Forking Out For A Handlebar & Lipstick

Today's image is of several hand painted wooden doorstops called Wedgies which I bought my sister from an art gallery in Rye, East Sussex. I think my favourite is the one with the dark glasses and handlebar moustache (that might not be the right name for this type of moustache - it looks much more 60's or 70's!).

My favourite article today was in the i newspaper relating the architects Anne Lacaton and Jean-Philippe Vassal who have just been named the new laureates of the International Pritzaker Architecture prize (often referred to as architecture's Nobel).
It is awarded to those who have "produced consistent and significant contributions to humanity and the built environment through the art of architecture". For these two architects this has meant maintaining their mantra of "never demolish, never remove - always add transform and reuse".
They met whilst training in Bordeaux in France but spent time in Niger in Africa which schooled them in a more sustainable approach to building. It may have been one of the poorest countries in the world but the people , who they describe as generous and incredible, taught them to find resources where there was almost nothing and which could be utilised with optimism, inventiveness and even poetry.
They returned to Paris and opened their own architectural practice in 1987 and applied this approach - transforming social housing blocks in both Paris and Bordeaux when there were calls to demolish and rebuild. We all too rarely consider applying this perspective in the UK and as a result a lot of buildings which could be saved are just pulled down and replaced with something much less characterful, quite often at enormous expense.
However, my favourite story about them is that they were once commissioned to redesign a public square in Bordeaux but instead suggested it actually needed nothing more than new gravel.
They are currently transforming a former hospital into apartments in Paris but have been turned down for similar projects in London, which appears to be so short sighted.

Track of the day - Damaged Goods by Gang of Four

Podcast of the day - The Fight Of The Century - Ali v Frazier (on BBC Sounds)