Chiba: the Barkitect. The office doge. We’re often told she looks sad. But in reality she has ‘panda eyes’: dark hair surrounds. What if the hair around her eyes was blonde? Would she look happier: do or dye!

Tourist attraction site AttractionTix analysed social media (Instagram) to find mentions of travel hotspots alongside the world ‘selfie’ so as to compile a list of the most popular places to pose for a self-taken self portrait. At the top of the list was the Eiffel Tower in Paris, with more than 10,700 posts found so far in 2015, ahead of Disney World in Orlando, Florida and the world’s tallest building – the Burj Khalifa – in Dubai. Trending not far behind is our Villa OP in Auckland…

Once known as the artist’s impression, the 3-D computer-generated image (CGI) is pimped by architects and as a means to sell a development. CGIs embrace the technique of hyper-realism for the Lilliputian seduction yet such realism is frequently forged upon fantasy: dramatic wide-angled yet selectively-cropped viewpoints, surreal purple skies compounded by the aesthetic of motion blurs. Every citizen of the CGI world is a supermodel. Each day an email arrives from China with an offer to build a drawing: that is visualisers seeking work as a pixel contractor to the architect. Within this context of architectural (mis)representation, it is refreshing to then see a CGI whose purpose is meaningful, not merely to sell something. The image below has been produced by Spitalfields Community Group in response to British Land’s Boris-endorsed redevelopment proposals for Norton Folgate, here in East London. The images speak not of construction, but of destruction. Even desecration. Please add your name to the illustrious list of those calling for a Public Inquiry by writing direct to the Secretary of State. The Spitalfields Trust suggest you include the following points in your letter which you can email to gregclarkmp@parliament.uk or post to House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA This is not just a very important case for London, it is also of national importance and has serious implications for Conservation Areas across the country. This fragile Conservation Area is protected by local Conservation Guidelines, which this application disregards. The vitality of the City does not depend upon demolishing some warehouses in Spitalfields. The democratic decision at a local level has been over-ruled by the centralised intervention of the Mayor of London. The Spitalfields Trust’s Conservation Scheme for Norton Folgate is independently costed and is viable. It could be delivered more quickly and far more cheaply than that proposed by British Land. It is based upon the repair of the existing historic buildings, with sensitive infill of empty sites in keeping with the Conservation Area. The Spitalfields Trust’s scheme would provide more affordable business accommodation, particularly for small businesses and provide more housing, both low cost and private, for the local borough. This case has given rise to substantial local and national controversy, and has been widely covered in the media. The whole-scale demolition of heritage assets in the Conservation Area conflicts fundamentally with national policies as set out in the National Planning Policy Framework in section 12 in relation to conserving and enhancing the historic environment.

Our favourite micronation for 2015 is: Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, a tiny island state, 3,800km from France but just 25km from Canada. As such Saint-Pierre and Miquelon is a French collectivité d’outre-mer or COM: it is literally a ‘dot COM’ with the charming domain .pm and the attendant freedom to deploy the internet in ways larger nations cannot. The earliest known micronations dated from the beginning of the 19th century and the advent of the Internet provided the means for people to create many new micronations, whose members are scattered all over the world and interact mostly by electronic means, often calling their nations Nomadic Countries. The differences between such Internet micronations, other kinds of social networking groups, and role playing games are often hard to define…

HOME IMPROVEMENTS. Peter Taylor Associates rooftop and balcony works to Morris Blitz Court in Hackney.

Replay. Remix. A concept which has massive value in music and the arts but barely understood in architecture. Architecture desires originality but attains this by burying its references. Unlike Art: Shoreditch Skyline Collaborations at the Howard Griffin Gallery featured: John Dolanwith 2501, John Dolan with Broken Fingaz Crew, John Dolan with Cityzen Kane, John Dolan with EKTA, John Dolan with Gold Peg, John Dolan with Ian Stevenson, John Dolan with Thierry Noir.

These artists have collaborated with John by working directly onto the walls of his cityscapes, creating unique pieces, bringing together one of the biggest group shows, depicting an ever-changing area of the city.

Replay. Remix. A concept which has massive value in music and the arts but barely understood in architecture. Architecture desires originality but attains this by burying its references. Unlike Music (Iveta’s choice):

It does exactly what it says on the tin, or rather: Can: Pillow Cinema!