Newsletter

From the Master

My year as master began with an excellent installation lunch at Trinity House, addressed by the incoming RIBA President, Jack Pringle, on his plans for the profession's advance. That exemplified the direction of my year, which is to strengthen the Company's contribution to the profession and to the modernisation of the construction industry. The 2005-6 RIBA Council, which met for the first time on September 29th, elected several company members to key roles: Valerie Owen became Honorary Treasurer, David Falla became Vice President for International Affairs, whilst I remain Vice President for Practice. Another new Council member, Karen Rogers, is applying to join the company at my nomination. At the RIBA I have been developing concepts to strengthen practice for three years: the Chartered Practice scheme, launched on October 20th, will by 2007 replace the Registered Practice concept with one where firms are certified to be properly led, using quality systems, acting as good employers and observing good health and safety practice. The Client Design Adviser scheme, launched on October 6th, provides advisers for inexperienced public sector or private clients who are procuring buildings through integrated teams and do not, therefore, have direct access to architectural services. I helped to develop this and am working as an advisor to clients and practices since I retired from BDP . My third initiative at the RIBA is the Constructive Change agenda, a report on which by Bob White went to Council on September 29th. Radical change is in the air, to equip architects far better to make a good living, satisfy clients and the public, and play a much more effective role in how buildings are procured and built. I have been working on industry change for over ten years now, chairing first the CIB Good Practice Panel, then the Reading Construction Forum which merged to form Be, Collaborating for the Built Environment, in 2002. It too has now merged into Constructing Excellence to form a dominant, member-led, body to lead the industry. Constructing Excellence will publish a report on November

Issue 2 - October 2005

23rd called 'Be Valuable, a guide to creating value in the Built Environment'. I chaired the task group and wrote the document which flowed from it. You are welcome to attend the launch on the South Bank; ask me for details. The Company's 2005-6 programme reflects this agenda in several of its events: The Milo lecture on February 22nd will be given by me, at the RIBA, on the future of the profession; We shall visit two examples of excellent practices, Bennetts Associates and Alford, Hall, Monaghan, Morris. Sir Michael Latham will be my principal guest at our Mansion House banquet Sunand Prasad, CABE Commissioner and chairman of the Policy and Strategy Committee at RIBA, will address our Summer Banquet. I'm also looking at getting RIBA CPD points for Company events which have educational value. And for next year we shall probably add more office visits, aimed at student members. The travellers amongst us will get a good time this year. Professor Isabel Rigol from Havana will recall the Company's 2005 Cuba visit in the lecture at the RIBA we aim to rearrange for next year on The Saving of a Heritage City; bookings are being taken for the Lyon weekend from May 18 to 21- good architecture, great food and good fellowship; David Cole Adams is also measuring interest in a week in Chicago and Pittsburgh, the latter to see Wright's Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob, next August. Nearer to home, we have added a visit to Duke of York Square, Chelsea, on November 29. Paul Davies, the architect for the mixed use project, will explain it and we shall also see Vision05, the exhibition of art by architects currently showing there. The event is shared with the AIA and the City Architecture Forum. I hope you are already enjoying my year as much as I am and that I will see you all at most of our events. Please also join me in recruiting architects to join the Company. Your Master (for a while), Richard Saxon
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The New Master

Richard Saxon CBE BArch MCD RIBA MIOD MCMI FRSA

Richards wife Anne is a governmant lawyer specializing in international matters. Richard lists his hobbies as including theatre and film, good food, photography, current affairs, writing and travel some of which is done between their two homes in London and Scottsdale, Arizona.

