Diary can’t hear the word “mural” without instantly translating it to “Muriel” in its head and picturing Hilda Ogden’s iconic wall art, hanging ducks and all.
So, it’s hard to believe that a developer planning a new design in Manchester – home of Coronation Street – would look any further for inspiration.
However, Bruntwood is – it’s “calling all designers, artists and street artists” to submit proposals to adorn Trafford House, overlooking a major arterial route into Manchester city centre.
“Located on such a busy thoroughfare,” Bruntwood says, “the piece will turn the building into a landmark in the area which will brighten the commute of thousands of people who pass the building every day.”
The chosen theme celebrates one of the city’s most influential women – no, not Hilda, instead suffragette leader (and artist) Sylvia Pankhurst. And Bruntwood is looking for a “modern, contemporary, design-led piece of art” to commemorate the achievements of Pankhurst and the wider movement.
Do you have a design up your sleeve that fits the bill of being: “Bold, beautiful, and exciting. Aesthetically interesting. Expressive, independent, reflective of your character. Able to stand the test of time”?
If so, email it over to: traffordhousemural@bruntwood.co.uk – but make it quick, the deadline is 12 August.
Not just a pretty North Face
The future of retail is all about “experience”, according to experts. Well, all credit to North Face for setting a new bar on that front. And a very high one, at that.
The activewear chain has unveiled its latest pop-up shop in a truly breathtaking location… the Italian Alps.
Apparently, would-be customers will have to hike for two hours in order to reach the site, in order to get their hands on collectors’ items worn by well-known explorers including Alex Honnold, Conrad Anker, Simone Moro and Caroline Ciavaldini.
It’s all part of the “Pinnacle project by The North Face” which encourages “rebellious spirits to unite in exploration”. Being more of a conformist, Diary will stick to the Covent Garden branch, thanks.
Why’d it have to be snakes?
It was just another quiet August Friday when newsdesks all over the country were awoken from their slumber by word that a snake had been filmed eating a pigeon on an east London high street.
It set Diary thinking. Given that all manner of recommendations have been made in recent years on how the high street can be saved, why not take inspiration from this tale. Nothing else has worked: should we consider the release of more pigeon-eating snakes to increase dwell time in town centres? Surely it merits consideration.
One respondent to EG’s take on the story was unimpressed: “It’s a bit ‘dog bites man’. Now, a snake-eating pigeon on the other hand…”
Stocking Christmas
Diary began its own countdown to the festive season almost a month ago, having been geed along by the good folks at Christmas Tree World.
So, while the Evening Standard reacted with mild incredulity to the fact that Selfridges has opened its Christmas department for 2018 (on the theme “Selfridge’s Rocks Christmas”), we’re left wondering: what took it so long?
Eleanor Gregory, its Christmas & home buyer, told the paper that the launch will serve the tourist throngs “from all over the world” eager to return home with a festive souvenir of London, and “simply addresses the growing demand for convenience Christmas shopping outside the traditional Christmas season”.
While Selfridges could probably have waited, it’s not a bad idea for certain other retailers at the minute: get the tinsel out early while you still exist.
Lions and tigers and builders
To access and loss of light, add existence of a zoo. When it comes to planning objections, East Lindsey District Council in Lincolnshire is facing a doozy.
Two years ago, Larkfleet Homes gained permission to build 80 homes in Horncastle. In the meantime, according to LincolnshireLive, “Andrew Riddel, 50, has applied to add three animal enclosures, three shelters and a quarantine enclosure to his home, where he keeps a collection of 200 animals”.
Riddel and partner Tracey Walters have built up a collection of 200 wild animals including zebras, lions, a tiger, camels, emus, lemurs and miniature donkeys. They hope to open their Wolds Wildlife Park to the public.
Larkfleet warns that their prospective homeowners risk being disrupted if “animals start to roar or howl” and fears that the “smell and lack of disposal [of waste] could be a major environmental problem”.
It’s not unusual for rival parties to lock horns on planning matters – but it is rare for one side to have actual horns.
Main image © ITV/REX/Shutterstock
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