Merton Council has named Charles Holland Architects the winner of its competition for a bold and striking new 90,000 temporary bandstand in Mitcham, south London The winning multidisciplinary team will now work with local people to co-design and then deliver a new temporary and re-usable bandstand for Mitcham Town Centre that will be used from July to September for the next three years.Charles Holland Architects working with fabricator Raskl was chosen ahead of an undisclosed shortlist of rival teams to win the commission.The project aims to boost footfall by drawing on the history of an earlier bandstand that was constructed in the 1920s on the Fair Green in Mitcham Town Centre but was removed in the mid-20th century.AdvertisementThe completed bandstand will be called What Goes Around, a reference to its use of recycled materials as well as the return of a bandstand to the area after 100 years.Deputy leader, councillor and cabinet member for civic pride and climate change Eleanor Stringer said: The new bandstand will be a celebration of Mitchams history and heritage as well as its future.Mitchams community is so proud of this area and wants to see improvements made. The new bandstand will be at the heart of Fair Green, and is one of many ways we are revitalising the area bringing it to life for everyone who lives, works and visits here.Were delighted to be working with Charles Holland Architects, who will reach out to the community to involve them in this exciting project.Mitcham is located around 11.6km south-west of Charing Cross. Local landmarks include Godsmark Architectures Merton Sea Cadet Corps Hall, the Pollards Pop-Up By Okra Studio and Mitcham Cricket Green which is thought to be one of the oldest cricket greens in the world.AdvertisementThe latest project aims to deliver a new bold and striking temporary bandstand structure on Fair Green in the centre of Mitcham. The bold, robust and safe structure is expected to be freestanding with no permanent fixtures made to the ground.Charles Holland Architects practice principal Charles Holland said: This is a lovely project to be involved in, something that we hope will add an important element of fun and spontaneity to Mitcham Fair Green.We are very happy to be working with the team at Merton Council, our collaborators at Raskl, and the people of Mitcham in developing What Goes Around.2025-01-29Merlin Fulchercomment and share

Southwark confirmed to the AJ that a hole running directly alongside the practices 27-storey EDGE tower, which is currently being built on Fenning Street, appeared on 6 January.The cause of the sink hole is unknown and the council has added in a statement that it is monitoring the situation along with Mace, the site contractor.A council spokesperson said: The exact cause of the sinkhole remains under investigation and when the investigation is concluded, we will share findings.AdvertisementThe councils engineering services are in close liaison with the team from Mace [and] Work at the construction site continues with the hole being continually monitored seven days a week.Mace is also carrying out stabilising works and repairs, which Southwark said could take weeks. The entrance to the construction site is understood to have been relocated.The hole was visible to passers-by up until last weekend when hoardings were put up around the site, Southwark News reported. The same local news outlet shared pictures of the hole swallowing the entrance to the construction site.Pilbrow & Partners, which did not respond to the AJs request for comment, secured approval for the 27-storey EDGE tower from Southwark Council in 2021.The scheme replaces a former Home Office building near London Bridge station. Dutch developer Edge is backing the project.AdvertisementPilbrow & Partners' plans for EDGE London Bridge

