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

Main Plenary & Debate: Wimbledon – The Place.

Architects Richard Rogers and Marcus Beale join consumer trends specialist David Dean from GDR Creative and Stephen Hammond MP to debate what it will take to make Wimbledon a vibrant town centre of the future.

Marcus Beale’s talk slides are available for download:

• Wimbledon - The Place - 2013

MBA are recruiting Part II student(s) for September 2013.  Please review our careers page for more information about architecture roles and jobs in our Wimbledon, London based office.

Work has started on a major refurbishment project at the Rhodes Building, High Street Oxford, directly opposite St Mary’s tower. We are creating a new mathematical, folded ‘origami’ copper roof over an Edwardian baroque building, adding an extra floor, and altering the facade at ground level to create a more welcoming elevation and views from the High Street into Oriel College, adding a lift, and re-landscaping St Mary’s Quad to make the college more accessible and create opportunities for theatre and May balls. The building, by Basil Champneys, another Trinity Cambridge architect, is Grade II* listed. The project will complete in 2014.