News from the Court

Having trained at Liverpool University, Richards career has largely been at Building Design Partnership where he was Chairman from 1996 to 2002. Since his retirement from BDP earlier this year he has set up and is principal of Consultancy for the Built Environment. In this role he has become a client advisor. During his time with BDP he was involved in a number of major projects including the corporate headquarters of the Halifax Building Society, JP Morgan and Opel Cars in Frankfurt. Many members of the Company will recall the visit to All England Lawn Tennis Club site at Wimbledon which he master planned and to the works at the Royal Albert Hall and the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden with which he was associated. He very much specialized in marketing and communication for the Practice. He has published three books; two on the Atrium Building (in the 80s and 90s) and a new one published by Constructing Excellence on creating value in the built environment - Be Valuable. He lectures and contributes to several journals on a regular basis. A founder member of the British Council for Offices, Richard was its President in 1995-6. An enthusiast for the modernization of the construction industry, he chaired the Good Practice Panel of the Construction Industry Board (1995-8), the Reading Construction Forum (1999-2002) and its successor, Collaborating for the Built Environment or Be (2002-5), now a part of Constructing Excellence. He received the CBE for 2001 for services to architecture and construction. Richard is a Vice President of the RIBA, a board member of both the Construction Industry Council and the Centre for Creative Business. He chairs the City Architecture Forum - a forum for designers, developers and civic leaders to consider the architectural issues of the Citys rapid development. The major part of the business of the September Court is the installation of the following officers of the Company for the coming year: Master: Richard Saxon CBE Upper Warden: John Millard Renter Warden: Jonathan Ball MBE Junior Warden: Ian Head Deputy Warden: Alan Downing The following have been appointed to serve on the Committees: Finance & General Purposes Committee: John Millard (Chairman) The Master The Renter Warden The Junior Warden Alan Downing Nigel Thomson Michael Wilkey Charity & Education Committee: Jonathan Ball (Chairman The Master The Upper Warden Tom Ball (Almoner) Roger France Sue Best Mervyn Miller Jaki Howes Edward King Dorian Crone Robert Walker David Falla Ronnie Murning Simon Foxell Dennis Sharp Events & promotion Committee: Ian Head (Chairman) The Master The Upper Warden The Renter Warden David Rolfe Edward King Peter Ullathorne Chris Colbourne Tom Ball Jeff Robertson David Falla Patricia Stefanowicz Stephen Wagstaffe David Lockwood Michael Morrison In presenting Nigel Thomson with his Past Masters Badge, the Master thanked his predecesor for what had 2

been a most enjoyable year and congratulated him on his success - not the least of which were juggling work and Company diaries and avoiding weight increase.. An ad hoc committee has been set up to consider a possible increase in the franchise. It was agreed that there are many people with interests in both the City and architeture who might welcome the chance to join the Company if a way can be found of permitting them to do so. Any formula reached by the committee, will need the approval of the Court of Aldermen.

Recent Events
Stephen Wagstaffe and Patricia Stefanowicz report on a busy couple of days spent over the Open House Weekend in mid September. A good percentage of the City Churches (together with a few on the City fringes) were open and most were stewarded by members of the Company and friends from other Companies and the Friends of City Churches. Their work was hampered by the unexpected absence of the volunteers on the day. They are to be thanked for thier hard work both on the days and leading up to the weekend. The Installation Court Lunch followed the Court meeting at Trinity House on Monday 19 September. In his response to the toast to the Guests, the newly installed RIBA President - Jack Pringle - spoke about his plans for the Institute during his two year term of office. The Master also used the opportunity to set out his aims for the year: it promises to be an eventful 12 months for both the Company and the profession. The Masters Reception was held on Wednesday 19 October at Christ Church, Spitalfields. This was well attended with representatives of the London Chapter of the AIA and the City Architecture Forum joining members of the Company to hear an illustrated talk by Red Mason of Purcell Miller Tritton about his lengthy (30 year) involvement with the refurbishment of this fine Hawksmoor building. The fascinating talk and inspection of the building was followed by a glass or two of wine and a finger buffet. The only possible cause for complaint - the absence of red wine - arose from an understandable nervousness on the part of the Church about the staining of the newly laid Purbeck Stone floor. The Master is to be thanked for his generosity in arranging and supporting this function.

