This blog started in early January 2007 with a first flush of enthusiasm. Then it foundered (about a fortnight later) because there was too much to do and too little time to do it in. Hopefully, it’s back on track, and a bit more organised now.

By way of a preface, here are some thumbnail introductions to the sub-sections on the site, which I’m beginning to populate as news comes in.

Lower Mill Estate

Gives some background to my 550 acre project in Gloucestershire: a nature reserve, 23 of the world’s top architects, designers and artists, numerous conservationists and a leading university all collaborating to produce a vacation community of the future that is helping to throw away the template of shoddy housebuilding.

Landmark Homes

A project launched at the V&A in 2005 to mirror the Case Studies Programme of Southern California in the 40s and to provide impetus to avant–garde architecture in the rural landscape. It’s based on the creation of 8 unique, easy-to-build, exciting and joyous modernist houses on the Estate. To this end, we’re working with architects Will Alsop, Eva Jiricna, Sutherland Hussey, Richard Meier and Partners, Roger Sherman, Sarah Featherstone, Alison Brooks, Piers Gough, Greg Lynn, to contribute designs that will establish modernism in the rural landscape.

Sustainable architecture

Does what it says on the tin, I suppose. It’s about the kinds of developments in building technology and design which make for sustainable homes and sustainable communities. The ultimate aim is to create a zero net energy community but this will be a huge challenge.

Communities

I don’t want to live in a box, locked away from the world, in an anonymous, no-services-supplied estate. So what do we do about it? Do we want to build 3,000,000 housing units by 2020, or would we prefer to create 3,000,000 homes in real communities?

Ecology

In order for an eco system to flourish it needs to be created from a properly researched bio diversity action plan. Such a plan is created and implemented by humans. An example of this is my reintroduction of the beaver to the UK (extinct for the last 500 years). The beavers’ activity supports up to 33 species of wildlife in urgent need of conservation assistance. This part of the site (surprise) deals with ecological issues.

Spa

Since we’ve developed the artspa at Lower Mill Estate, there will be news on this front at various stages. There’s bound to be at least one person out there who’s interested in natural plunge pools filtered by reed beds. Isn’t there?

Aviation

I’m a pilot, I love flying, and yes, it’s not hard to tell me I can’t be interested in protecting the environment when I delight in viewing it from 2,000 feet (with all the implications attached). Then again, some of the aviation news tackles the contradictions and maybe it’s better to have someone that flies but is dedicated to establishing a method of doing it more responsibly by purchasing European Union Allowances “EUA’s” (and then convincing the other 30 odd thousand enthusiasts to do the same).

Arts

I’ve lately started supporting the work of a startling young contemporary artist. There’ll be a fair bit more on this to come: we’re planning an exhibition, but the canvasses are all under wraps for the moment. I’ll post the images and news on this front up here first. I’ve also been involved in the production of a short film and hope to show it on-site soon.