Surround yourself with architecture’s most creative and talented leaders and innovators by booking a table today2. Renzo Piano: The Art of Making BuildingsDate: 15th September 2018 – 20th January 2019“From The Shard in London to the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the buildings of Renzo Piano have enriched cities across the globe.We reveal the vision and invention behind his pioneering work, showing how architecture can touch the human spirit.”This illuminating exhibition follows Piano’s career, from the influence of his Genoese heritage and his rise to acclaim alongside friend and collaborator Richard Rogers, to current projects still in the making. Focusing on 16 key buildings, it explores how the Renzo Piano Building Workshop designs buildings “piece by piece”, making deft use of form, material and engineering to achieve a precise and yet poetic elegance.3. Decorex International: A Space For Beauty To FlourishDate: 16th – 19th September 2018Decorex has established itself as Europe’s leading interior design event, offering the finest furniture, lighting, textiles, craft and accessories from emerging and established names alike. The centrepiece of London Design Festival, Decorex provides an unparalleled opportunity for interior design professionals to discover exquisite creations from more than 400 international exhibitors.Over four days at Syon Park, the finest concepts and products from a hand-picked collection of designers are expertly curated. A series of thought leadership sessions aim to inspire, inform and ignite debate, and there’s ample opportunity to connect with truly inspirational people.4. London Design FestivalDate: 15th – 23rd September 2018London Design Festival was conceived by Sir John Sorrell and Ben Evans in 2003. Building on London’s existing design activity, their concept was to create an annual event that would promote the city’s creativity, drawing in the country’s greatest thinkers, practitioners, retailers and educators to a deliver an unmissable celebration of design.5. 100% DesignDate: 19th – 22nd September 2018100% Design announces shake-up to core programming with new exhibitions 100% Futures and 100% Forward, a renewed focus on emerging designers, the best interiors and future innovations for living through design. All within the newly formed West Kensington Design District.100% Design, the UK’s longest standing annual design event, returns for its 24th edition this year and is delighted to announce a shake-up to traditional programming, demonstrating its renewed vision to be the unmissable show for design in London’s creative calendar. 100% Design will present new features, fresh design talents and emerging names alongside a roster of industry favourites, big name brands and innovators.Taking place at Olympia, London from 19 – 22 September, this year 100% Design will present two new features, 100% Futures and 100% Forward, which will focus on emerging designers across innovation and furniture design respectively.

Mowat & Co. presents Oak: Building, Growing & Manufacturing

As part of their Oak: Building, Growing and Manufacturing” exhibition, Mowat & Company will be hosting three evening talks on each section of the exhibition, with many of their collaborators sharing their immense wealth of knowledge and experience. Mowat & Company’s work often comes back to one material: Oak.“Oak: Building, Growing and Manufacturing” will showcase their architectural design work and the products manufactured from many designs. Working with wood has brought them into contact with a wide range of talented designers, specialists and craftspeople and this exhibition seeks to share their wide range of knowledge and experience.Three Sections in the ExhibitionMowat & Company’s exhibition is divided into three sections that they refer to as “Building”, “Growing” and “Manufacturing”.Section 1 – Building with Oak (Monday 17th September) This will show our architectural design work in oak, showcasing the variety of finishes and application of oak, the functionality and versatility of oak as a material and the specialist design knowledge required to use oak for building. We hope this will give visitors an insight into a building material that can be widely used, the use of which is growing but not yet fully widespread. We also want to give our visitors an understanding of how oak can be integrated into the built environment by design, a material that wears in and does not wear out.Section 2 – Manufacturing with Oak (Thursday 19th September)Here we will showcase the products we have designed and had manufactured. They include door handles, handrails and bespoke wine racks. Our physical products will be on display for people to see and touch (as wood is not just aesthetically pleasing, it also is a beautiful medium to touch and hold). We will discuss / exhibit the design and manufacturing process behind the products so our visitors can understand what goes into that process.Section 3 – Growing (Wednesday 20th September)We are committed to sustainability to ensure that all of the oak we use is responsibly sourced and replaced. This section will discuss the different species of oak we use and the various ways that we can all help to ensure sustainable use of oak. Our founding director, Alex Mowat annually plants acorns in the southwest of England and is hugely knowledgeable about the species and planting. We will show how Londoners and LDF visitors to London can be involved in this, displaying a map of green spaces in London where the best acorns for planting can be found.

