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Architects plan for Afghan aftermath

The British Consultants Bureau, which represents architects including Nicholas Grimshaw, Levitt Bernstein and Llewelyn-Davis, has already held 'preliminary discussions' with Trade Partners UK, the government trade agency, about working in Afghanistan following the conflict.

BCB managing director Colin Adams admitted that there was 'a dichotomy' in Britain being simultaneously involved in the military campaign and considering how it can help the peace, but said: "I don't really see it as ambulance chasing."
He stressed that the talks with Trade Partners UK only 'touched' on the subject of post-war contracts. But other architects familiar with working abroad are already considering the prospects for Afghanistan.

Levitt Bernstein partner Hugh Geddes said the practice would look for work 'when the time comes in Afghanistan', but hinted that working there could be difficult. Two years ago he designed a customs post between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan and said that Taliban commanders would not let the team cross into Afghan territory. The conflict has taken its toll on the practice's major new township project in Calcutta. The scheme was put on ice this week.

For GMW Partnership, a number of mixed-use developments in Turkey have been put on hold due to the recession deepening as a result of the war. Senior partner Ali Ozveren said: "Apart from a few exceptions, the industry there is almost at a standstill." (Source: Building Design, 19/10/01)

The RIBA's long-awaited new logo crest are to be formally launched next week, despite a chorus of criticism that the £140,000 rebranding process has been mismanaged and foisted on an "unconsulted" membership.

The new designs include a slimmed-down crest inspired by Eric Gill's reworking of the original 19th century lions, and a new logo featuring the RIBA letters.

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But the 20 month process which cost the membership £56,000 for a strategic review, £60,000 for design work and £24,000 for implementation- has sparked fury among council members.

Council member Simon Foxell said: "The process has been handled with a huge amount of arrogance. We didn't realise that all decisions would be made out of our control."
(Source: AJ, 01/11/01)

The UK direct marketing industry is bracing itself for a slump in profits as fears escalate over the anthrax scares in the mail and the postal union holds emergency meetings about workers' safety.

Concern has grown after Royal Mail sorting offices and businesses around the UK were evacuated following the discovery of suspected anthrax spores. Postal workers are now so worried that the Communications Worker's Union (CWU) has held a series of emergency meetings. CWU assistant secretary Kevin Shaw says: "If any location is identified where our members are being placed at risk, appropriate action will be taken.

Any action is likely to seriously disrupt the postal service, as All Response media director Colin Gillespie explains:"For time-sensitive or perishable mail, it could be a costly problem. Packaging will need to be upgraded - who will pay? The airline industry has received

Government money - maybe the direct marketing industry should receive aid if this carries on." The fears have been fuelled by US attacks, which have resulted in the US DMA rushing through new industry guidelines, including the advice to consider "temporarily delaying business-to-business mailings". The DMA (UK) says it is unaware of any UK direct mailing programmes being put on hold, but is warning members to be "mindful" of what they send.

Other industry figures believe there will be serious repercussions. Mail Marketing International divisional director Graham Cooper says business-to-business mailings will be hardest hit: "This will have a negative effect, because it is such an emotional issue." His concerns are echoed by Clark McKay and Walpole business development director Chris Ward, who believes it will also affect creativity: "Mail is being heavily scrutinised, but the less creativity in business-to-business packages, the less response you receive. We may see an acceleration in e-mail campaigns."

But Jo Howard-Brown, Direct Mail Information Service managing director, is more worried about consumer mailings, because "the general public can be misinformed which may affect advertising". Naviant Europe chief operating officer Dawn Orr adds: "This issue could lose the industry a lot of money." (Source: Precision Marketing, 10/01)