Developers have a ‘clearer path’ to pursue architects who design unsafe buildings following a recent Supreme Court ruling, legal experts have warned The judgement, which interprets important elements of the Building Safety Act 2022 (BSA) and the Defective Premises Act 1972 (DPA), heightens the need for practices to hold ‘comprehensive’ professional indemnity (PI) insurance, according to top lawyers. Earlier this month (21 May) the Supreme Court ruled that BDW, the main trading arm of Barratt Developments, was able to pursue damages from structural engineering company URS for alleged negligence in provision of design services for two residential schemes. This was despite BDW undertaking remedial works on the properties voluntarily more than three years ago and no longer owning the buildings. Judges dismissed the engineering firm’s latest appeal against BDW’s right to claim for compensation on all four grounds.Advertisement Nick Stockley, partner at law firm Mayo Wynne Baxter, said: ‘This ruling creates an easier route for builders to reclaim losses that they incur for the actions of design contractors. ‘It suggests that the time-out defence is no longer a fail-safe if the genuine blame rests with a design contractor. The ruling also takes away any voluntary-decision defence that either a design contractor or architect may try to raise. ‘It means that any design contractor needs to maintain insurance that extends to their work, irrespective of when the work was carried out. ‘An architect’s work should always be covered by professional indemnity insurance but that cover will need to be more extensive. An architect should review any existing insurance policy cover in order to check that that policy extends to all work carried out by the architect.’ The two projects at the centre of the BDW claim are Capital East in London and Freemens Meadow in Leicester. Advertisement The housebuilder carried out voluntary remedial works at these properties in 2020 and 2021, despite no longer owning them, after defects were discovered that created a danger to occupants.   It claimed damages from URS but the engineering firm appealed, initially to the Court of Appeal then to the Supreme Court, arguing that a voluntary act could not lead to recoverable losses, and only claims brought by a property owner under the DPA were subject to an extended 30-year limitation period.  URS claimed that a third party could not be owed a duty under the DPA and added that a contribution for liability could only be made once a settlement was finalised.  However, the Supreme Court found in BDW’s favour, saying that URS’s interpretation of the law ‘would penalise responsible developers, such as such as BDW, who had been pro-active in investigating, identifying and remedying building safety defects’.  It said DPA would ‘better serve the policy of ensuring the safety of dwellings’ if it had a wider application, ruling that ‘BDW itself has rights under the DPA against a party primarily liable for the defects’.  It added that BDW had ‘acted responsibly’ and ‘in accordance with the government’s strong encouragement’ in carrying out remediation work at Capital East and Freemens Meadow, concluding: ‘Penalisation of [such] developers would be contrary to the purpose of the legislation’. Rob Horne, head of construction disputes for Osbourne Clarke, which represented BDW, said: ‘For residential developers there is now significantly more clarity over the full effect of the retrospective limitation period introduced by the BSA. ‘Ultimately, the aim of the BSA was to ensure that safety failures are properly addressed and that those responsible bear the costs. This case furthers that aim by ensuring that developers have a clearer path to recover funds from designers and constructors who designed and built unsafe buildings.’  Horne added: ‘The Supreme Court has commented that proactive developers who, in effect, do the right thing in effecting necessary safety works, should not be penalised by having rights of recovery barred.  ‘Such developers are able to recover the remedial costs from those most responsible for the safety defects in question.’  ‘This reading gives the Defective Premises Act far more teeth’ Julia Tobbell, partner at law firm Forsters, said the decision will be ‘a relief to proactive developers’ as, ‘although their decision to voluntarily take on repairs may be a factor in assessing reasonableness of mitigation, it does not bar them in principle from being able to recover from negligent contractors’.  She added: ‘The court also found that the duty to build homes properly under Section 1 of the PDA is not just for the benefit of the homeowner, but also the developer who procures the contractor to carry out the works.   ‘The developer can both owe a duty (to the homeowner) and be owed a duty (by the contractor); this reading gives the DPA far more teeth.’  2025-05-30 Will Ing comment and share