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Adrem’s Top 5 Product Design Trends: Consumer Electronics August 2018

Catching up with the newest technology can be hard, so this month we’ve shortlisted our top 5 product design in consumer electronics for everyone. Don’t forget to follow us for more design news, tips, trends and industry updates.1. Bose SoundSport Free Truly Wireless Earbuds Bose are one of the leading brands in sound technology so it’s understandable why they’re on our top 5 for product design. The Bose SoundSport Free are a truly wireless earbuds with a lightweight body with an IPX4 rating for water resistance, a seamless fit, and up to 5 hours of battery life. Alternatively, there’s a bundled battery case that can provide 10 hours of wireless tunes. These earbuds come in 3 colour options - black, blue, and orange.2. GoPro FusionOne of the world’s most versatile camera brands have released their own 360 degrees camera – the GoPro Fusion. With the ability to record 5.2K spherical video at 30 frames per second, or 3K footage at a smoother 60 frames-per-second via two high-quality image sensors with wide-angle lenses. The camera without housing is up to 5 metres waterproof and has a built-in GPS and advance digital image stabilisation with four microphones (convenient for their voice controls). The Fusion also includes an Overcapture function which allows you create your own immersive VR experience.3. Sony LSPX-S1 Glass Wireless SpeakerAnother tech giant, Sony have delivered a 360-degree sound with exceptional quality with their Glass Wireless Speaker. The speakers are not only good for sound but it also improves the ambiance in the room with an LED filament light that delivers a soft glow that resembles a candle or a lantern. Both the light and speaker are controllable with an app and can be paired with another duo for an even more fulfilling sonic experience.4. Samsung Gear Sport SmartwatchCompeting in the smartwatch market, the Samsung Gear Sport is probably one of the best smartwatches for Android smartphone users. Whether you’re a gym junkie or just want to track your daily exercise, this device has a powerful set of fitness-tracking features, including a waterproof body that can withstand depths of up to 50 meters. It has an intuitive interface and interchangeable bands to suit any Android user's style.5. DJI Spark Mini DroneThis nifty Spark Mini Drone by DJI can capture 12 MP photos and Full HD video via a built-in camera with dual-axis stabilization. With the rise of drone technology, DJI has developed an affordable and practical flying gadget that can be operated by their phone app or cleverly with user’s gesture-based controls. It has up to 16 minutes of flight time, built-in GPS, and the ability to automatically avoid obstacles. Handy!

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Adrem’s Top 5: Architecture Instagram Accounts to Follow

Since creatives are the most visually inclined, you can never have enough Instagram posts that make you feel inspired. As part of this weeks round up at Adrem, we found our 5 favourite Architecture Instagram accounts that will make your feed full of design inspo and daydream inducing posts!You should definitely follow:1. Architecture Hunter – @architecture_hunterArchitecture Hunter is a feature account curated and managed by @amanda_ferber. Their posts are a collection of some of the most beautiful architectural designs and art pieces including furniture, homes and outdoor spaces too. We love this account because of how global their posts are, giving us an insight of great projects from everywhere.https://www.instagram.com/p/BmO9WPxgG86/?utm_source=ig_embed

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Architectural Sketches: 28 Drawings Later by Anna Gibb

Architect Anna Gibb is back! During London Festival of Architecture 2016 Anna showcased A Place to Draw in our Dreamspace Gallery where she exhibited her interpretation of scenes from London, Glasgow, Havana and Florence, documenting her time living in each city.“28 Drawings Later” was a series that started in 2012 when she challenged herself to complete a sketch a day throughout February. Six years later, she aims to continue this tradition. Anna has now returned to Dreamspace with her newest set of 28 Drawings of international buildings she has visited and loves.The exhibition is open to public between 16th to 29th August, Monday to Friday.

