Marcus Peel has made some great photographs of an MBA project in London, including the moon rising above a Brutalist garden elevation with a sculpture by a distinguished South African artist deliberately challenging the Vitruvian-Michaelangelo man. MBA approves of this sculpture. The hand is held short of the circle, by a woman. This set of photographs records a particularly successful relationship between architect and client to make the ultimate family home.

The copper roof for the conservation-heritage project at Oriel College’s Rhodes building in Oxford is being laid. This involves many critical details of – literally – folded metal, covered up almost as soon as it is laid, which will be unveiled as a shiny, crystalline form in late summer 2014.

MBA’s designs for 7 new houses to replace Rosemary Lodge nursing home were granted planning permission in March 2014. MBA were appointed by Wimbledon Guild to design a residential redevelopment after the home became redundant. The new houses will be constructed in 2015.

Happy New Year. Here is a picture of the Rhodes building at Oxford, nicely wrapped up.

Autumn 2014 this will emerge as a copper-clad origami extra storey above a Grade II* listed building.

The roof will be clad in bright copper. Gradually it will grow old: complexly brown and green underneath the view of St Mary’s Church, whose spire you can see top left.

Oriel like many medieval educational foundations is dedicated to Mary Mother of God. Education and empowerment of mothers is the key co-relator to human overpopulation. More education, more power to mothers, more balance and sustainability. Simple.

Peace and prosperity for 2014 from all at MBA

On Friday 21 October, Hastings MP, Amber Rudd showed Planning Minister, Nick Boles MP the Archery Ground site in St. Leonard’s, and the developer’s plans for its future.

“It was fantastic to show Nick around the Archery Ground site. I must commend the work of Marcus Beale whose architectural designs are superb; the members of STAG, for their determination to keep the community engaged and fighting; and Simon Cocks of Avant Homes (the Developers) for working on new plans that more nearly meet and satisfy the needs of all parties.  This is an inspiring example of community activism, and one I’m very proud of.”

For more about the visit see Amber Rudd MP website