While other streaming services thrive on carefully selected and endlessly curated (meaning: limited) selections of movies, Tubi's a bit different: It feels like the Wild West, with everything from originals; to popular hits; to critically acclaimed favorites; to the lowest-brow, lowest-budget movies you'll find this side of an old Blockbuster. In that spirit, here's a sampling of some of the best stuff currently streaming on Tubi, and it's a wide variety—the streamer will not be pinned down. If you're unfamiliar, Tubi is a free, ad-based service, but generally I find the ads to be less obnoxious and less frequent than on other, similar streamers. Interstellar (2014) Christopher Nolan's mind-bending, but oddly plausible, sci-fi epic takes Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, and Jessica Chastain on a hunt through space and time to find a new home for humans in a near-future during which we've made Earth unlivable. You can stream Interstellar here.Color Out of Space (2019) Nicolas Cage is at his Nic Cage-iest in this H. P. Lovecraft adaptation about a family's descent into madness. A beautiful, horrifying, utterly unique sensory experience. You can stream Color Out of Space here.Friday (1995) An unquestioned classic of stoner comedy, Friday sees Ice Cube and Chris Tucker accidentally smoking weed that they were meant to sell. And who among us hasn't? The two slackers set out to borrow or make the money back during a misadventure-packed Friday. You can stream Friday here. Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022) Michelle Yeoh and Ke Huy Quan (alongside Stephanie Hsu and Jamie Lee Curtis) led Everything to Oscar glory a couple of years back, with Yeoh starring as Evelyn Quan Wang, a middle-aged immigrant running a laundromat with her husband. An IRS audit leads to a trip through a wildly outlandish, and ultimately emotional, journey through a multiverse of possibilities. You can stream Everything Everywhere here.Dune (1984) You've probably seen the recent Denis Villeneuve adaptation, but you might be less familiar with this messy and fascinating take from director David Lynch. Kyle MacLachlan leads an all-star cast in a movie that doesn't quite an achieve greatness, but nevertheless offers up a bevy of wild ideas, distinctive visuals, and Lynchian madness. You can stream Dune here. Some Like It Hot (1959) Tubi offers up a better assortment of classics than many of the other streamers, most of which have shifted to a newer-is-better focus. Hot stars Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis as a couple of jazz-age musicians who run afoul of a mob boss, deciding to escape by posing as members of an all-female band (one that, memorably, includes Marilyn Monroe). Director Billy Wilder pitches the farce just right, at the intersection between smart and silly. You can stream Some Like It Hot here. Evil Bong (2006) No socially redeeming value here, just a goofy comedy horror movie about a bong that transports smokers to another planet, one where they're to be murdered by exotic dancers. Tommy Chong co-stars in this movie from Full Moon Features, purveyors of fine low-rent horror movies. You can stream Evil Bong here. Ghost World (2001) Enid (Thora Birch) and Rebecca (Scarlett Johansson) face high school graduation, and a crush on Steve Buscemi, in Terry Zwigoff’s indie dark comedy. You can stream Ghost World here.Donnie Darko (2001) Jake Gyllenhaal stars in this memorable emo mind-bender about a troubled teenager who dodges disaster thanks to a bit of sleepwalking. An instant cult classic, it's the movie all the cool kids were talking about back in the day. You can stream Donnie Darko (director's cut) here, or the theatrical version here. Hollywood Shuffle (1987) Robert Townsend directs himself as Bobby Taylor, a satire about the perils of navigating the Hollywood system for an actor simultaneously too black and not black enough for the tastes of studio bosses. Through elaborate fantasy sequences and parodies of popular movies, Townsend creates a sharp and often extremely funny sendup that’s (sadly) still relevant. You can stream Hollywood Shuffle here.Barbarian (2022) One of the more divisive horror movies of the past few years (I love it), Barbarian stars Georgina Campbell as a woman who rents an Airbnb only to have a man (Bill Skarsgård) show up claiming that he also has rented the house. He seems nice enough, so she lets him in—enough of a premise for a horror movie right there, but Barbarian has twists that you'll never see coming. You can stream Barbarian here.Showgirls (1995) As with most of Paul Verhoeven's other films, it's possible to view his notoriously trashy film as either dark satire or unintended camp. It's tremendous fun either way and, though it quickly gained a reputation as garbage, it's far more watchable than many other better-reviewed films. You can stream Showgirls here.Rec (2007) This Spanish import is top-tier found footage, involving a group of firefighters on an emergency call who wind up trapped inside a building at the center of a creeping zombie infection. That limited, specific geography is key to the movie's brisk, efficient, and nerve-jangling effectiveness. You can stream Rec here.Planet of the Apes (1968) Astronaut Charlton Heston finds himself on an unknown (wink wink) planet in the distant future where he rather quickly finds himself in the power of the world's ape overlords. From a slightly goofy premise came this dark, disturbing, and timely fable. You can stream Planet of the Apes here. The Apartment (1960) Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine star in this searing, bittersweet, but ultimately humane comedy. MacLaine's Fran Kubelik is an elevator operator having an affair with the big boss at an insurance company, while Lemmon's Bud Baxter gets ahead by loaning out his apartment to upper management for various extramarital assignations. The budding friendship between the two threatens both of their careers. You can stream The Apartment here. Whale Rider (2002) Pai is a 12-year-old Māori girl and the direct descendant of their tribe’s traditional notable ancestor, the Whale Rider—except that, traditionally, women can’t lead. Star Keisha Castle-Hughes became the youngest nominee for a Best Actress Oscar for her open, genuine performance. You can stream Whale Rider here. The Descent (2006) Getting lost in those caves is scary enough, even before we discover that we're not alone down there. The ultimate in spelunking horror. You can stream The Descent here.Menace II Society (1993) A searing, raw portrait of urban violence in the 1990s, the Hughes Brothers' film follows Caine Lawson (Tyrin Turner) and his friends as they struggle for a better life amid crime and poverty, but who find themselves drawn deeper into crime and cruelty. The performances here are all phenomenal. You can stream Menace II Society here. Beauty Shop (2005) This Barbershop spin-off follows widowed hairstylist Gina Norris starting over in Atlanta with her daughter, and opening her own shop when a job doesn't pan out. Queen Latifah is as delightful as ever, and is joined by a great cast including Alfre Woodard, Della Reese, Alicia Silverstone, Andie MacDowell, Kevin Bacon, and Djimon Hounsou. You can stream Beauty Shop here.Room 237 (2012) This fascinating documentary explores, without judgement, the many (and often truly wild) theories and interpretations around Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. Probably not what you're after if you want a bit of film analysis, but as an exploration of conspiratorial thinking? You could do a lot worse. You can stream Room 237 here. Terrifier (2016) Damien Leone's low-budget slasher series quietly build into a queasy empire, with the most recent film being a legit box office smash. Here, literal clown-from-hell Art stalks partygoer Tara Heyes and her sister Victoria (Scaffidi) on Halloween night. You can stream Terrifier here. Return of the Living Dead (1985) This horror comedy with punk style is both a knowing parody of zombie movies while also managing