Alan Jones Elected as RIBA President 2019-21

A Big Thing Happened in ArchitectureA big thing happened in the world of Architecture last week, it wasn’t the grand unveiling of a seminal piece of architecture, nor was it the announcement of a new International architectural award, it was instead the announcement of the new RIBA President. The RIBA is the most well regarded and indeed oldest Institute of Architecture in the World and the announcement of a new President does indeed create subtle ripples in the Architectural world.Alan Jones was elected the President designate, winning just over 51% of votes and generating more than a thousand votes of support above the next candidate. Jones will be stepping into take over Ben Derbyshire from 1 September 2019 for a two-year presidential term, taking us into the second decade of the new Millenia as the 77th President.Jones is a charming easy going Northern Irish architect and Senior Lecturer at Queen’s University Belfast. He is modest, erudite has a sense of fun and most importantly can communicate.“I appreciate respect is not given lightly and must be earned. I am hugely grateful for the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of Ben Derbyshire and past presidents, people who I have huge respect for.”Jones recognises that there are some great assets within the institute, for example the RIBA is considered as a global leader in CPD and other institutes not just of architecture but other professions learn from the RIBA, there are also numerous workshops such as Guerilla Tactics, specialist supported courses, out-reach programmes into the community and schools and whole host of exhibitions, assistance programmes for students, not to mention if you go to China perhaps the most vibrant economy in the world a highlight in their design calendar is the RIBA’s display of young UK talent in their window display exhibition, indeed the list goes on. Jones knows this and isn’t looking to reinvent the Institute just shout about them more and make them accessible, sharing the benefits of this Institute to its members and the extended circle.“The RIBA is a fantastic organisation with great resources, particularly its staff who I am keen to support more than ever.”The golden ticket for Jones looking into the future is surely to ensure that those members around the country from Pinner to Penzance feel included in their institute and this may be through a greater online presence, along with looking after the role and future purpose of the Architect in a Brexit world with all that entails.The RIBA has also announced the results of the RIBA Council whose role will all commence on 1 September 2018.The candidates are:Jo Bacon – NationalElsie Owusu – NationalValeria Passetti – East MidlandsGraham Boyce – YorkshireTim Clark – Europe International (excluding UK) The Regional Council Members:Nicky Watson – North EastEwen Miller – North WestRichard Wooldridge – North WestIan Standen – Wales

London Architecture Diary Editor’s Choice August 2018

Every month London Architecture Diary lets architects and industry insiders share their recommendations for the best exhibitions and events to visit in London. This month, Adrem’s Managing Director – Del Hossain, was featured for the following article. Read on! Editors Choice by Del HossainLondon is glistening in this glorious sunshine and August is surely the peak of British Summer Time, so what better way to kick off our homage to all things architecture than a trip to Hyde Park to enjoy the London Mastaba by sculptors Christo and and his late wife Jeanne-Claude. A massive brightly coloured floating sculpture on the Serpentine Lake, it measures 30m by 40m and is constructed out of 7,506 stacked barrels on a floating platform. The structure is known to have low environmental impact on the ecosystem of the lake and its surroundings, making it an ideal summer hangout.Located less than a mile to the west sits the Serpentine Pavilion 2018, designed by Mexican Architect Frida Escobedo as a structure that coalesces with light, water and geometry. Composed of staggered British-crafted roof tiles, it allows glimpses of nature to pass through the pavilion. On one side of the structure, Escobedo designed a ceiling of mirror panels that reflect a shallow pool allowing visitors to create their own unique, personal experience through their activities. The Serpentine Pavilion is particularly charming this summer and these two events make Hyde Park a real pull this year.It is a cherished occasion when the public gain access to the monarchy’s dwellings, so another highlight this summer is surely the opening of the Buckingham Palace to the public. Open only for ten weeks and located in the royal residence and magnificent State Rooms, visitors can experience the historic architecture of John Nash and Edward Blore, with rare pieces of art that have open to the public. As this year marks the 70th birthday of the Prince of Wales, the exhibition features works of art personally selected by His Royal Highness.Making our way up to Great Portland Street, Disappear Here is an exhibition worth exploring, presented by the charming Sam Jacobs. It looks at how ‘perspective’ has spanned through time, and changes with ‘truth and illusion’ – combining art, architecture and mathematics. Perspective drawing lets the visitor become a part of the space, while viewing original works and rare books by some of the best designers in history.Finishing off with the future in mind, New London Architecture has the RCA Student Prize for Architecture and Innovation on display in the NLA Galleries at The Building Centre throughout August. The exhibition showcases winning projects by four students – Jacob Riman, Joseph Mercer, Joana Ribeiro and Hannah Rozenberg – from the Royal College of Arts. The graduate show addresses infrastructure issues within the built environment, including concerns of new transport hubs, hi-tech agricultural production and tools used to design and build in an unbiased, post-binary world. It promises great aesthetic sensibility with possibly a hint of Archigram about the future.

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