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Dino Crisis 1 & 2 getting enhanced PC re-releases courtesy of GOGDRM-free and out today.Image credit: Capcom News by Matt Wales News Reporter Published on Jan. 29, 2025 There's some good news for PC players who spent the end of last year casting jealous glances at PlayStation owners, following the surprise re-release of Capcom's beloved survival horror game Dino Crisis; not only is Dino Crisis 1 now available on PC, it's sequel has also been re-released, meaning PlayStation owners might be feeling a little green eyed now too.Dino Crisis, if you're unfamiliar, originally released for PlayStation 1 back in 1999. It was created by legendary Capcom director Shinji Mikami, giving the B-movie survival horror template established in his earlier Resident Evil a jungle-based, dinosaur-themed twist. A more action-focused sequel released in 2000, followed by the Xbox-exclusive Dino Crisis 3 in 2003, and that was it for the series - leaving it to develop something of a cult following in the years since.Indeed, according to a Capcom poll last year, Dino Crisis is the series fans want to see the developer revisit the most. To date, that hasn't happen - creator Shinji Mikami later told Eurogamer he doesn't "feel like there's a whole lot of space" for a new Dino Crisis game thanks to the success of Monster Hunter - but Capcom did at least attempt to appease fans with a surprise PlayStation Plus re-release of Dino Crisis 1 last October. Since then, Dino Crisis 1 has been made available for general purchase on PlayStation, and now - in partnership with GOG - Capcom has launched the game and its beloved sequel on PC.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. Newscast: Xbox Developer Direct - four promising games also due on PlayStation.Watch on YouTubeBoth Dino Crisis GOG releases are DRM-free and include all content included in the originals, alongside a range of enhancements for modern-day machines. Dino Crisis 1, for instance, is now playable on Windows 10/11, and includes Original mode, Arrange mode, and the Operation Wipe Out mode exclusive to the game's original PC port back in the day. It also features enhanced DirectX rendering, 4K resolution support, plus new in-game options including V-sync, gamma correction, and anti-aliasing. That's in addition to support for modern controllers, and fixes for stability, transparency, and save issues.Dino Crisis 1 & 2 launch for PC via GOG today (here and here, specifically), and there's a two-game bundle for anyone wanting to pick up both. Their arrival coincides with the launch of GOG's new Dreamlist tool - a "next generation" version of its Community Wishlist - intended to show IP owners community interest in old games and help bring them back to life.

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereThe Finals Season 5 continues with a new update. Patch 5.6.0 listed some weapon fixes and made changes to Quick Cash and Cashout, and it was also the beginning of Embark celebrating Lunar New Year. Now Embark has shared The Finals update 5.7.0 patch notes, and they simply include a contract fix along with the addition of legendary beast, Big Foot, via the store rotation.The Finals update 5.7.0 patch notesBelow are The Finals update 5.7.0 patch notes:Update 5.7 is here, bringing legendary looks, treasure-worthy firepower, and a small but welcome contract fix. Looking ahead, Update 5.8 will be our mid-season balance patch complete with key adjustments to the overall game balance.In the meantime, a certain hairy legend has entered the Arena! The Hairy Hiker Set lets you become the myth itself, complete with a full outfit, a beastly gun charm and sticker, plus an emote thatll have you striking a familiar, shadowy pose. If you prefer something with ancient power (and maybe some mold), the Sunstone Set transforms your weapons into relics of a lost civilization. Weathered stone, creeping vines, and golden emblems hold together firepower that looks like its been unearthed straight from a forgotten temple.On the fixes side, weve removed the Eliminate 5 opponents from 30 meters or more using gadgets contract, as it wasnt tracking properly. Players who had this contract have been assigned a new one!Thats all for this one, lets suit up and get back in The Arena!Content and Bug FixesContractsRemoved Eliminate 5 opponents from 30 meters or more using gadgets, as it was not tracking properlyFor more The Finals, check out our guide to thebest weapons in the game ranked, and we also have a guide to thebest gadgets. In addition, we have a guide to thebest FPS settingsto help you win matchesalong witharanking of the best classesin the game.The FinalsPlatform(s):PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series S/X, Xbox Series XGenre(s):Action, First-Person Shooter, ShooterSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

