Insight

London doesn’t really need an introduction. The most visited city in the world is home to Big Ben, double-decker buses, the Queen, the Tube, Shoreditch hipsters, Sloane Rangers, Tower Bridge, pinstripe suits and bowler hats, Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and Trafalgar square. What lies behind London’s rise to glory is commerce. By the 10th century, London was England’s largest city and most important trading centre. By the 1700s, trading ships were arriving carrying all kinds of goods for sale in the City. Tea, silk and spices came from the Orient, sugar was brought from the Caribbean, timber came from Norway and iron ore arrived from Sweden. During the 19th century, London was transformed into the world’s largest city and the capital of the British Empire. Today, London is the world’s leading financial centre alongside New York City and is a leading global city, with the arts, commerce, education, entertainment, fashion, media, research and development, tourism and transport all contributing to its prominence.

Europe’s cities have the potential to kick-start green growth in Europe and improve quality of life for our citizens, but better partnerships with the European Commission and member states are needed.

Europe is facing a serious economic crisis. Public sector budgets are under severe pressure. Cities are having to cut staff and spending, but maintain services, which are more in demand than ever. Despite these difficult times, indeed because of them, we must find a model for renewed economic growth that does not further aggravate our climate and environment. As Lord Mayor of Copenhagen, I have put this at the heart of our city strategy. It is both possible and profitable for the EU to meet economic needs while advancing environmental priorities.

The Cube by Electrolux is now open at The Southbank Centre in London from 1st June and will run until 30th September 2012. The unique dining concept is a celebration of Electrolux Professional expertise, and brings together some of the most pioneering and innovative chefs in the UK.

The Cube by Electrolux is an initiative developed by Electrolux, a global leader in domestic and professional appliances and a company chosen by almost 50% of Europe’s Michelin star chefs to supply equipment to their kitchens. Following successful visits to Brussels and Milan, The Cube by Electrolux is positioned on top of the Royal Festival Hall from June to September 2012 offering incredible views of the capital and truly unforgettable food to match.

It’s finally here, with all the build up to London 2012 we thought it would never arrive. From the seating to the flags and even the turf everything looks set for this summer’s London Olympics.

After Beijing’s seemingly flawless Games the pressure is well and truly on for London and with the much needed tourism income expected, it couldn’t have come at a better time. As the biggest construction project in Europe, politicians have gladly used the Games as the answer to the much-needed boost to the UK economy, despite the estimated £11bn (€13.4bn) price tag. With so many eggs in the Olympics basket and hopes for the UK economy, the pressure was on to find the right suppliers to run the Games smoothly.

The battle of form and function is a perennial wrangle with design; but not with Sydney-born nomadic, designer Marc Newson. The two sides are routinely balanced in his trademark biomorphic style. We report on his pathway to glory…

It doesn’t matter that his unique aesthetic point-of-view often trumps purpose into second place – his stuff just works beautifully on all levels. Take his 021C car for Ford…

London’s East End is the hotbed of art and design in Britain – if not the world. But while much of the energy there is devoted to posing and posturing, two industrious designers blended form and function and came up with a solid success. We report on the timeliness of Uniform Wares.

There’s a certain irony in a British contemporary design company using the nation’s manufacturing golden age as its muse. The paradox balloons when you figure that Uniform Wares birth came about during the recession providing the final nail in British manufacturers’ collective coffin.

Nevertheless, Uniform Wares 100 series watch, created a quiet storm on its release.

Architecture, it’s been said, reflects the society that surrounds it. Consider then, the new Medical Library Düsseldorf´s Heinrich-Heine-University. Known as the OASE building, it’s been described as being a “pulsating space for studying, reading, learning, inspiration and social encounter.” Enthusiastic, certainly – but it’s a pretty accurate way of putting it.

Camping used to be a miserable affair – bourn of the necessity of one following four things:

1. lack of funds for a proper holiday
2. a misguided spirit of adventure or guilt-inspired worthy attempt to connect with nature
3. peer/parent pressure
4. music festivals
5. all of the above