ringo
Macaroni cheese controller
Obviously taking requests for a table at a restaurant requires customer service.
Upstairs At The Department Store (restaurant)
- Thread starter ringo
- Start date
editor
hiraethified
No, you can't be that stupid as to think 'affordable homes' are the same as social housing, can you?
There is no fucking comparison and to bring them up to suggest the architects have some sort of deep rooted social concerns is beyond laughable.
Twattor
Well-Known Member
No, you can't be as stupid as to think it doesn't, can you?
"Affordable" covers shared ownership, affordable rent and social rent. Usually as a rule of thumb these would be somewhere around the 40%:30%:30% ratio across a development. So yes, they will undoubtably be designing social housing. I'd imagine that the examples on the website are a fraction of their jobs, but the others may not be that photogenic.
If you don't belive me then you can get on the planning portal and pull the s106 agreements for some of those schemes - they will stipulate the social provision.
editor
hiraethified
You claimed that they designed 'loads' of social housing but are unable to provide a single actual example anywhere.
LOL.
editor
hiraethified
Twattor
Well-Known Member
Please refer to previous post
editor
hiraethified
Just admit you don't have a single piece of proof to back up your assertion that the company has designed any social housing - let alone loads of it - and we can move on.
sparkybird
ask the bird...
They did work pro bono for Brixton Windmill (the one with sails)
Twattor
Well-Known Member
One of the examples cited on their website was a new head office for UNISON with 17 units of affordable within it. Do you think that would have been social, or affordable?
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
Really?
London mayor refuses Squire towers change as affordable housing stance toughens
Mayor Khan says of Squires plans:
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
As usual you aren't getting the point.
Gramsci
Well-Known Member
On the thread in politics about Corbyn Jewdas has come up. The Jewish Socialist group Corbyn met this week. And got stick for. The posts here on the virtues of Squires reminded me of the recent post on Jewdas website. Whilst critical of Corbyn on anti semitism they support what he stands for on the left.
Enough is enough.
Enough is Enough! – Jewdas
Couldn't agree more. Nothing to add to this.
Except that I'm really glad Corbyn went ahead and attended this group function rather than excusing himself due to possible bad publicity.
Enough is enough.
Enough is Enough! – Jewdas
Couldn't agree more. Nothing to add to this.
Except that I'm really glad Corbyn went ahead and attended this group function rather than excusing himself due to possible bad publicity.
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Gramsci
Well-Known Member
Quite. So it's got nothing to do with Squires. It's down to CIL and section 106 agreements.
Harbourite
Eggnog
maybe try salon - i got a warm welcome for an anniversary dinner and the food was fantastic
editor
hiraethified
That's nice but it's got nothing to do with social housing and they've made sure that their work for the Windmill is nicely featured in their portfolio.
ringo
Macaroni cheese controller
Thanks, we're going to Courtesan now, but that looks worth a try.
editor
hiraethified
You really don't understand what social housing is, do you?
Here. let me help you.
Now either show me a sizeable selection of the "loads" of social housing projects that Squire have supposedly designed, or you could just admit that you made that bit up and made yourself look a bit silly.
Oh and if you think any mega-rich luxury architect firm designing affordable homes deserves some sort of round of applause for their social minded concerns, you got that wrong too. And that is why you brought it up in the first place, no?
Affordable housing does not mean what you think it means
Harbourite
Eggnog
have a nice time and happy anniversary
editor
hiraethified
And for all their widely broadcast attempts to ingratiate themselves with the community, this is where their true colours lie: collaborating with the Abu Dhabi Financial Group to deprive Londoners of even the bare minimum of (guffaw) "affordable" homes, just so they can rake in more cash for themselves:
285 luxury homes and just ten 'affordable' ones. Pathetic.
OvalhouseDB
Well-Known Member
Their 'Current' plans include a 'Zubabox ' with Aid Agencies, providing internet access in a range of African countries, and a design for a children's hospice that they are supporting.
