The optics are quite simply atrocious......
Naz Shah, who retweeted that the victims of moslem rape gangs should stay silent for the sake of diversity, cozying up with the failure that is Keir Starmer at a muhammadan event.......
UK 2026
@C20Society highlights Harrods’ Egyptian Hall dilemma—this reflects a challenge I’ve seen repeatedly in listed building consent: balancing cultural value with ethical and practical drivers. How do we decide what to keep, adapt, or remove?
NEWS: William Mitchell’s ‘masterpiece’ Egyptian Escalator Hall (1997) at Harrods in Knightsbridge is under threat, after the department stores’ new Qatari owners applied for Listed Building Consent to rip out the Grade II* listed feature. C20 Society has written to the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, strongly objecting to the plans.
One of Britain’s greatest post-war artists, William Mitchell (1925-2020) has more listed works on the national register than any other artist. The Egyptian commissions at Harrods were his last major project and he stated: ‘Without hesitation, or embarrassment, I feel I am able to call [it] my masterpiece.’ The list description for Harrods, updated in 2000 shortly after the hall was completed, explicitly refers to it as ‘the most significant of the modern concept interiors’.
Particularly controversial are several carved Pharaonic figures, with a likeness to former Harrods owner Mohamed al Fayed, who is accused of raping and sexually assaulting dozens of women.
The Society is in agreement that the offending figures with a representation of Mr al Fayed should be removed, yet this should not necessitate the demolition of the entire escalator hall, a work of national artistic importance.
➡️ https://t.co/0XkJo2riT3
Great to see Dutch barn conversions like this from @KentDesignStudi getting planning consent. In my 20+ years, heritage constraints are often less about form and more about context—balancing reuse with rural character. What proved decisive for your approval?
Trying to ignore the terrible weather out there today and instead looking back to sunnier days on site in #Frittenden where we have just achieved planning permission for this Dutch barn.
Situated in a unique setting, permission has been granted for conversion into a 4 bed house.
Watching @granddesigns celebrate barn conversions, I'm reminded: real Paragraph 84(e) 'exceptional quality' isn't just visual impact—it's navigating planning, heritage, and landscape with rigour. Seen this across countless rural projects. How do you define 'exceptional'?
TOMORROW: We're back in Sevenoaks with Greg and Georgie who took on the ambitious task of converting a dilapidated barn.
Five years on from our last visit, Kevin returns to see their fully complete 'forever home'.
#GrandDesigns
Seeing @granddesigns spotlight Greg & Georgie's barn conversion reminds me: the real battle in self-builds isn't brick and timber, it's navigating planning, heritage constraints, and stakeholder expectations. Who else finds the invisible hurdles tougher than the visible ones?
TOMORROW: We're back in Sevenoaks with Greg and Georgie who took on the ambitious task of converting a dilapidated barn.
Five years on from our last visit, Kevin returns to see their fully complete 'forever home'.
#GrandDesigns
Grand Designs reveals what most architects won't discuss.
These projects teach us everything 🏛��
5 architectural insights from these projects:
1/ Heritage constraint turned competitive advantage https://t.co/cjwYJZbp9i
If you found these insights thought-provoking, follow @thomasstudio_ 🏛️ for more quiet wisdom from the field. Which design challenge redefined your thinking on what’s possible? Like, comment, or repost to share your perspective.
Grand Designs reveals what most architects won't discuss.
These projects teach us everything 🏛️
5 architectural insights from these projects:
1/ The real story behind our planning system failures https://t.co/LxLnVVgQBg
This is very good from @AntBreach on why it is so so important to encouage self-build and custom build through making the planning and design process less risky: https://t.co/Y2FsAZdkwb)