Building to the skies - Revision history

Designing Buildings at 08:22, 2 November 2020

2020-11-02T08:22:30Z

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	* Profitable Partnering for Lean Construction. Clive Thomas Cain 2004.		* Profitable Partnering for Lean Construction. Clive Thomas Cain 2004.

−	[[Category:Publications_/_reports]]	+	[[Category:DCN_Commentary]] [[Category:DCN_Report]] [[Category:Publications_/_reports]]

Designing Buildings at 07:13, 3 November 2019

2019-11-03T07:13:16Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:13, 3 November 2019
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	He also saw that this inefficiency impacted on the wider economy, writing, ‘All rents and costs of production throughout Great Britain are higher than they should be because houses and factories cost too much and take too long to build… Bad layouts add at least 15% to the production of the cotton industry. Of how many of our steel plants and woollen mills, and even our relatively up-to-date motor works, might not the same be said? The battle of trade may easily be lost before it has fairly been opened – in the architect’s design room.’		He also saw that this inefficiency impacted on the wider economy, writing, ‘All rents and costs of production throughout Great Britain are higher than they should be because houses and factories cost too much and take too long to build… Bad layouts add at least 15% to the production of the cotton industry. Of how many of our steel plants and woollen mills, and even our relatively up-to-date motor works, might not the same be said? The battle of trade may easily be lost before it has fairly been opened – in the architect’s design room.’

−	Similar criticisms have followed ~~Reaching for~~ the Skies, most notably; the Latham Report, Constructing the Team in 1994; The Egan Report, Rethinking Construction in 1998; the Government Construction Strategy in 2011 and Construction 2025, published in 2013.	+	Similar criticisms have followed Building to the Skies, most notably; the Latham Report, Constructing the Team in 1994; The Egan Report, Rethinking Construction in 1998; the Government Construction Strategy in 2011 and Construction 2025, published in 2013.

	Sir Michael Latham described the UK construction industry as ‘ineffective’, ‘adversarial’, ‘fragmented’ and ‘incapable of delivering for its customers’, largely the same points as those set out by Bossom.		Sir Michael Latham described the UK construction industry as ‘ineffective’, ‘adversarial’, ‘fragmented’ and ‘incapable of delivering for its customers’, largely the same points as those set out by Bossom.

Designing Buildings at 12:21, 28 March 2019

2019-03-28T12:21:28Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:21, 28 March 2019
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	Several reports have also made projections of substantial savings within the industry if their recommendations were adopted. Notably, the Government Construction Strategy sets out an intention to achieve savings of 15 to 20%.		Several reports have also made projections of substantial savings within the industry if their recommendations were adopted. Notably, the Government Construction Strategy sets out an intention to achieve savings of 15 to 20%.

−	However, the recommendations of such reports largely fail to gain traction within the industry and the criticisms continue. It might be inferred therefore either that; under the circumstances, the industry operates more effectively than it appears from the outside; or that expectations are unrealistic; or that recommendations have been consistently poorly implemented. It is worth noting that criticism of construction is not peculiar to the UK, and that similar assessments have been made in the USA, for example see ~~[http://www.nvo.com/vklaw/nss-folder/ukusconstructioncomparison/~~ Constructing the team: A US Perspective], King 1996.	+	However, the recommendations of such reports largely fail to gain traction within the industry and the criticisms continue. It might be inferred therefore either that; under the circumstances, the industry operates more effectively than it appears from the outside; or that expectations are unrealistic; or that recommendations have been consistently poorly implemented. It is worth noting that criticism of construction is not peculiar to the UK, and that similar assessments have been made in the USA, for example see Constructing the team: A US Perspective, King 1996.

−	~~= Find out more =~~	+	= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =
−		+
−	=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===	+

	* Accelerating change: A report by the Strategic Forum for Construction.		* Accelerating change: A report by the Strategic Forum for Construction.
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	* List of construction industry reports since 1944.		* List of construction industry reports since 1944.

