Michael Dickson CBE: Shaping the world

摘要

It is nearly 30 years since, as an engineering designer, I became one of the founding partners of Buro Happold. Our practice was originally set up in 1976 by the late Sir Ted Happold with six other Chartered Structural Engineers. From the start we intended to grow into an international multidisci-plinary engineering practice. Like many engineering practices, the opportunity to work both in all regions of the UK and in many countries and with clients and colleagues from different religions and ethnic backgrounds has enriched my career considerably. It has been an essential ingredient to the cross fertilisation of engineering ideas and practice nnd to the growth of younger engineering colleagues. My belief is that we can use engineering principles when working for clients alongside other similar minded planners, architects, surveyors and constructors to shape the natural and built environment. Indeed at Buro Happold we called our house journal 'Patterns' since we believe, like many engineers, that a 'good' structural and environmental solution is the prerequisite ingredient to a robust, buildable 'skeleton'. Structure forms the basis of elegant, delightful and sustainable developments. Of course, the same principles apply to the appraisal, regeneration and refurbishment of the existing and historic building stock.