Astragal

Birds take a shine to Zaha’s Oxford building

Zaha Hadid Middle East Centre, University of Oxford

As the wraps come off Zaha Hadid Architects’ long-awaited Middle East Centre at the University of Oxford it appears the curved, funnel-like addition to St Antony’s College has received a harsh verdict from the local wildlife.

Vive the green revolution!

Photovoltaic panels

The French government passed a law this week requiring rooftops on new buildings in commercial zones to be partially covered in plants or solar panels.

Things we haven’t lost in the Battersea fire

Battersea Arts Centre fire

It’s been a rollercoaster month for the Battersea Arts Centre, which – during the final phases of a £13.3 million restoration led by Haworth Tompkins – saw its Grade II*-listed Grand Hall wrecked by fire.

Royal Festival Hall stands its ground

Royal Festival Hall

Conductor Simon Rattle’s comment that London lacks a truly world-class music venue will have irked the capital’s leading concert auditoriums, not least the Royal Festival Hall.

Religious platform

stonehenge-300x200.jpg

An interesting new theory has emerged about Stonehenge and how it could have supported a circular, wooden platform on top of the monolithic stones