A warm welcome to the capital’s future skyline to The Tulip.
A planning application was submitted last week for the 305-metre-high building, to be situated next to The Gherkin at 30 St Mary Axe, EC3. Twitter went into overdrive.
A tiptoe through The Tulip reactions reveals that most people only commented on what they believed the new skyscraper resembles: less flower and more… something that doesn’t warrant discussion on a Diary page.
Thank heavens for Colin Birks then, who kept it clean when tweeting: “New building in London to be called ‘The Tulip’? Perhaps, it needs looking at closer, as ‘The Asparagus’ seems more suitable.” Diary is with you, Colin.
Like a new signing
Avison Young’s purchase of GVA gives rise to a plethora of synergies and benefits, some of which might not be as obvious as others.
Asked what he was most looking forward to about being reunited with former colleague and Avison Young chief executive Jason Sibthorpe, a clearly over-the-moon GVA chief executive Gerry Hughes told EG: “I am looking forward to him joining our football team. We have got an amazing five-a-side team and he can slot back in there as I gave it up a few years ago. That is my dream.”
Working together, Diary is sure the united firm can achieve all its goals. But we have to wonder: as competition hots up, will the quest for on-pitch success drive further M&A activity?
Dear Diary
Want to sell your million pound property, fast? What better way than by e-mailing Diary?
“hELLO” read the subject title, with little hint at what was to lie inside. “Happy weekend” came the polite, if unusual, greeting.
Thereafter, a chef and restaurant owner we won’t name explained how she had come across our company on LinkedIn, adding: “i want to sell my house, i need your help to get it sold. it is worth over 1.3million$. Write me back if you have interest so i can send specification…” (sic).
Now, Diary isn’t really in the business of selling houses, but at, say, 2.5% commission, that would be more than £25,000. It’s almost tempting…
Woolworth a read
Diary was delighted to see the headline “What has happened to Woolworths’ stores 10 years after closure?” riding high in the top stories on the BBC website.
Not only because the article harnessed the Radius Data Exchange findings that Poundland, Iceland and B&M were the top three chains when it comes to snaffling up former Woolworths branches. But also because it demonstrates how a childhood institution remains very much on the minds of British shoppers, a decade on from its demise.
There were more than 200 comments and, amid the general doom and gloom about the high street and the sound and fury about Brexit, others shared Diary’s feelings with remarks such as “I bought ‘Make it Big’ by Wham in Woolies” and “It’s an iconic logo… at least we have memories.” Diary can’t sum it up any more pithily than “Ah pick n mix”.
It’s hard to imagine similar nostalgic reflections 10 years on for BHS or even Toys R Us.
Click here to read EG’s original analysis.
The magic meadow
“Once the family arrives at school, the day begins with a music circle, where parents and children sing along and dance to Beatles and Disney songs in a space dubbed ‘the magic meadow’ — a green carpeted island amidst pale wood fixtures, all designed by an avant-garde Danish architect. Afterward, parents troop over to a lounge area for socializing and free coffee.”
Diary’s interest was piqued by this article in the New York Post. And where is this utopia? “Welcome to WeGrow, a progressive new pre-K and elementary school from WeWork…” But you were probably ahead of us there.
Good house-working
In this modern era of flexible working, any advice on how to optimise the home office experience is always welcome – but, in 2018, does it really need to be gender specific?
An EG colleague received an e-mail titled “Must-Have Gifts for the Busy Woman’s Home Office” sent on behalf of a “women’s empowerment author”.
The number one tip is to go hands-free, as the expert explains: “Apple AirPods are a handy tool for taking work calls while you cook and clean… And, let’s be honest, we all can’t help ourselves but to spot an unkempt home when we’re working from it. Schedule your next meeting while you cook breakfast or fold the towels. Why not?”
-Perhaps the more pertinent question should be: why? This Diary writer is male, works from home part of the week, and, yes, juggles the laundry into that schedule. But nobody has ever e-mailed him about folding towels – and they almost certainly never will.
Oh no-poly
As if the Cheaters Edition that Diary noted back in February wasn’t sacrilege enough, the makers of Monopoly have gone back to the drawing board to wreak further havoc with the iconic game that introduced so many of us to the notion of buying and selling property.
Monopoly for Millennials is here, but don’t expect houses and hotels.
As the tagline on the front of the box puts it: “Forget real estate. You can’t afford it anyway.”
On the back, it gets worse: “Adulting is hard. You deserve a break from the rat race!”
Meanwhile, Monopoly mascot Uncle Pennybags is pictured holding a to-go coffee and taking a selfie.
Players compete not to make money, but to gain “experience points” from visiting music festivals, farmers’ markets and the like.
Traditionalists and millennials alike lined up online to put the old boot in.
Which brings us, of course, to the tokens. They include an emoji and a hashtag – but somehow not an avocado or a pumpkin spice latte. It’s almost like they weren’t even trying to offend an entire generation.
To send feedback, e-mail jess.harrold@egi.co.uk or tweet @estatesgazette
