We all know the companies behind multi-storey offices, but do we pay enough attention to the stories behind some of these buildings?
Muse Developments’ Riverside House HQ, on the north bank of the River Irwell in Manchester, dates back to 1860, beginning life as a Royal Veterans’ Tavern during the industrial revolution. It was located near Old Bailey Prison and stood in one of the most derelict parts of Manchester. Over time, it became an office, but by its 150th anniversary it was left empty and partly demolished.
Now, just as the surrounding area has been rejuvenated, the once three-storey building has been extended both up and behind. The facade of the building remained in place, but it was not possible to exactly repeat the original brick structure. As a result, Muse decided to “mirror” it, as if reflected in water. Helpfully, the nearby river obliged. The company took a photo of the facade as displayed in the Irwell (an artful shot that now takes pride of place in reception) and turned that into reality.
A creative approach to heritage worth reflecting on.
Cleverly careers off the topic
The real estate industry sometimes gets a bad rep, but James Cleverly, the government’s Europe minister, took things to a new extreme on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Monday. As the MP tied himself in knots defending Russian-born businessman Evgeny Lebedev’s place in the House of Lords, he appeared to draw an unlikely parallel between chartered surveyors and the KGB. Yes, that KGB.
“Are you aware of a former KGB officer’s son being in the House of Lords before?” asked host Nick Robinson.
“Hang on, my father was a chartered surveyor,” responded Cleverly. “But I’m not. So what your father did for work is, I’m not completely sure, totally relevant.”
Full disclosure: Diary speaks to lots of chartered surveyors. Some are good, some are bad… but KGB-bad?
“I’m not sure that’s a direct parallel, is it, in terms of national security?” Robinson said. Quite.
Read the room
Being funny is hard, as regular readers of Diary know all too well. It’s very easy to make an error of judgment in the name of humour, particularly in 2022, when folks are eager to point out any faux pas on social media. Risking cancellation this week was Canada-based Oxford Properties, which jokingly welcomed workers back to the office in Toronto with posters asking if they missed their sweatpants (jogging bottoms to you and me) and featuring a glum pooch with the caption: “Bet your dog’s missing you.”
Sharing photos of this display on Twitter, @audrawilliams quickly went viral with her comment: “I guess to make sure employees are flooded with resentment the instant they walk in the door?”
To its credit, Oxford quickly admitted its mistake and removed them. “Unfortunately, in an attempt to be lighthearted, the signage came off as uncaring, which was never our intention,” its media team said.
There are plenty of pitfalls out there to avoid these days, but the lesson here is clear: never, and we mean never, make jokes about sad dogs.
In the lobby of an office building in Toronto. I guess to make sure employees are flooded with resentment the instant they walk in the door? pic.twitter.com/oWUDofGvzK
— Audra Williams (@audrawilliams) March 7, 2022
Strike a pose
Diary’s attention was caught this week by a colleague’s story that Vogue publisher Condé Nast is eyeing a move away from its iconic Mayfair HQ for a new London office. Exciting times, surely, for the magazine’s no doubt effortlessly chic staff, who must be dreaming of a move from Vogue House (or ancillary office space at the Adelphi on the Strand) to more hip and buzzy areas like Farringdon or Shoreditch. Their pulses must be racing. Time to fuel that fire with an official statement, eh, Condé Nast?
“As part of our standard business operations we regularly evaluate our space needs and options in all our markets around the world,” straight-bats a spokesperson, disappointingly. “We have no immediate plans to move out of the Adelphi or Vogue House at this time.”
Come on, Vogue! Let your workforce move to the music, hey, hey, hey. Come on, Vogue! Let your people go with the flow, you know you can do it. All you need is your own imagination, so use it, that’s what it’s for. Go inside for your finest inspiration. Your dreams will open the door!
Contact diary@eg.co.uk