You can trust VideoGamer. Our team of gaming experts spend hours testing and reviewing the latest games, to ensure you're reading the most comprehensive guide possible. Rest assured, all imagery and advice is unique and original. Check out how we test and review games hereThe leveling system in Fortnite has gone through several massive changes over the past few years. Epic Games has completely revamped challenges and XP a couple of times, making the leveling process different. Fortnite Chapter 6 is no different, as the game developer has modified XP values in almost every game mode.On Tuesday night, Epic released another change to XP. This time, leveling was buffed, which is a positive change for the community. More precisely, the game developer more than doubled XP playtime rates in Fortnite Reload.How much XP can you get from Fortnite?Gaining levels in Fortnite is one of the easiest tasks. Thanks to a variety of modes and XP buffs, reaching level 200 is a piece of cake for many players. On top of this, many members of the community use Fortnite XP maps to level up as quickly as possible and unlock all the Battle Pass rewards.While leveling up has been fast over the past few seasons, Epic Games made it even easier with the latest buff. On Tuesday, the Fortnite creator buffed XP in the Reload mode, increasing playtime gains from 750 to 1,550 per minute. Gaining XP is now much faster in Fortnite Reload. Image by VideoGamerBefore the buff, Reload players could get 45,000 XP an hour just from playing the game mode, which is a bit more than half of a level. Now, this value is 93,000 XP, meaning that players can get at least one level since it takes 80,000 XP to level up. Its important to note that this is just from Playtime XP. Performing other actions, such as opening chests and eliminating enemies, can easily lead to three or more levels per hour.Considering how many XP changes Epic has released this season, this buff may not be the last one. Furthermore, with Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 1 ending on February 21, the game developer will likely enable Supercharged XP for all players in the final week of it. FortnitePlatform(s):Android, iOS, macOS, Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/XGenre(s):Action, Massively Multiplayer, Shooter9VideoGamerSubscribe to our newsletters!By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime.Share

FangtasticWith the latest trailer for Ryan Coogler's Sinners coming hot off the tail of Nosferatu, it looks like vampire movies are well and truly backThough they're a bit less heartthrobby than they used to be.Image credit: Warner Bros. News by Oisin Kuhnke Contributor Published on Jan. 29, 2025 The latest trailer for Ryan Coogler's Sinners is here, and if it ends up being as good as it looks, I think it's safe to say vampire movies have made a comeback.Remember when vampire media was just everywhere in the late 2000s/ early 2010s? Vampire Diaries, True Blood, and of course who could forget Twilight! Sure, they were a bit campy, but the fanaticism was certainly there, and even if it's looking to be taking a darker turn right now, it certainly seems like vampires are in vogue again. While it hasn't been an absolute box office storm, Robert Eggers' Nosferatu adaptation has certainly been a hit with those that have seen it, and just yesterday we got a brand new trailer for Black Panther director Ryan Coogler's Sinners. This particular trailer, which you can check out below, puts the vampires a bit more front and centre than the first one, but the vibes are still looking to be incredibly strong.Watch on YouTubeIn a recent Q&A (via GamesRadar), Coogler spoke about his excitement for the film, saying that he feels like he's the "luckiest guy in the business in terms of the casts that I've been able to work with, but this one is up there with the best ones. Because it wasn't based on any pre-existing material, I think all the actors took ownership of their characters. That was so amazing. This cast reminds me of the [Black] Panther films, but in a way that's maybe more exciting in that, when audiences watch this, this is gonna be the first time they see these people there's no comic books on it. They really made a community when we were filming down in the South, they really looked out for each other."To see this content please enable targeting cookies. With how dominant comic book movies have become, I'm always excited when actors actually get to stretch their legs these days, so I'm definitely curious to see how Sinners shapes up. You and I don't have to wait all that long to watch it either, as it's due out in cinemas April 18.

