Several ambitious plans are in place to make London into a more cycle-friendly city as cycling is now seen as an established form of mass transport. Cycling has been given a huge push in the capital thanks to work from the Government and Transport for London over the last few years. The reasons for it are obvious; it will help to reduce congestion on roads, ease the need for parking spaces and dramatically reduce the amount of air pollution. Every architect in London is sure to be intrigued by these new developments. Continue reading →

Architecture and science have always been entwined, as successful developments in architecture depend on the discovery of new materials and many other factors dependent on experimentation and scientific discovery. In order for architecture to truly work for the future it must be designed with a deep understanding of the environment, the way people live, and what is exactly needed to meet the needs of residents. Designers need to make better use of the sciences to make projects more long lasting. Knowledge of everything from economics to the environment and even psychology are needed. Implementing scientific knowledge into architectural designs will require a revolution in methodology, technology and even the concept of design and what it means to be modern. Continue reading →

There has been increasing concern over the last few years about the role of books in the digital age. Many have expressed worry that the written word is under threat due to the fact that we are a world run on digital appliances. The first libraries consisted of archives of clay tablets, and during the Classical period the Library of Alexandria was the most significant library of the ancient world and served as a major centre of scholarship until the Roman conquest. Continue reading →