PUBLISHED ARTICLES
Since 1995 Gus Alexander has written a regular column in Building, the construction magazine of record, a selection of which can be found here.
COUNTRY MATTERS
For the architect, the country offers variety, novelty and the prospect of tanned craftsmen toiling in the wolds. But if you want control over a project, stick to the city. Read more.
PLANNING APPLICATIONS: THE AGE OF CONSENT
Architects are spending more of their time doing designs purely to gain planning permission. But unless they're going to help build them too, don't expect them to be any good. Read more.
ARCHITECTS... MEET THE REAL WORLD
Many architects have evolved into service providers for giant PFI contractor consortiums. Which means that, if they lose their jobs, they can't fend for themselves. Read more.
PRINCE CHARLES THE WRECKER
As if dealing with planners for months on end wasn't painful enough, we now have to calculate a last-minute intervention from a prince addicted to retro architecture. Read more.
THE MAN FROM THE MINISTRY
Who was also the client from hell, asked Gus Alexander to refurbish his flat. He then proceeded to give a masterclass in arrogance and incompetence. Here's what happened... Read more.
WHY CAN'T WE HAVE BOULANGERIES?
The French have mastered the art of nurturing individual shops and businesses, whereas here, civilised life is leaking out of our town centres. Gus Alexander has an idea... Read more.
PARTY POLITICS: GUS ALEXANDER ON OVERPRICED PARTY WALL SURVEYORS
Gus Alexander doesn’t like to get involved in spats over party walls. Scumbag neighbours he can deal with, but overpriced surveyors who think they're auditioning for Boston Legal? Never. Read more.
THE HARD WAY: GUS ALEXANDER ON NOVATING AN ARCHITECT
Transferring control of the architect from client to contractor can work fine. It can also make everyone's life a lot more difficult – particularly the architect's Read more.
THE WRECKING CREW
Oscar Wilde said a cynic is someone who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing. Gus Alexander suspects that much the same is true of value engineers... Read more.