This architect enjoys the digital realm, but can imagine some improvements: emails that smell of ink, perhaps, a world without Facebook and an iPhone with a built-in corkscrew
What is your favourite website?
It would have to be the Guardian () – recently there’s been a hilarious exchange with Lily Allen (pictured) on Marina Hyde’s blog. Also, I have been reading the blogs of an environmentalist friend of mine with interest: – he has just been on a journey to a glacier at Disko Bay in Greenland with a boatload of artists like Jarvis Cocker (pictured, middle) and Sophie Calle
What do you prefer: letters or email?
There’s nothing like getting, or writing, a carefully considered letter – I like to smell the ink – but the post is virtually all junk now. Emailing is how I mostly communicate, though I’m wary that things can get very bad-tempered very quickly in email exchanges.
What is in your digital holster?
I got my iPhone early and it’s pretty battered up now, but indispensible as I’m usually between our Cambridge and London studios, or somewhere up the Lea Valley. I like the bottom-up quality of programmes being written for the iPhone now – for a few pence you can make it into a voice recorder or a thing to measure angles. Shame about the hopeless camera and the lack of a fold-out corkscrew.
What is the last thing you bought online?
A huge beanbag for my daughter Lily.
What shall we play?
I don’t play games online myself, but I like to watch what my kids are playing sometimes – it’s another world, all about chasing fruit or avoiding squirrels.
What was the last song you downloaded?
The Fall’s (founder Mark E Smith, pictured) Industrial Estate, to coincide with the launch of our public realm work on the Park Royal estate in London.
Do you watch TV online?
Yes, occasionally - it’s great as I rarely catch regular TV. I have recently watched Fonejacker, Channel 4’s prank phonecall comedy programme.
Do you listen to podcasts?
I subscribe to Radio Four’s In Our Time and From Our Own Correspondent. I had to stop listening to things like Down the Line (a Radio Four satire on phone-in programmes) on headphones, as other passengers n the train looked nervous and upset as I cackled away to myself.
Do you use social networking sites?
I can’t think of anything worse!
Postscript
Tom Holbrook is the director of 5th Studio architects
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