Sonypice GirlsSony's 2 CEOs become 1, as Hideaki Nishino steps up "take the helm", with Hermen Hulst continuing to lead PlayStation's first-party studiosThe next stage of the behemoth's post-Jim Ryan corporate chair-shuffling.Image credit: VG247/PlayStation News by Mark Warren Senior Staff Writer Published on Jan. 29, 2025 Sony has announced another round of the shaking-up in its corporate leadership it kicked off last year, moving on from the double CEO solution it'd adopted in the aftermath of Jim Ryan's retirement, and having one of those two execs properly "take the helm".As outlined in a fresh press release from the corp, Hideaki Nishino, who was already leading the platform business side of SIE, is being appointed President and CEO of the full thing from April 1, 2025. Former co-CEO Hermen Hulst is staying on in the same role as he's held for a while, leader of PlayStation's first-party studios, but will now report to Nishino.To see this content please enable targeting cookies. "As we hand the baton to Nishino and this exceptional leadership team, I am confident that SIE will reach new heights in the days ahead," wrote current Sony chairman Hiroki Totoki, who stepped up into that role immediately following Ryan's retirement, "After 30 years of delivering exceptional entertainment worldwide, this marks an exciting new chapter for SIE, highlighting its commitment to fostering creativity and building meaningful connections for millions of players."Ninshino wrote that he's "truly honoured to take the helm at Sony Interactive Entertainment", continuing: "We will continue to grow the PlayStation community in new ways, such as IP expansion, while also delivering the best in technology innovation."I want to thank Hermen for his expertise and leadership as he continues his role as CEO, Studio Business group. I am deeply grateful for the PlayStation community and their continued support and I am very excited for what the future holds."Hulst's duties will continue to see him do exactly the same stuff - "lead the development, publishing and business operations of SIEs first party-content", as well as pushing for more PlayStation games to get their own TV and film adapations via PlayStation Productions, as the likes of The Last of Us and Helldivers 2 already have or are penned in for.Lin Tao, SIE's current senior vice president of finance, corporate strategy and development, is also stepping down as part of the chair-swapping to become CFO of the wider Sony Group, with her replacement to be announced at some point down the line.So, all-in-all, some of those weird metal ball desk toys probably being shuffled around offices, but nothing that doesn't look like it was part of the plans initially Sony put together in the wake of Ryan deciding to go live on a big farm no doubt filled with bobbleheads of him, far away from work and the legions of console warriors on the socials.Are you interested to see where Nishino takes Sony/PlayStation now he's been coronated sole big boss man? Let us know below!

Our latest Chaos Campus show explores what a boutique visualization and creative studio wishes every young artist knew about creativity, business, and turning passion into success.Chaos Campus is the official Facebook community that brings together students, educators, and industry enthusiasts passionate about Chaos software, rendering, and 3D art across archviz, VFX, and animation, offering a space to share work, ask questions, and connect globally. As part of that initiative, Chaos Campus Live Show, a collaboration with Creative Lighting, hosted by Nikos Nikolopoulos and now in its fourth season, connects the global CG community through knowledge sharing, Q&A sessions, and live chats with industry leaders in a welcoming and interactive space.Join Chaos Campus to never miss a show and be a part of a vibrant community of creatives shaping the future of CG! Below are the key takeaways from episode 39, which featured Pedro Fernandez, Founder of Arqui9, a boutique visualization and creative studio, and Timon, Creative Director of the studio.SummaryCreativity requires blending personal expression, storytelling, and exploring diverse influences. Overcoming creative blocks requires stepping away and diving into new activities.Growth as a creative professional involves mastering business fundamentals, taking risks, and embracing lessons from experience.A strong portfolio should be concise, visually impactful, and highlight personal strengths. It is also important to balance client work with unique or experimental projects.When looking for work, seek out studios with values like Arqui9's that favor bold creativity, passion, and dedication and foster a collaborative team dynamic.Meet the minds behind Arqui 9: Pedro and TimonPedro Fernandez began his career as an architect with a passion for visualization, which he saw as a way to make ideas real. After studying and working in Australia and Portugal for a while, he moved to London and freelanced for various studios, including Bionics, which provided him with a valuable learning experience. He