Aye...Eye... a Designing Buildings Christmas verse
Digital realm where some professionals convene,
Lies a wiki of wisdom, in a virtual scene.
Designing Buildings, shared knowledge space,
Guiding construction with simplicity and grace.
From project plans to procurement's art,
Each article for reference to play its part.
Legislation, standards, historical buildings and more,
A treasure trove, a built environment to explore.
As Christmas lights twinkle on structures anew,
We honour the architects, the planners, the crew.
May your projects be sturdy, and your designs bright,
Merry Christmas to all, and to a great new years night.
So continue to dream, build, craft and create,
From the digital to real, skills to celebrate.
New digital partners, artificial and intelligent,
Employed in tasks, new hands to be lent.
A festive season, and a time to reflect
On buildings, on craft, on lives to protect.
A cultural change, industry glasses to raise,
Stories of people, working lives, and living ways.
If you can, raise a toast to these virtual halls,
Ensuring free access, an industry gift for all.
Developing but maintaining as a constant resource,
Helping cross conversations and healthy discourse.
Political policy, transforming industry ills,
Goals and taskforces, and develop new skills.
From the architect vision to engineered scheme,
To the many new acronyms and what they all mean.
Planning permissions and contracts abound,
Insights on costs where solutions are found.
Heritage whispers, embodied's a saving,
Retrofit renaissance for now we are paving.
New build, new standards as a just minimum,
Perhaps now, for next year and others to come,
New models, new methods, a new hymn sheet,
Where cross-discipline collaborating minds may meet.
Happy holidays to all and to every belief,
From foundations to spires, from flat to relief.
Those shaping the world for better, we see,
So this season, let us honour their own legacy.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
We're expanding our collaborative mission by launching DB Intelligence, an exclusive market research advisory panel. Built environment professionals can now get paid to share their expertise on industry trends, products and services.
Panel members receive direct financial incentives for participating in research projects like short surveys, 1-2-1 interviews and focus groups. Register today to shape the future of the construction sector.
Planning condition discharge in England and Wales
A brief exoplanation from a building compliance expert, with further links.
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
Guidance for dealing with element of building fabric control that have increasing importance.
Shading for housing, a design guide
From the Good Homes Alliance and British Blind and Shutter Association.
UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC)
A shared framework for describing skills needs.
Social media ban consultation comes to close
CIOB urges UK Government to consider social media’s role in careers guidance in ban debate.
The latest of eight Skills England apprenticeship units
The addition of battery manufacturing welcomed by ECA with a warning about the risks of fast-tracked apprenticeship units.
Building Control Independent Panel final report
A precis of a key report led by Dame Hackitt with full recommendations and link to the government response.
Building Safety recap April, 2026
A short and longer run-through of the month, with links to further information and sources.
CIAT May 2026 briefing.
From medieval scribes to modern word art.
ECA welcomes crackdown on late payment and push for clean energy, whilst CIOB seek fixed cladding removal timeframes.
Cyber Security in the Built Environment
Protecting projects, data, and digital assets: A CIOB Academy TIS.
Managing competence in the built environment
ITFG publishes new industry guide on how to meet the ICC principles.
The UK's campaign to reduce noise pollution: Mythbusting, articles and topic guides.