John Hornby in discussion with Red Mason at Christ Church, Spitalfields

Coming Company Events

Sadly, the Lecture to be delivered by Professor Isabel Rigol from Havana on 26 October had to be cancelled at the last moment - a minor victim to global warming in general and hurricane Wilma in particular. As part of its mission to engage with the profession the Company had sponsored this lecture to the extent of paying travel and accommodation costs. Individual members of the Company and others who had joined the trip to Cuba in February also made generous contributions towards meeting the Profesors costs during her time in the UK. Thanks particularly are due to Mervyn Miller, Brian Falk, Tom Ball, Ray and Ann Moxley, Carol Lindsay-Smith, Diana Ford, Phillida Sawbridge, Ursula Davis and Caroline Harris. A visit to lecture at Leeds Metropolitan University and to London Metropolitan University for a workshop with a Final Year Diploma group who are to visit Havana shortly were arranged by Jaki Howes and David Cole-Adams. Sadly, these too had to be cancelled. The RIBA is encouraging the Company to arrange another date in the Spring or early summer - before the hurricane season. Places are available for lunch on the day of the Lord Mayors Procession - Saturday 12 November. The lunch will be available at Plaisterers Hall at 1 Londom Wall between 12.30 and 2.00pm. Doors will open at 12.00 following the outward procession when a glass of champagne will be provided prior to a two course lunch. For those wishing to watch the return procession and stay on for the fireworks there will be a cup of tea available from 3.15pm. Anoyone interested is asked to make their bookings with the Clerk as soon as possible enclosing their cheques for 35.00 per head.
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The Masters carefully laid plans to have one event in each month lasted no more than a month before the opportunity arose to take part in a Joint Reception on Tuesday 29 November with the London Chapter of the American Institute of Architects and members of the City Architecture Forum. This is to be a Pre-Christmas get-together at the Left-Wing Gallery which forms part of the Duke of York Square development at Sloane Square. Details of both the venue and the occasion are included on the calling notice. Costs have been kept to a very modest 15.00 per head which includes a finger buffet and the chance to see the exhibition Vision 05- Art by Architects. Paul Davis will give a brief talk on the work involved in the development. The Annual Carol Service is to be held at St Mary-leBow Church on Wednesday 14 December. Once again we will be joined in song by members of the Furniture Makers Company who have invited us to share supper with them at their newly acquired Hall. Costs of the supper have been pegged at the same price as last year. Details are on the calling notice. It is proposed that there should be a visit to the office of Bennetts Associates following the New Year Court meeting on 30 January 2006. Details are attached. The Masters Peter Milo Memorial Lecture is to be given at the RIBA on Wednesday 22 February at 6.30pm. The Masters topic is The Future of the Architectural Profession - a theme dear to his heart and a topic which is likely to occupy a fair amount of RIBA Council time over the coming two years. Ticketing for the event will be handled by the RIBA. The Annual Livery Dinner is to be held on Monday 27 March 2006 at the Mansion House. The principal Guest Speaker will be Sir Michael Latham. This is the occasion on which the New City Architecture Awards certificates are presented to the successful developer, architect and contractor and a good turn out is expected. As the Lord Mayor is abroad on national duty, the Corporation will be represented by the Aldermanic and Lay Sheriffs. A calling notice is being sent at this early stage because the Clerk is due to be away for an extended period in February and March and is keen to get as many tickets

despatched before he departs in February for SE Asia and the southern hemisphere.. A calling notice is also being sent for the United Guilds Service at St Pauls Cathedral on Friday 31 March. This is always an enjoyable occasion and those who have not attended it in the past are encouraged to do so. We are offered the opportunity to participate in lunch at Plaisterers Hall following the Service. The price for the 3 course lunch is yet to be advised but those interested are asked to respond to the calling notice. Frustrated in his attempts to be with the Company for the Livery Banquet at Mansion House the Lord Mayor has kindly accepted an invitation for himself and the Lady Mayoress to join members at a Lunch preceding the Court Meeting on 24 April. This will be held at Dyers Hall. Further details are to follow with the next newsletter but please put the date in your diaries now. In line with the Masters policy of visiting high profile practices, a visit has been aranged to Alford, Hall, Monaghan, Morris in May. Again further details will accompany the next Newsletter. The Annual Service and Election Court Dinner is booked for Monday 3 July at Armourers and Brasiers Hall. The Master has invited Sunand Prasad to speak at the dinner. Details will follow in due course.