−	=== External references ===	+	= External references =

−	* ~~[http://www.nvo.com/vklaw/nss-folder/ukusconstructioncomparison/~~ Constructing the team: A US Perspective], V. KING, 1996.	+	* Constructing the team: A US Perspective, V. KING, 1996.
	* Profitable Partnering for Lean Construction. Clive Thomas Cain 2004.		* Profitable Partnering for Lean Construction. Clive Thomas Cain 2004.

	[[Category:Publications_/_reports]]		[[Category:Publications_/_reports]]

Designing Buildings at 07:20, 14 June 2018

2018-06-14T07:20:18Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 07:20, 14 June 2018
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−	Alfred Bossom’s book ~~‘ Building~~ to the Skies: The Romance of the Skyscraper’, published in 1934, was one of the first major criticisms of the standard of performance of the UK construction industry.	+	Alfred Bossom’s book ‘Building to the Skies: The Romance of the Skyscraper’, published in 1934, was one of the first major criticisms of the standard of performance of the UK construction industry.

	Bossom was an architect who went to the USA in the early 20th century, where he was involved in the design of skyscrapers. This impressed on him that construction was a process like any other, and that if all the parties worked together it could be planned in advance and then carried out to an agreed schedule. He found that contractors in the USA were able to build faster than their counterparts in the UK, but at the same cost, and as a result they were more profitable and were able to pay higher wages.		Bossom was an architect who went to the USA in the early 20th century, where he was involved in the design of skyscrapers. This impressed on him that construction was a process like any other, and that if all the parties worked together it could be planned in advance and then carried out to an agreed schedule. He found that contractors in the USA were able to build faster than their counterparts in the UK, but at the same cost, and as a result they were more profitable and were able to pay higher wages.

Designing Buildings: moved Reaching for the skies to Building to the skies

2018-06-14T07:20:05Z

moved Reaching for the skies to Building to the skies

← Older revision

Revision as of 07:20, 14 June 2018

90.252.221.155 at 19:32, 17 December 2017

2017-12-17T19:32:38Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:32, 17 December 2017
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		+	Alfred Bossom’s book ‘ Building to the Skies: The Romance of the Skyscraper’, published in 1934, was one of the first major criticisms of the standard of performance of the UK construction industry.

−	~~Alfred Bossom’s book ‘Reaching for the Skies’, published in 1934, was one of the first major criticisms of the standard of performance of the UK construction industry.~~	+	Bossom was an architect who went to the USA in the early 20th century, where he was involved in the design of skyscrapers. This impressed on him that construction was a process like any other, and that if all the parties worked together it could be planned in advance and then carried out to an agreed schedule. He found that contractors in the USA were able to build faster than their counterparts in the UK, but at the same cost, and as a result they were more profitable and were able to pay higher wages.
−		+
−	Bossom was an architect who went to the USA in the early ~~20<sup>th</sup>~~ century, where he was involved in the design of skyscrapers. This impressed on him that construction was a process like any other, and that if all the parties worked together it could be planned in advance and then carried out to an agreed schedule. He found that contractors in the USA were able to build faster than their counterparts in the UK, but at the same cost, and as a result they were more profitable and were able to pay higher wages.	+

	When he returned home, the deficiencies in the UK construction industry were obvious to him, and he became an advocate for change. He saw an adversarial and wasteful industry in which construction took too long, was too expensive and was not satisfactory for its clients.		When he returned home, the deficiencies in the UK construction industry were obvious to him, and he became an advocate for change. He saw an adversarial and wasteful industry in which construction took too long, was too expensive and was not satisfactory for its clients.
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	=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===		=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===
−	*Accelerating change: A report by the Strategic Forum for Construction.	+
−	*Banwell Report.	+	* Accelerating change: A report by the Strategic Forum for Construction.
−	*Construction 2025.	+	* Banwell Report.
−	*Egan Report.	+	* Construction 2025.
−	*Government Construction Strategy.	+	* Egan Report.
−	*Levene report.	+	* Government Construction Strategy.
−	*List of construction industry reports since 1944.~~<br/>~~	+	* Levene report.
		+	* List of construction industry reports since 1944.

