Philosopher鈥檚 2ha 50-home development with Feilden Clegg Bradley 鈥榩ut on ice鈥�
Architectural commentator Alain de Botton鈥檚 plans to set up a development company are to be scrapped.
De Botton鈥檚 foray into residential development, which was to be made into a television programme, has been put on hold indefinitely by Channel 4, the venture鈥檚 backer.
The pop philosopher had planned to work on a scheme with Feilden Clegg Bradley.
De Botton told 好色先生TV: 鈥淭he original development plan I was going to do with C4 has hit all kinds of hurdles and seems on ice for now. So I鈥檓 currently just working on a new book.鈥�
Following the success of his book, The Architecture of Happiness, de Botton decided to put his ideas into practice and set up a company called Praxis Development.
The plan was to find a 2ha site near London that already had outline planning permission. He would then commission five architects to design about 50 鈥渇irst-rate鈥� homes on the site. Work was due to start on site in spring this year.
De Botton鈥檚 aim was to demonstrate that those outside the industry were often powerless compared with housebuilders.
He joined forces with Feilden Clegg Bradley, which he asked to masterplan the site, arrange the architectural competition and design some houses. The architect declined to comment.