to be an impressively gory thriller in its own right that moves the whole genre forward. Plus, it’s got a great death-rock soundtrack. You can stream Return of the Living Dead here.Frankenhooker (1990) A disreputable and goofy but surprisingly effective horror comedy, Frankenhooker stars former Penthouse Pet Patty Mullen as the movie's take on Mary Shelley's monster, made in the image of a med student's dead fiancée and built from sex workers. The style and special effects here are pretty great. You can stream Frankenhooker here.Ghost in the Shell (1995) One of the best anime films of all time, at least when it comes to sci-fi and cyberpunk, Ghost in the Shell boasts impeccable style in addition to the thoughtfulness and complexity of its story. Major Motoko Kusanagi is a cyborg security agent hunting an enigmatic hacker known only as "the Puppet Master" in the rapidly approaching year 2029, a time when the rise of AI threatens even the idea of individual existence. You can stream Ghost in the Shell here. The Leather Boys (1964) A classic of British kitchen sink realism, a movement in the 1960s that saw hyperrealistic portraits of, often, angry teens and young people, The Leather Boys sees young couple Reggie and Dot becoming increasingly estranged when Reggie mostly wants to just hang out with his biker friends. Among those friends is Pete, who seems to be developing an attraction to Reggie that goes a bit beyond that of a typical biker bro. You can stream The Leather Boys here. North by Northwest (1959) One of Hitchcock's best (and that's saying quite a bit), North by Northwest is a nearly non-stop thrill ride, seeing Cary Grant's Roger Thornhill hunted across the country by criminals who've mistaken him for someone else. It's as funny as it is clever, and nearly impossible to stop watching once you've started. You can stream North by Northwest here.Lars and the Real Girl (2007) The sweetest, most charming movie about the romance between a man and his life-like love doll that you're likely to encounter. You can stream Lars and the Real Girl here.They Call Me Trinity (1970) A classic spaghetti western, Trinity (kicking off a trilogy, appropriately enough), stars Terence Hill and Bud Spencer as brothers Trinity and Bambino, who help defend a Mormon settlement from bandits and a land-grabbing Major (Farley Granger). It's a rare comedy to come out of Italy's obsession with westerns, and a lot of fun for it. You can stream They Call Me Trinity here. The Wiz (1978) Long before Wicked reinvented (or at least reinterpreted) L. Frank Baum, the Broadway musical on which this movie is based imagined Dorothy Gale as a Black teacher from Harlem. The joyous film version is nearly a who's who of Black talent in the 1970s: Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Nipsey Russell, Ted Ross, Mabel King, Theresa Merritt, Thelma Carpenter, Lena Horne and Richard Pryor all play roles, while Quincy Jones, Luther Vandross, and Charlie Smalls all contributed to the music. You can stream The Wiz here. Cabaret (1972) Liza Minnelli and Joel Grey star in this essential musical about the good times and extravagant style of Weimar Germany giving way to the rising tide of fascism. You can stream Cabaret here.

Baxter & Bailey lift the lid on professional errors.

A pair of long-derelict buildings on Redchurch Street in Shoreditch have been restored following a five-year conservation-led project by Chris Dyson Architects, working with structural engineers Alan Baxter Associates and contractor Fullers. One of the properties, 113 Redchurch Street, a Grade II-listed 18th-century weavers’ house, has been on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk register since 2012 and is now set to be removed following completion of the works. When the Truman Brewery bought the two properties, Alan Baxter Associates were engaged to assess the condition of the buildings. Chris Dyson Architects, based in Spitalfields and with experience in working with historic buildings in the area, was then appointed to lead the architectural restoration. …