	=== External references ===		=== External references ===
−	*[http://www.nvo.com/vklaw/nss-folder/ukusconstructioncomparison/ Constructing the team: A US Perspective], V. KING, 1996.	+
−	*Profitable Partnering for Lean Construction. Clive Thomas Cain 2004.	+	* [http://www.nvo.com/vklaw/nss-folder/ukusconstructioncomparison/ Constructing the team: A US Perspective], V. KING, 1996.
		+	* Profitable Partnering for Lean Construction. Clive Thomas Cain 2004.

	[[Category:Publications_/_reports]]		[[Category:Publications_/_reports]]

Designing Buildings at 13:57, 8 July 2014

2014-07-08T13:57:08Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:57, 8 July 2014
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	*Profitable Partnering for Lean Construction. Clive Thomas Cain 2004.		*Profitable Partnering for Lean Construction. Clive Thomas Cain 2004.

−	[[Category:~~History~~]]	+	[[Category:Publications_/_reports]]

Designing Buildings at 16:21, 3 June 2014

2014-06-03T16:21:33Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:21, 3 June 2014
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	He also saw that this inefficiency impacted on the wider economy, writing, ‘All rents and costs of production throughout Great Britain are higher than they should be because houses and factories cost too much and take too long to build… Bad layouts add at least 15% to the production of the cotton industry. Of how many of our steel plants and woollen mills, and even our relatively up-to-date motor works, might not the same be said? The battle of trade may easily be lost before it has fairly been opened – in the architect’s design room.’		He also saw that this inefficiency impacted on the wider economy, writing, ‘All rents and costs of production throughout Great Britain are higher than they should be because houses and factories cost too much and take too long to build… Bad layouts add at least 15% to the production of the cotton industry. Of how many of our steel plants and woollen mills, and even our relatively up-to-date motor works, might not the same be said? The battle of trade may easily be lost before it has fairly been opened – in the architect’s design room.’

−	Similar ~~criticism~~ have followed Reaching for the Skies, most notably, the Latham Report, Constructing the Team in 1994, The Egan Report, Rethinking Construction in 1998 ~~and more recently,~~ the Government Construction Strategy and Construction 2025.	+	Similar criticisms have followed Reaching for the Skies, most notably; the Latham Report, Constructing the Team in 1994; The Egan Report, Rethinking Construction in 1998; the Government Construction Strategy in 2011 and Construction 2025, published in 2013.

	Sir Michael Latham described the UK construction industry as ‘ineffective’, ‘adversarial’, ‘fragmented’ and ‘incapable of delivering for its customers’, largely the same points as those set out by Bossom.		Sir Michael Latham described the UK construction industry as ‘ineffective’, ‘adversarial’, ‘fragmented’ and ‘incapable of delivering for its customers’, largely the same points as those set out by Bossom.
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	Several reports have also made projections of substantial savings within the industry if their recommendations were adopted. Notably, the Government Construction Strategy sets out an intention to achieve savings of 15 to 20%.		Several reports have also made projections of substantial savings within the industry if their recommendations were adopted. Notably, the Government Construction Strategy sets out an intention to achieve savings of 15 to 20%.

