Architect Jack Pringle with his daily blog from down on the Croisette in Cannes
Thursday: George Ferguson, architect mayor of Bristol, is all over the MIPIM video promotions. But sadly only head and shoulders, no red trousers.
Wednesday: The Big Debate in the auditorium. Good news futurologist Graham Maxton thinks that 94% of accountants will be replaced by computers! Unfortunately it looks like lawyers jobs are safe.
Robert Booth CEO of EMAAR thinks that compared to 25 years ago when interest rates were 15% money now is almost free.
US developer Harry Macklowe has a simple message: good things happen to well designed, good buildings financed by patient money. Waxes lyrical about digital design, rapid prototyping and how we can model our ideas before taking shovels to site. He’s building the tallest building in Manhattan which will take four years - but the Empire State ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ only took 18 months. His apartments will sell for $8k/ft2.
Prof Carlo Ratti thinks we live in a world where old enduring things like historic architecture coexists with new phenomena like the internet. We can’t predict the future but we can invent it.
Tuesday: Another barnstorming speech from Boris at the London stand. Apparently London is now the 4th biggest French City. As he has said before, the statistic is too good to check! We have 250,000 French in London and there are only 19,500 Brits in Paris. Will he ever tire of