I was on a bus last week in central London; top deck, front seat, driver’s side, i.e. the BEST seat. We passed a building which was having work done on it. I didn’t recognise it at first since the netting and covering used to protect the public from the four or five storeys of work were printed. The print was of what the building will look like, in the future, when the underpinning, refurbishment, and development is completed. It looked noticeably better than a dull blue, grey, or standard design and stood out on the street.

A few thoughts:

Someone had the forethought to realise that, in the period of time while the building was being developed, they could advertise what it would be when it was completed.

The cost to produce it would have been more than a standard design but will have been preferable to the people who have to put up with the disturbance of the work for a few months.

It felt that things were happening for the right purpose. All too often we hear that things must change but the vision of the end result is unknown, misunderstood, or lacks clarity.

What is the tarpaulin, netting, or covering you use to protect things when you’re building? And what messages are you sending about future state?