Friday Tip: Roger Mavity’s afternoon out

This week’s Friday Tip comes straight from the top: Roger Mavity, CEO of Conran, describes his perfect London day…

My tip is this: start out at Tate Britain, and take in some of the finest art history has to offer. Then, jump on the Tate Boat, and head east along the river to the towering Bankside Power Station, home of the Tate’s younger cousin.

Conran: An evening at Tate Modern with Terence…

Ahead of the Design Museum’s forthcoming The Way We Live Now exhibition, which opens in November, the museum have partnered with Tate Modern for an evening celebrating our Chairman, Terence Conran. 

 

Just for a change Terence has the night off and can put his feet up and relax, leaving the hard work to others. Leading figures from the many worlds that Terence has been involved with during his career will take part in an evening of presentations and discussion, looking at the many ways which he has influenced the world we live in and the way we live our lives today.

The evening will be chaired by Design Museum Director Deyan Sudjic and include contributions from Sir Christopher Frayling, Stephen Bayley and Fiona MacCarthy who will each discuss an aspect of Terence’s extraordinary career. 

Stephen Bayley

Speaking of the evening, Terence says: “I’m really looking forward to the evening, if a little embarassed as I’m quite shy and don’t take compliments very easily – if that’s not a little presumptuous that the speakers will be saying nice things about me! But I admire all of them immensely and each of them have played hugely positive roles in my life so it will be enjoyable to sit back, relax and reminisce over the happiest moments of my life and career.”

We’re sure they will go easy on you Terence and  you will enjoy a night to remember! Rumours that Michael Aspel will be making an appearance with his big red leather book are entirely unfounded.

The event takes place in the Starr Auditorium at Tate Modern on Tuesday 20 September from 1830-2030. To for more information and to book tickets please click here

The Way We Live Now exhibition, which is a further celebration of Terence’s career, runs at at The Design Museum from 16 November – 04 March 2012

Conran on London: The Skyline..(and a good thing to do at the weekend)

“Skyscrapers back on the horizon” – a piece in the London Evening Standard on April 30th about the revival of skyscrapers on the London skyline caught our eye.

Developers, it seems, are pushing forward with schemes worth a total of more than 9 billion because of a shortage of office space and a growing demand for residential space.

We asked our resident Conran & Partners postcard writer Paul Zara for his take on the sudden resurgence of the skyscraper:

The suggested resurgence of towers on the London skyline is as surprising as it is amazing. Just when we all thought the new Towers of London were shelved forever (or at least for a decade or two) while we crawled our way out of recession, they have reared their heads again, so soon after the world collapsed.

The London skyline has changed so much over the last century, and not always for the better, but, as any architect working in this city knows, it’s now so hard to get a big proposal approved that by the time a scheme gets the green light we should have no concerns about the level of scrutiny it has experienced.  What other city has three planning authorities to satisfy? Tall Buildings have to go through the local planning authority, (whichever London Borough they sit in), plus CABE and the GLA.  (If you don’t know what these initials stand for try Google).

CABE and English Heritage have guidelines on how to assess tall buildings and Boris has his own views (less supportive than Ken’s of these huge erections). And we have a choice. Say yes to them as long as they demonstrate their appropriateness and quality, or say no and stagnate.  And stagnate we surely will if we reject change. London does not have to be a leading financial centre, but it ought to be. We can compete, and with buildings of the highest quality by the best architects we show the world that design matters.  At Conran this is a core belief in our business, and the London skyline can be part of that.  This silhouette of London now contains the London Eye and the Gherkin (It’s nothing like the shape of a gherkin).  Let’s keep that change happening and demonstrate to the world that London truly is its design capital.

Conran Columns: Tips for a great London Weekend

Can you believe it? Tate Modern is 10! Head down there this weekend for a fun-packed few days of family fun and art events for all!