Travel Plans
Plans are well in hand for the proposed weekend visit to Lyon from 18 to 21(or 22) May. Accompanying this newsletter is a notice giving the proposed itinerary and costs. Expressions of interest are sought at this stage. Because of the relative difficulty in getting suitable accommodation and flights for this popular venue, at a time when many others seems to be descending on the city, a deposit will need to be made to secure the bookings - the appropriate sum wil need to acompany the booking form on the calling notice. Plans are also being made for the architectural study tour to Chicago and Pittsburgh / Falingwater from 24 to 31 August. Already there have been nearly 20 preliminary reservations for this trip. As noted by the Master we are investigating ways of getting such study tours accredited by the RIBA for CPD points.Further details and costs are in the attached notice. 4

Members News
Its that man Edward King again. The Autumn 2005 edition of Mid Sussex Matters advises that Councillor Edward King has been elected as Leader of the Mid Sussex District Council for the year commencing May. In addition to his District Council activities, Edward is also a Parish Councillor for Lindfield and, the article says, finds time for his Brighton based practice from which he is now partly retired. Professor Emeritus James Stevens Curl is another who, apparently, refuses to take retirement seriously. The Egyptian Revival is to be published by Routledge in the Autumn as is his Oxford Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. Victorian Architecture: A Study in Diversity and Invention will be published by Spire Books early in 2006. The Victorian Celebration of Death is now available in paperback from Sutton Publishing, Classical Architecture is published by Batsford and Georgian Architecture is available from David and Charles. Of interest to those fascinated by the history of the City will be The Honourable The Irish Society and the Plantation of Ulster, 1608-2000: The City of London and the Colonization of County Londonderry in the Province of Ulster in Ireland. A History and Critique. This covers the architectural and building activities of the City and Livery Companies between the 17th and 20th centuries. Also involved in editing and making major contributions to the book on Kensal Green Cemetery, James continues to write reveiws, occasional papers and scholarly contributions for numerous journals and publications. Dr Mervyn Miller is to deliver a lecture on Lutyens Delhi on Wednesday 7 December at the Nehru Centre, 7 South Audley Street, London W1 Admission is free and no booking is required. The lecture is time to commence at 7.00 with the doors opening at 6.30pm. Professor Dennis Sharp asks that attention be drawn to the remaining Autumn 2005 Masters of Concrete Lectures organized by DOCOMOMO. These are held at The Gallery, 70 Cowcross Street, EC1commencing at 7.00pm. Tickets are available on 020 7253 6624 or through Dennis at dcsharp@sharparchitects.co.uk (at 3.50 for DOCOMOMO members and students and 5.00 for others). The lectures are as follows: uesday 22 November: Tim Benton of the Open University on Le Corbusiers Concrete.

Tuesday 6 December: Richard Weston of the Welsh School of Architecture on Jorn Utzons Concrete. As ever, there are members of the Company who are involved in the activities of other Companies and allied professional organizations. In addition to those noted in the Masters article who have taken on important roles in the RIBA, Jim Baker is currently the President of the London UK Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. He is keen that the two organizations work closer together than they have in the past. Having been allowed a couple of years off following his year as Master of the Merchant Taylors Company Past Msster John Penton has been recalled to service and is now the Upper Renter Warden of the Company. David Cole-Adams has been elected to the Court of the Tylers and Bricklayers Company. All being well, he will progress to being the Master of his mother Comany within six or seven years. Charlotte Harrison and partner Glen McGowan are to be congratulated on the birth of their son Joesph on 10 June. It was good the see the proud parents at the Masters Reception recently.