−	However, the recommendations of such reports largely fail to gain traction within the industry and the criticisms continue. It might be inferred therefore either that; under the circumstances the industry operates more effectively than it appears from the outside; or that expectations are unrealistic; or that recommendations have been consistently poorly implemented. It is worth noting that criticism of construction is not peculiar to the UK, and that ~~for example~~ similar assessments have been made in the USA ~~(ref~~ [http://www.nvo.com/vklaw/nss-folder/ukusconstructioncomparison/ Constructing the team: A US Perspective], King 1996).	+	However, the recommendations of such reports largely fail to gain traction within the industry and the criticisms continue. It might be inferred therefore either that; under the circumstances, the industry operates more effectively than it appears from the outside; or that expectations are unrealistic; or that recommendations have been consistently poorly implemented. It is worth noting that criticism of construction is not peculiar to the UK, and that similar assessments have been made in the USA, for example see [http://www.nvo.com/vklaw/nss-folder/ukusconstructioncomparison/ Constructing the team: A US Perspective], King 1996.

	= Find out more =		= Find out more =

Designing Buildings: Created page with " Alfred Bossom’s book ‘Reaching for the Skies’, published in 1934, was one of the first major criticisms of the standard of performance of the UK construction industry. Bo..."

2014-06-03T16:16:53Z

Created page with " Alfred Bossom’s book ‘Reaching for the Skies’, published in 1934, was one of the first major criticisms of the standard of performance of the UK construction industry. Bo..."

New page

Alfred Bossom’s book ‘Reaching for the Skies’, published in 1934, was one of the first major criticisms of the standard of performance of the UK construction industry.

Bossom was an architect who went to the USA in the early 20<sup>th</sup> century, where he was involved in the design of skyscrapers. This impressed on him that construction was a process like any other, and that if all the parties worked together it could be planned in advance and then carried out to an agreed schedule. He found that contractors in the USA were able to build faster than their counterparts in the UK, but at the same cost, and as a result they were more profitable and were able to pay higher wages.

When he returned home, the deficiencies in the UK construction industry were obvious to him, and he became an advocate for change. He saw an adversarial and wasteful industry in which construction took too long, was too expensive and was not satisfactory for its clients.

He wrote, ‘The process of construction, instead of being an orderly and consecutive advance down the line, is all too apt to become a scramble and a muddle.’

He also saw that this inefficiency impacted on the wider economy, writing, ‘All rents and costs of production throughout Great Britain are higher than they should be because houses and factories cost too much and take too long to build… Bad layouts add at least 15% to the production of the cotton industry. Of how many of our steel plants and woollen mills, and even our relatively up-to-date motor works, might not the same be said? The battle of trade may easily be lost before it has fairly been opened – in the architect’s design room.’

Similar criticism have followed Reaching for the Skies, most notably, the Latham Report, Constructing the Team in 1994, The Egan Report, Rethinking Construction in 1998 and more recently, the Government Construction Strategy and Construction 2025.

Sir Michael Latham described the UK construction industry as ‘ineffective’, ‘adversarial’, ‘fragmented’ and ‘incapable of delivering for its customers’, largely the same points as those set out by Bossom.

Several reports have also made projections of substantial savings within the industry if their recommendations were adopted. Notably, the Government Construction Strategy sets out an intention to achieve savings of 15 to 20%.

However, the recommendations of such reports largely fail to gain traction within the industry and the criticisms continue. It might be inferred therefore either that; under the circumstances the industry operates more effectively than it appears from the outside; or that expectations are unrealistic; or that recommendations have been consistently poorly implemented. It is worth noting that criticism of construction is not peculiar to the UK, and that for example similar assessments have been made in the USA (ref [http://www.nvo.com/vklaw/nss-folder/ukusconstructioncomparison/ Constructing the team: A US Perspective], King 1996).

= Find out more =

=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===
*Accelerating change: A report by the Strategic Forum for Construction.
*Banwell Report.
*Construction 2025.
*Egan Report.
*Government Construction Strategy.
*Levene report.
*List of construction industry reports since 1944.<br/>

=== External references ===
*[http://www.nvo.com/vklaw/nss-folder/ukusconstructioncomparison/ Constructing the team: A US Perspective], V. KING, 1996.
*Profitable Partnering for Lean Construction. Clive Thomas Cain 2004.

[[Category:History]]