As we move through the year, interior designers are making thoughtful choices about which trends to embrace and which to leave behind. “No Buy 2025" movements are gaining traction across social media, and sustainability becomes ever more important. So, we asked designers which items they're deliberately leaving off their shopping lists this year—and what they're investing in instead. Their answers reveal a collective shift toward authenticity, longevity, and personal expression over fleeting trends and mass-produced pieces. Here's what designers are saying "no" to this season.Fast FurnitureDesigners are unanimously turning away from poorly constructed, mass-produced pieces that lack staying power."The trend towards turning to 'fast furniture' to impulsively replicate every viral look is one I don't love," says Kathy Kuo, founder of Kathy Kuo Home. "My personal ethos is all about choosing timeless, well-made, and sustainable furniture and decor pieces, rather than the 'fast', disposable pieces."Philip Thomas Vanderford of Studio Thomas James agrees: "I'm consciously moving away from pieces that feel generic or purely utilitarian,” he says. “'Filler furniture'—those uninspired consoles, mass-produced side chairs, and forgettable accent tables—simply don't belong in well-curated homes."Instead: Invest in quality pieces with character and provenance. Look for artisan-made or vintage furniture that tells a story and will stand the test of time.Bouclé OverloadFollowTheFlow//Getty ImagesDesigners are now reconsidering the nubby texture that dominated interiors for years."This may not be a popular opinion but anything in a cream or white colored bouclé fabric is outdated to me these days and I have stopped sourcing that look for projects," says Aimee Meisgeier of AM Interior Design.Jen Baxter of Baxter Hill Interiors is skeptical of things that feel algorithmically overexposed, like scalloped detailing and white bouclé. “If it's everywhere now, there's a good chance we'll be cringing at it in 18 months,” she says.Instead: Meisgeier suggests alternatives like "sterling or mohair. Those fabrics also provide a beautiful warm and inviting texture but have not been so overused that they are now oversaturated in the design world."Matching Furniture SetsInstead of buying a matching set, some designers now prefer more eclectic, collected spaces.For Kerith Flynn, principal and founder of Margali & Flynn Designs, "buying full living or bedroom sets can make a room feel staged or uninspired."Instead: Flynn recommends you "mix materials and styles, like pairing a modern sofa with an antique side table, to create a more organic, collected look."Non-functional PiecesDesigners are tired of seeing spaces that sacrifice function for Instagram appeal.Whats out? "Design that's only made for the Instagram grid," interior designer Lori Evans tells us. "I'm talking about the kind of things that look great in the photo but don't really make sense to actually live with. A good example would be a sculptural chair that you can't sit in."Instead: "What I'm into for 2025 instead are homes and spaces that work for your real life, whatever that is," she says. "Livable, layered and personal over trendy and disposable any day."Overly Themed RoomsDesigners are tired of spaces that adhere too strictly to a single aesthetic."Rooms that stick too literally to one decor theme, like rope mirrors in every coastal home or Edison bulbs in every 'industrial' loft, feel kitschy and predictable," Kerith Flynn says."Farmhouse is top of my list," says interior designer Lori Evans. "It's run its course and honestly if you don't live on a farm you probably don't need an actual farm-looking house. Artwork of cows, galvanized tubs, mason jars, barn doors, you name it."Instead: Flynn suggests using "layered, eclectic storytelling. We like to draw inspiration from a style without copying it wholesale... The best-designed rooms today blend influences and reflect the personality of the people who live there, not just a Pinterest board."Julia CancillaEngagement EditorJulia Cancilla is the engagement editor (and resident witch) at ELLE Decor, where she manages the brand's social media presence and covers trends, lifestyle, and culture in the design world. Julia built her background at Inked magazine, where she grew their social media audiences by two million, conducted interviews with A-list celebrities, and penned feature articles focusing on pop culture, art and lifestyle. Over her five years of digital media experience, Julia has written about numerous topics, from fashion to astrology.