City Matters
The Corporation of London is seeking the views of all those interested in the City on two documents which have been issued in draft for public consultation. The Draft Statement of Community Involvement sets out how the Corporation will consult with the Citys business and residential communities when decisions are made on planning and development proposals. Comments are to arrive by 22 November. City of London Draft Local Implementation Plan sets out the Corporations proposals for the implementation of the Mayors Transport Strategy for the City. Comments are invited by 27 January 2006. The Clerk has copies of both of these documents or thay can be downloaded (in the case of the former) from www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/plans or, in the case of the latter from www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/consultation. The British Red Cross Biennial Christmas Market is to be open to the public on Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 November between 11.00am and 6.00pm. Held in
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Guildhall, this is the largest fundraising event for the Charity in the Square Mile and the aim is to raise over 100,000. Billed as a pleasurable shopping experience, the market offers something for everyone. The Clerks wife, whose salary depends on donations to the Charity, implores you to support this worthwhile event! For the more athletic members of the Company,The Poulters Company is encouraging participation in the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Race from those companies with a claim, no matter how ingeniously specious to have a connection with the creation of pancakes and / or racing. The event will take place in Guildhall Yard on Tuesday 28 February 2006. Wearing our designers of kitchen and other sporting stadia hats, we have foolishly said that we would take up the callenge. and a team of four is to be recruited. Sadly, the Clerk is not available but the Deputy Master has been appointed as team captain and the Masters particiaption is more or less compulsory. In addition, a young (ie. fit) Liveryman and a Lady (Liveryman / wife / partner / Freeman or Student) are to be called to the Company colours. In the absence of suitable volunteers, pressure may be exerted. For details of the level of exertion, satorial and culinary standards, timings etc please contact the Clerk. Your attention is drawn to an event organized by the Company of Scientific Instrument Makers to celebrate the foundation of their Guild 50 years ago. Beautiful Measurement takes the form of a one-day celebration of scientific instruments in the Clore Education Centre at the British Museum on 24 November 2005. The Clerk holds details and tickets can be obtained from the Company of Scientific Instrument Makers on 020 7407 4832 or on line at theclerk@wcsim.co.uk.

the attached paper which includes a reply form to enable you to signify your positive support fot this initiative.

Help Wanted
As noted elsewhere (in connection with our reception planned for Tuesday 29 November), the Association of Consultant Architects has masterminded the Vision05 Exhibition at the Left Wing Gallery. The exhibition is due to run from Tuesday 8 November untul Saturday 3 December. The organizers would be most grateful if any member of the Company could give a morning (11.00 to 2pm) or afternoon (2.00 to 5.30) to man the Gallery during that time. Particularly welcome would be help on Saturday 12 & 19 November, or Monday 21 November. If anyone feels that they might be able to help, could they please contact Fiona Griffiths on 020 7730 1178 or at office@acarchitects.co.uk.

Website of the Month

Have you looked recently at the Architects Benevolent Society Website? It is www.absnet.org.uk. Please try it as it contains lots of information. If you know of any architect or the family of an architect in need please contact ABS Secretary Keith Robinson. You could also contact either of the Companys two ABS Council Members - John Lane (Chairman) or Geoffrey Purves (Treasurer).

Company Drawings Collection

Those with long memories will recall that a scheme was put in place to encourage members of the Company to submit / donate a drawing in their own hand or from their office. These would be built up into a collection by the Company as a record of the skills of the members. Due perhaps to a lack of clarity as to what was expected and what would happen to the drawings once they were donated, few contributions were forthcoming. Following the reception at the Drawings Collection at the V&A, it is time to re-address the initiative and a few ground rules have been laid down. They are set out on

and finally....................................
There are still some Company ties left - either red or blue silk for the discerning dresser at 16.75 each or at the bargain price of 25.00 the pair.

Stop Press
The RIBA has agreed that the Company can award CPD points for attendance at appropriate events. As a starter, the Masters Reception (or rather the visit to Christ Church and Red Masons Lecture qualifies for one hour.
The Clerk: 82, Muswell Hill Road, London N10 3JR Ph / Fax: 020 8292 4893 email: wccaclerk@blueyonder.co.uk www.architects-livery-company.org 6