While Prince Charles bemoans Western society and the HCA brings back prohibition, one architectural practice is virtually bathing in booze and the World Cup is, frankly, getting out of hand

He鈥檚 a soul man

Prince Charles, addressing a meeting of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies last week, suggested that the global construction industry might want to reconnect with its 鈥渋nner soul鈥�. Faith and religion, he intoned, could hold the key to reversing global environmental crises, not to mention our current financial strife. He went on to accuse modern Western society of prioritising science over 鈥渟pirit鈥�, and quoted CS Lewis, stating that 鈥渟ometimes you have to turn the clock back 鈥� if it鈥檚 telling the wrong time鈥�. One might have thought that after his recent well-publicised spats with the modern architectural fraternity, his Royal Highness would have shied away from controversy. Clearly not 鈥�

Special relationship

Bob Neill, the communities minister in charge of the Thames Gateway, made his first public speech on the subject last week. Much to the relief of those present, he told a House of Commons reception that the regeneration would continue under the coalition. However, we think Essex councillor Stephen Castle, another key Gateway figure, got his introduction a bit mixed up. Neill鈥檚 fellow Tory said: 鈥淏ob is my oldest friend in politics. We鈥檝e fallen up and made out countless times over the years.鈥� Well it鈥檚 nice to have close friends in the party - but that close?

Hansom

Drinking dry

Everyone knows the severe effect the Homes and Communities Agency鈥檚 housing freeze is having on housebuilders and housing associations. Mindful of the new era of spending restraint, it appears the HCA has also decided to save the pennies by revising its expenses policy. Apparently, if you鈥檙e going for lunch with an HCA employee, they can鈥檛 offer you wine. However, if you ask for it they are allowed to buy it for you, but you鈥檒l be drinking it on your own - HCA employees aren鈥檛 allowed to drink any themselves. Sounds like a recipe for a very boring lunch. However, given they鈥檝e no money to spend, there鈥檚 probably not much point meeting up for lunch in the first place 鈥�

Shout, shout, let it all out

A week into the World Cup and some serious contenders are emerging - at least for the dubious title of most opportunistic construction PR moment. The engineers are off to a flying start: hot on the heels of Atkins鈥� cringeworthy release (see last week鈥檚 Hansom) came a missive from WSP, timed to land in inboxes two minutes before the first game started last Friday. It read: 鈥淲hen the World Cup kicks off today, Ian McWilliam, WSP Group鈥檚 lead engineer for electronics in South Africa will have his eye on more than just the football. His team has designed and managed the installation of all electronics in the Green Point stadium including 892 smoke detectors, 200 CCTV cameras, 350km of cat 6 copper cabling and 124 PA speakers.鈥� Fascinating.

The timing of the move probably means it just beats a release from Kent鈥檚 Summit Steel detailing its involvement in creating 鈥渂all man鈥�, a sculpture made from nearly 3,000 footballs and installed in Johannesburg. However, that company鈥檚 PR representative probably won鈥檛 mind - she appears to have added a South African contact number to her address for the World Cup - it is presumably absolutely necessary for her to be close at hand to publicise the firm鈥檚 achievement 鈥�

To a golden future

There鈥檚 no doubt that last week鈥檚 party to celebrate the 21st birthday of Allford Hall Monaghan Morris was the social engagement of the week. The architect hired out the whole of the Saatchi Gallery on the King鈥檚 Road in west London, and filled it with more than 600 guests and lots of champagne. Now we know 21st birthdays don鈥檛 come along very often, but even so, it all felt wonderfully pre-credit crunch. They always say architects feel the effect of an upturn or downturn first in the construction process - could this be a sign?

Better than Robert Green?

And finally, if you think you鈥檝e got more skill on the football pitch than England showed against the USA last week in South Africa, we鈥檇 love to hear from you. We鈥檙e asking people to film their soccer skills (on an iPhone or similar) and send us a clip. All you have to do is upload the video to YouTube.com and email us the link at buildingweb@ubm.com. The prize is really top-notch tickets for a football match. Come and have a go if you think you鈥檙e good enough 鈥�

Send any juicy industry gossip to hansom@ubm.com