Previous lives
Property may be able to look forward to a stronger voice in the EU, if Romano Prodi is successful in becoming the next EU president. The president elect is more commonly recognised for his role as Italy’s former prime minister but one lesser known fact is that he was the founder of Italy’s first property research centre. With the excesses of the previous commission members now well-documented, Prodi is keen to lead a more frugal life. This includes dispensing with the usual chauffeur-driven cars to use public transport, including a train and a taxi, to meet UK prime minister Tony Blair. EuroProperty can’t believe he learnt this prudent approach from his time in the property industry.
Paris en masse
Part of Paris’ charm is that it is a compact city perfect for exploring on foot. Its size, however, could have posed a problem for surveyors escaping for strategy meetings late last month. All the international partners of DTZ descended on the city for their internal conferences unaware that the members of Oncor were doing the same. Let’s hope that the city was big enough for the both of them.
Reichstag review
Sir Norman Foster’s new look for the Reichstag in Berlin has come under fire following its opening at the end of April. One critic said the architect’s work in the new German capital had “the charm of a health insurance company branch office”. Ouch.
