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In recent weeks, we've witnessed the spectacle of the world's most powerful bank being dragged before the US senate to answer questions of allegedly in-appropriate business behavior.

The brand had reached a point where its very power threatened it. While others suffered, Goldman prospered and its bankers became the target of everyone who hadn't been so fortunate. Goldman had multiple chances to show humility and to transform itself into something more transparent and balanced, but it took government action and public humiliation for the bank to take a long hard look at itself.

While business leaders and brand experts love powerful brands, their very power can threaten their core. It would be smart if every strong brand was big enough to realize that humility goes a long way these days and every bound forward needs to be balanced with a measure of humbleness.

UK grocery chain Tesco has been in superpower position for many years, as it's expanded geographically and into other business areas, it has been the subject of serious scrutiny. The brand has simply got too powerful and is at a point where it has to be careful with every action it takes. While it's shareholders and business leaders want the brand to become even more powerful, this power seems to have its limits.

As Tesco continues to expand into all four corners of the UK, it's meeting pockets of resistance from local governments who are making serious demands in return for the brand's continued expansion. These financially constrained local governments want some of Tesco cash reserves to fund housing, a move which is forcing Tesco into a business that it never intended to be in, homes.

While this news is fodder for any brand wizard wanting to show the amazing elasticity of power brands, it's something of a problem for Tesco, as it confirms their status of all conquering power.

However, perhaps there's a way that Tesco could turn this unintended consequence into a positive?

What if it was to create a foundation to facilitate the house building process and do it any way that pushed the boundaries on sustainability and provided homes at a low cost to those in need?

What if it could find a way to contribute something meaningful to society, like a new concept of community and do this through its foundation?

Tesco executives might be wise to read Fordlandia, the story of Henry Ford's attempt to create a perfect mid-western style company town in the middle of the Amazon.

While on paper, it looks like another example of corporate imperialism, dig deeper and you find Henry Ford wanted world class medical care and the best living standards for his workers, but more than that, he wanted community.

There's nothing wrong with powerful brands, but at some point, they all have to realize that humility and giving back are the only ways to stop them toppling over thanks to their own arrogance.


Posted by Ed Cotton As some people in American get richer they need ever more imaginative ways to spend their money. 

According to the New York Times, they've moved beyond the home spa, to the home observatory.

“The reason why people don’t use their telescopes is they are such a pain to haul out and set up,” said John Spack, 50, a certified public accountant who had a domed observatory built on top of an addition to his house in Chicago last year. “Now, if I want to get up at 3 a.m. and look at something, I just open the shutter.”


Posted by Ed Cotton


Via


Posted by Ed Cotton The UK is covered with brick terraced houses; they are part of the nation's character.  It would be easy for architect to just knock down a row of these houses, put new ones up in their place, or even build a high rise.

At Chimney Pot Park in Salford, the architects tried something different. They created a new concept, "The Upside Down House"; reversing the original format of the 1910 homes, placing the bedroom downstairs and the living room upstairs.


Sometimes, with ideas, it's often easy to tear it down start again, but re-imagining what already exists, can often be a more powerful way to go.

Via dezeen



Posted by Ed Cotton Influx attended an excellent mini conference at CCA hosted and curated by Geoff Manaugh of Bldgblog fame.

The line-up of speakers:

Geoff Manaaugh- Gave an amazing talk about his pet interests that included- articifical islands, micro nations, fault lines and underground cities
Erik Davies- Talking up California's eclectic spiritual architecture
Walter Murch- The academy award winning movie editor- talking about the connection between the Pantheon in Rome and Copernicus
Rebar Group- A San-Francisco group of acitvist artist/performers who's projects explore the concept of space

One of the most interesting presentations was given by the architects Iwamoto Scott- who talked about their recent projects. One which stuck out was the Jellyfish house; a vision of a home (50 years into the future) located on Treasure Island in San Francisco Bay.

It was full of lots of amazing ideas:

- The house is built with a skin designed to filter water from the bay and rain water- the filters would use a combination of UV (just like many bottled waters we buy today) and titanium dioxide
- The ambience of the environment is changed by the user- the color of the walls and roof could be changed at a flick or a switch
- The skin of the home would also act like a digital membrane- carry digital circuits and technologies

The last element reflects the evolution from the concept of the smart home (a concept that's been with us for the last 10 years) as a home that you program, to the ambient home; something even more intelligent, in that it reacts to changes in stimuli. This is already a theme we are starting to see more in consumer electronics and building materials.

Image: Iwamoto Scott