Note to the organisers of landscape and urban design competitions: PLEASE CONTACT US IF YOU WOULD LIKE SOME HELP AND ADVICE

Arnold Weddle told me that he had retired three times and enjoyed each of them more than its predecessor, because he was shedding responsibilities and doing more of what he wanted to do. This pattern appeals to me and I am wondering about re-designing London in Sketchup without any thought whatsoever of any involvement in implementing any ideas I might be lucky enough to have. So I would have to urge Lawrence to take the front seat in ILCC (International Landscape Competition Consultants). But thank you too for the vote of confidence!

Tom – first the Chelsea Fringe, now Competition Consultants: I feel it is just a matter of time before you have a mould-breaking idea before someone else has had it, and that your chances for a second, prosperous retirement career are therefore very high.

God willing, it might be a good idea for Lawrence to lead the team.

Thank you! I was joking and did not know that the world had any firms which offer a consultancy on competitions. Given the many unfruitful competitions I have read of, I think they are a really good idea.

However, the project ran into ‘program’ difficulties early on because the then Premier and patron of the project had brain cancer. Starting construction on site, prior to full resolution of the design of the foundations was a political necessity to ensure the project proceded against a hostile Opposition party in the run-up to elections.

All involved knew changes would have to be made. The change of government meant it was almost nigh impossible to separate the political from the technical and financial outcomes. But suffice to say there was a ratio something like this in Utzon’s favour (x% of the building procured for x% of cost in X% of total project time). I can’t remember the particulars exactly.

The reason why I think a consultancy service for competitions is a good idea is to set some parameters early on that can serve as yardsticks as the project moves through the process.

A little like beginning the project management process earlier…but with a designers mind…to the implications of parametres and changes. The design project is often managed, but the total project environment is not. In this context, yes, the client side definitely needs to be given more attention. Client decisions effect time, cost and quality.

And to ensure the arguments are not about the design.

It is important to know if the client has good will towards the project and the extent of that good will. The Reichstag by Foster was an important project that was heavily client driven, although unlike Utzon’s project the client remained the same throughout the project.

If I show you a snapshot of 1920 will you feel young again? [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=684n8FO68LU ] Fortuneately everyone did recover from the wall street crash! In fact New York built its way out of the Depression. [ http://www.flickr.com/photos/40045986@N00/3038736546/ ]

It is just a matter of good governance, a social conscience, entrepreneurialship and vision!

It is only right that Utzon’s genius should be remembered but I wonder if more attention should be given to the ‘client side’ of the Opera House (or perhaps it has been, and I have not read about it). On the one hand the client obviously made a brilliant choice but on the other hand: should they have made a deeper investigation of the techical and financial issues? And, had they done so, would the design have been accepted? Perpahs offering a consultancy service for competitions is not such a good idea after all.
The world as shown in the 1955 film is the world I first became aware of. Seeing it again makes me feel too old.