Baxter & Bailey could've taken the safe route for their Friday evening talk at OFFF. They could've showcased slick work for the Royal Parks, the Royal Mail, or the London Soundtrack Festival. Instead, they pulled back the curtain on what really goes on behind the pristine curtain of the design industry, revealing a tangle of mistakes, mishaps and moments of pure chaos. "We live in a world where everything we see is finished, polished and presented, which can be quite a daunting prospect for young designers entering the industry," they explained. "It's a nice reminder that even the most experienced designers mess up sometimes." With that, Matt and Dom launched into an hour of confession, comedy, and collective therapy. It was an airing of creative dirty laundry, shared in the spirit of learning and laughter. Practice what you preach Baxter & Bailey started with their own biggest fumbles, warming the crowd up for what was to come. Dom kicked things off with a tale from a night train journey in Russia en route to a crucial pitch for a telecoms giant. Sharing a cabin with a snoring stranger called Constantin from Moscow, he awoke to find his roommate enjoying breakfast in nothing but his pants. In the panic to flee, Dom left his carefully crafted presentation boards on the train. "What I learnt from that mistake was: even if you wake up and the first thing you see is an old Russian man's crotch, keep cool, don't panic and remember what you're doing," Dom told the crowd. Matt followed with a story from a concept presentation a decade ago. Just a few minutes in, the client's top boss entered the boardroom, watched in silence… then stood up, gave a thumbs down, and stuck out his tongue with a rude noise of disapproval. "I still cringe every time I hear that story," said Dom. A little help from their friends The pair soon revealed they weren't alone in their confessions. Before the talk, they'd floated the idea to British design legend Rian Hughes, who not only approved but offered his own disaster story. On screen, Rian recalled his first job interview at a Camden agency. Lost, rain-soaked, and 45 minutes late, he finally arrived with his portfolio strapped to a trolley. As he lifted it onto the table, he noticed something brown on his sleeve and realised he'd rolled the trolley through dog poo. One side of his portfolio was covered, and so was the director's mahogany table (not to mention the stench). "Despite this auspicious beginning, I got the job," said Rian. "But I don't recommend it as an interview technique – and the job was shit anyway. I lasted three months." With proof of concept secured, Baxter & Bailey launched The Design Laundry, a growing archive of creative calamities submitted by designers across the industry. The idea is that people share their worst moments, get them out in the open, and maybe learn something in the process. Here are just a few they aired at OFFF. Email fail Jamie Ellul, founder of Supple Studio, joined in from the remote countryside to share his cautionary tale. Early in his solo career, he landed a job designing a brochure for an accountancy firm. "I think it might have actually looked worse than it did in the beginning when I was finished," Jamie admitted. He sent the final artwork to print, then forwarded the printer's quote to the client before hopping on a train. Following weeks of radio silence, the client finally replied: 'Hi Jamie, I've been wondering how to respond to your email, having seen your note to the printer below on the email chain'. That note read: 'Please don't judge me—this is the shittest thing I've ever designed'. Cue laughter from the crowd – and a lesson in double-checking email chains. As Matt and Dom pointed out, email fails were the most common type of submission. We've all been there. Rude royal Next up: Francis Jackson, formerly of MetaDesign and OPX and now a psychotherapist, shared her story in a letter. Years ago, she worked with The King's Trust on a beautifully designed book promoting the value of art in the built environment, Art in the Public Environment. The problem was that a glaring typo was revealed by none other than the King of England himself after hundreds of printed copies went out across the country. What the front cover actually said was: 'Art in the Pubic Realm'. When the King was handed a copy while visiting the offices, he swiftly returned it, eyebrows raised. I'm sure Francis was hoping for the ground to open up beneath her at that moment! Rock shock Daljit Singh, co-founder of pioneering digital agency Digit, appeared onscreen in sunglasses, mid-holiday, to recount a transatlantic disaster. After landing in the UK from New York in 2007, Daljit got a message: Gene Simmons (yes, from KISS) wanted to meet him. Being a huge fan, he turned around, caught the next flight back, and headed straight to the hotel. But as he flew, doubt crept in, and he asked himself: could it be a prank? He'd played an elaborate hoax on his friend Simon not too long ago, so when told to ask for "Simon Smith" at reception (apparently Gene's alias), his suspicions grew. Still, he went upstairs, knocked on the door, and shouted, "Simon, come out, you massive tosser." None other than Gene Simmons opened the door. "You English guys have got such strange senses of humour," he said, before ushering Daljit in. The meeting lasted three awkward minutes. They didn't get the job. Lessons from the laundry After airing these disasters, Matt and Dom returned to each story to highlight the learning points. Jamie reminded us to treat every job (and every email) with care. Francis' typo showed that even major mistakes fade with time. Daljit's story offered a reminder not to let doubt derail bold decisions. The laundry pile grew with more stories, laughs, and stains, and the pair could've gone all night. Luckily, this won't be the last spin cycle for The Design Laundry. Dom and Matt are bringing the idea to future events and inviting more submissions through their website. Because if creativity is a messy process, there's no shame in airing a little dirty laundry.