Hristoforos Nicos Amanatidis - Dubai in the running for World Expo 2020

Earlier this summer, Dubai became one of four cities to put in its formal bid to host the World Expo 2020, when Princess Haya Bint Al Hussain presented to the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) in Paris. Her eloquent speech outlined the reasons why Dubai is the perfect place to host the prestigious event.

Hristoforos Nicos Amanatidis has been following the bid’s progress with interest. As a lover of both Dubai and London, between which he and wife Boryana Shehtova spilt their time, Hristoforos is very much hoping that Dubai will be the winning city for the World Expo, beating the three other contenders: Brazil’s São Paulo, Turkey’s Izmir and Russia’s Ekaterinburg.

“The World Expo is such an exciting event,” Hristoforos commented. “It would be such a marvellous thing for Dubai if we could host it here. Dubai, with its first-class facilities and stunning architecture, already enjoys an excellent international reputation for the holding of events and it would be wonderful to add the World Expo as another string to the city’s bow.”

In terms of cultural and economic impact, the World Expo is one of the largest non-commercial events in the world. The theme that Dubai has put forward for the 2020 event is Connecting Minds, Creating the Future, with three sub-themes of opportunity, sustainability and mobility. The focus of the theme is on collaboration, partnership and unity, encouraging the world to unite in order to address the challenges of the future.

The cost to Dubai of hosting the World Expo 2020 is estimated to be in the region of €6.46 billion (about Dh31.7 billion). It is clearing no small undertaking. Approximately 182 guest nations are expected to participate, with visitors topping 25 million. As well as cementing Dubai’s reputation as a world-leading place to hold events, the World Expo would also give rise to income from ticket sales, food and drink sales, merchandising, sponsorship and a range of other sources.

Incredibly, the Dubai government has estimated that 90% of employment opportunities between 2018 and 2020 would arise from the lead-up to the event, should it win the bid. Hristoforos commented further:

“Although the World Expo is an expensive event to run, the economic impact would be incredible, particularly in terms of employment opportunities. The government report released on this subject made fascinating reading.”

The winner of the World Expo 2020 bid will not be known until November, when the BIE will once more convene in Paris to announce the winner. The winning city needs to gain at least 50% of the votes, with the lowest scoring city removed and the vote re-held if no city gets 50% first time round.

November will clearly be a tense time for all those – including Hristoforos – rooting for Dubai to win. If it does, Dubai will be the first city in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region to host this prestigious global event. For now though, all the city can do is wait and hope that November brings a favourable outcome.

Hristoforos Nikos Amanatidis - Carbuncle Cup announces worst buildings in Britain

The results were out today of Building Design Magazine’s annual Carbuncle Cup, which scours Britain for the country’s ugliest buildings. The award shortlist consisted of six projects, reported by the magazine to be the worst architectural projects in Britain.

Hristoforos Nikos Amanatidis read the shortlist with interest when it was announced nearly a fortnight ago. The Redcar Beacon – a ‘vertical pier’ containing a café, shops and a viewing platform – was among the contenders, as was Lambeth’s Premier Inn. Hristoforos commented:

“England has so many incredible architectural projects, it has been amusing to read about those deemed to be at the opposite end of the scale. London’s historical buildings give the city so much majesty and grandeur, but some modern designs don’t seem to live up to people’s expectations.”

A water sports centre in Colwyn Bay, in Wales, also made the shortlist. The magazine reported that locals have named it ‘the dumpster.’ Oxford’s Castle Mill student accommodation project and the Avant Garde block of flats on London’s Bethnal Green Road were also contenders.

Topping everything, though, and taking home the Carbuncle Cup as Britain’s ugliest building, is the new UCL student block on Caledonian Road in London. Building Design Magazine reported that judges failed to see how the building could be considered ‘fit for human occupation’ in a rather damning report on the project.

Originally refused planning permission by Islington Council, reportedly for reasons of poor quality of amenity and poor quality of design, the UCL project went ahead after the council’s decision was overturned by a government inspector. While UCL has advised that the building complies with all necessary planning regulations in respect of natural daylight, the Carbuncle Cup judges found that the majority of rooms offered little privacy and lacked adequate daylight.

Hristoforos’ wife BoryanaShehtova commented on the judges’ decision:

“It is such a pity that a building designed to house some of the next generation of Britain’s professionals has been judged as being of such poor quality. I feel sorry for those students who are going to be allocated rooms there if the amenities really are as bad as the magazine article says. Student accommodation in Britain has come a long way in recent years and it would be a shame to see standards slipping back to poorer quality housing.”

UCL has defended its building and stated that it is happy with the outcome of the project, which was designed by Stephen George and Partners. The redevelopment has seen large parts of the original protected redbrick warehouse demolished, though some of the former frontage has been preserved. Hristoforos added:

“Some of London’s old warehouses provide such a beautiful glimpse into what the city must have been like in the past. Though not all architecturally beautiful, there is a solidity and functionality to the buildings that I can’t help but find appealing. To see one renovated and rebuilt in this way – resulting in it being awarded the title of Britain’s ugliest building – is really a big disappointment.”

The Carbuncle Cup has been held every year since 2006, when it was first won by Drake Circus shopping centre in Plymouth.