I was given membership when they first opened their Upstairs because I attended various community meetings that they gave space to in the basement. They have been keen to employ and train local young people, and approached me to recruit amongst our young trainees and participants. As I understood it the club / guest / invite status was while they get a licence. It's a nice place to have a drink, the views are fab, they stock Brixton Beer and other local suppliers (I only ever drink Reliance Pale Ale) and the staff are friendly. I haven't eaten there.
I was given membership when they first opened their Upstairs because I attended various community meetings that they gave space to in the basement. They have been keen to employ and train local young people, and approached me to recruit amongst our young trainees and participants. As I understood it the club / guest / invite status was while they get a licence. It's a nice place to have a drink, the views are fab, they stock Brixton Beer and other local suppliers (I only ever drink Reliance Pale Ale) and the staff are friendly. I haven't eaten there.
editor
hiraethified
Given their vast wealth and sumptuous head offices, of course they should be giving something back - and I'm sure they'll let everyone know all about it - but that doesn't let them off the hook for collaborating with dodgy developers to deprive Londoners of affordable homes.
When this lot charged into town, gentrification took another huge leap forward, so they're partly responsible for the displacement taking place.
And I can't say I find much cheer in their client list either: they're mainly about servicing the precious needs of the super rich and the privileged.
I'm sure it's lovely and swishy, but I don't think they've particularly reached out to the existing community.
It's just another divisive layer to a Brixton that is rapidly turning into a two tier town.
shakespearegirl
just worked out taglines
I was given membership when they first opened their Upstairs because I attended various community meetings that they gave space to in the basement. They have been keen to employ and train local young people, and approached me to recruit amongst our young trainees and participants. As I understood it the club / guest / invite status was while they get a licence.
This sounds to me like they are engaging with the community. Giving space to community meetings and proactively trying to employ and train local young people.
I think Squires have done an excellent job of renovating the building and I'm not sure who apart from an architects would have put such effort in.
From personal experience I know there is a lack of office space in Brixton, when looking for an office last year Brixton was one of our options. There was literally one office available at the size a small to medium business could move into. Lack of office space means less employment options for locals in the area outside or retail and hospitality.
This sounds to me like they are engaging with the community. Giving space to community meetings and proactively trying to employ and train local young people.
I think Squires have done an excellent job of renovating the building and I'm not sure who apart from an architects would have put such effort in.
From personal experience I know there is a lack of office space in Brixton, when looking for an office last year Brixton was one of our options. There was literally one office available at the size a small to medium business could move into. Lack of office space means less employment options for locals in the area outside or retail and hospitality.
Yeah, it’s really cool
You do realise that architects are given a brief which they then design to don’t you?
Yeh, from some of the posts on this thread you’d they think it was conservative central office that had opened up there. They seem alright to me. They can't help that they are operating in an industry that is by nature stylish so their premises will reflect that. The usual hidebound nonsense.
stethoscope
Well-Known Member
I've always just preferred good quality grub at reasonable prices and not pretentious - whether it be the local pub, Indian, Chinese or Persian restaurant, etc. Where you can pretty much just ring up to book (or even just walk in off the street) and be made welcome. 'Stylish premises' has never really been something I've been bothered about, Brick Lane went up its own arse after a while chasing that...
editor
hiraethified
You do realise that architects can chose which projects they work on - especially ones as successful and as wealthy as this lot - so when a morally dodgy Middle East developer asks them, "Hey, be sure to get the affordable housing commitment down to the absolute bare minimum" they don't have to say yes.
But this is what they do. Their business is catering to the needs of the super rich, while throwing a few crumbs to the community to make them look good.
I won't be doffing my cap to them. I see them as part of the problem, not the solution.
shakespearegirl
just worked out taglines
And that the industry they operate in will have a range of clients, of course the ones with more money will be doing the more lavish developments.
editor
hiraethified
And this lot specialise in catering to the super rich.
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