founded Arqui9 to explore his unique way of seeing the world and doing things. Pedro describes Arqui9 as being a little bit at the fringes when it comes to their approach and is inspired by studios like Luxigon, Bionic, and MIR. He believes in fostering team creativity and acknowledges that the studio has projects from top studios but has also diversified the types of clients they serve.My main focus from the get-go was not business. Being creative, being unique, and expressing yourself will, in some form or another, build your business.Pedro Fernandez, Founder, Arqui9 ArquilineIn his youth, Timon traveled extensively, finding inspiration in the various sights he encountered. Originally focused on drawing, he later pursued multimedia studies in Switzerland. He soon developed a passion for concept art, which drew him towards Arqui9s unique blend of art and architecture. After completing an internship at the studio, he was offered a full-time position and eventually became Creative Director at Arqui9. When asked about his views on creativity, he shares: "Everything has been created, but not by you. And I think everyone's got something different to say." ArquilineArqui9s manifesto and valuesThe studio centers its work around a manifesto of nine core principles created in collaboration with Gabrielle, a former client and now a member of the team. The most important principles that guide their work include "love of audacity," "passion, intensity, and dedication," and the belief that no work without a passionate character can be a masterpiece." Most employees at Arqui9 have worked together for four or more years, creating a highly intuitive environment where every idea is acknowledged, and everyone makes significant contributions.The Mercedes project: Redefining large-scale video productionThe Mercedes project was the first time Arqui9 was involved in video production on such a large scale. The goal of the projects was to be memorable and entertaining, and the studio had a clear vision for the film from the very start. The project represented a significant milestone for the studio, as it involved collaboration with models, a film crew, and directors. This experience helped the team gain confidence in their abilities to deliver high-quality work, which encouraged them to pursue new, similar projects. ArquilineAdvice for creatives who are starting their journeyArqui9 believes that creativity is about personal expression, storytelling, and pushing boundaries. They emphasize that combining influences from diverse cultures and industries can enhance creative output. You don't need to travel the world to gain a fresh perspective. Sometimes, simply taking a walk in nature or overhearing a conversation at the store can spark your imagination for your next project!Enhance your knowledge by improving any skills you lack and being receptive to learning from others' experiences. Arqui9 reminds us that growth as a creative professional involves understanding business fundamentals, taking risks, and learning from experience. When you have gathered enough projects to showcase, remember to keep your portfolio concise, visually striking, and reflective of your personal strengths. Also, be sure to include unique or experimental projects alongside client work.For more actionable insights on mastering archviz and building a strong foundation in the industry, check out our blog post on 11 Essential Lessons to Excel in Archviz. ArquilineUse AI to enhance, not replace, your workTo overcome creative blocks, creatives should try their best to step away from projects to regain perspective, explore other activities to reignite inspiration and remember not to be too hard on themselves. They should embrace mistakes as part of growth and remain curious about new techniques and tools.Both Pedro and Timon encourage creatives to embrace AI while not completely depending on it and keeping a curious mind. Arqui9 has introduced tools like Runway, Midjourney, 11 Labs, and ChatGPT into its workflow to help with idea and content generation, as well as video production. Pedro acknowledges that AI may seem concerning at first due to job security, but when used to assist creativity, it can be a useful tool. Timon adds that it should not be used to substitute fundamental skills and understanding of composition, color theory, and lighting.AI is a tool at the end of the day. Creativity is the motor that kind of runs that tool. It's using it as a tool and not as a motor.Pedro Fernandez, Founder, Arqui9Lets connect, learn, and create together!We hope episode 39 of Chaos Campus Live was insightful and motivated you to take the next step in your creative journey. If you want to soak in more information from Pedro and Timon, be sure to rewatch the episode. Dont forget to join the Chaos Campus community on Facebook to connect with fellow artists, share your work, getadvice from industry experts, and keep up with trends in archviz, VFX, and animation. Stay bold, stay curious, and keep making art that inspires.Show us what youve got.Share your best Chaos render and it may just get featured on our blog.Get started

