Apparently the RIBA's attempts to market itself in the Middle East (see page 15) have received a bit of a boost. It's not because the architects don't need the institute's services, but rather because "riba" means moneylender in Arabic. In these dark financial times, perhaps the architectural body will get more inquiries than it was expecting ... The construction industry donned its finest bib and tucker last Saturday for the annual Alliance Ball in Battersea Park, London, organised by Stanhope and Bovis Lend Lease in aid of Unicef. The event raised more than ￡300,000 for the children's charity last year and it looks like this year's total will be pretty hefty as well, with a motorbike donated by Ewan McGregor being sold for ￡30,000 and Madonna's handbag and a trip to New York to see her in concert going for ￡20,000. An equally glamorous lot was scooped up by Ramboll Whitbybird, which bought the chance to guest edit this esteemed publication for ￡16,000. The engineering consultancy will take the reins at for a week later in the autumn. Watch this space.
展开▼