Until a few years ago, it used to be difficult to make payments across borders almost anywhere in the world. But its still a big problem in Africa, where fragmented, disconnected systems, high fees, and poor infrastructure make it tough for businesses and individuals to move money quickly and affordably.The majority of people and businesses still rely on outdated agent networks or grapple with mobile wallet integrations. But there is tangible demand for cheaper and easier alternatives, particularly in underserved regions like Francophone Africa. Ivorian fintech Cauridor is setting out to solve that, and it recently raised $3.5 million in seed funding to continue building its payment rails that let merchants, banks, telecom operators, and money transfer companies move funds in and out of Africa. Cauridor says its platform supports mobile wallets, bank transfers, and cash pickups through a network of more than 25,000 agents across Guinea, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone and Liberia. These agents are part of a popular distribution method in the region theyre usually small business owners equipped with point-of-sale (POS) devices and enable cash deposits, withdrawals and bill payments.Cauridor is adopting a hybrid approach to solving the money transfer problem the same way other fintechs in the region combine cash networks with digital infrastructure for local payment needs. Still, the approach has enabled it to operate remittance corridors to key markets like Ghana and Nigeria, and establish group-level contracts with major players such as Ria, MoneyGram, and Western Union, alongside partnerships with Orange and MTN.From remittance to B2B paymentsCauridors founders Oumar Rafiou Barry and Abdoulaye Bah experienced first-hand the challenges of sending money back home to Guinea when studying in Canada. They faced slow, expensive remittance options in Francophone Africa, a region long underserved by the global remittance industry.In 2019, this frustration drove them to start BNB CashApp, a consumer-focused remittance platform for users in Canada to send money to Africa. The app integrated directly with banks, mobile wallets like MTN, and an agent network equipped with a mobile portal to facilitate cash payouts.But as the platform grew, the founders encountered a larger challenge: Africas fragmented and inefficient payment infrastructure. We realized early on that the rails in Francophone Africa were almost non-existent. So we had to go in and start building payment rails in the region since the payments there were fragmented, CEO Barry told TechCrunch.Sensing an opportunity, the team pivoted in 2022 to build payment rails for the region. By 2023, the company had merged its consumer remittance business and B2B payment infrastructure under the Cauridor brand, much like Tanzanias Nala and Rafikis operational model. The shift paid off: Over 90% of the companys revenue now comes from its payment rails business. In 2023, Cauridor processed 2 million transactions and recorded total payment volume (TPV) of $300 million, which grew to $500 million in 2024, the company said.Nala to use $40M Series A to build B2B payments platform, scale remittance servicesCompetition and future plansWhile Barry references more prominent players like Onafriq and Thunes as Cauridors main competition, he says his company has remained relevant because it built payment rails in markets no one was looking at, like Guinea and Liberia.He noted that hands-on customer service and pricing have also helped it retain customers. The fintech provides customer service to resolve common issues like rejected mobile money transactions due to incomplete KYC. For example, if a recipient can only receive $10 out of a $700 payment, Cauridor steps in to help upgrade their account and ensure the transaction goes through.Barry thinks Corridors strong local presence gives it an edge in securing better forex margins, which it passes on to its customers. He said this advantage has helped the company attract major clients like MoneyGram, which switched from competitors for better rates and improved customer support. Interestingly, competition in the cross-border payments space doesnt rule out collaboration. Some of Cauridors competitors rely on its infrastructure in specific regions, just as it partners with companies like Thunes for a global reach.Cauridor employs about 200 people globally and has offices in Ivory Coast, Senegal, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.The seed round was led by pan-African VC firm Oui Capital, and saw participation from Rally Cap, BKR Capital, and some angel investors.With the fresh cash, the company plans to expand into new markets (it has new offices in Mali and Nigeria opening this year), flesh out its teams, and boost marketing efforts.Barry told TechCrunch that Cauridor is also preparing for a Series A round and exploring blockchain integration to streamline settlements and tap into the growing adoption of stablecoins in Africas cross-border payment space.