The Tallest Buildings In The World

I seem to have accidentally fallen into the pattern of having “the most something in the world!” articles on Sundays. So in an attempt not to disappoint, this…Read More

The Longest Tunnels In The World

Tunnels; the less appreciated but just as impressive sibling of our famous bridges. Following last week’s attempt at discovering the world’s longest bridges, this week I’ll be giving the longest tunnels…Read More

Engineering Etymology

Engineers are not known for having a good relationship with the written word. But it is the words of engineers that this post focuses on. Today we’ll be taking a look at the origin of…Read More

Art and Approximation: A Review

“It’s better to be roughly right than precisely wrong”

Attributed to John Maynard Keynes (an economist), few quotes so accurately reflect my experience in design. Throughout my career I’ve become increasingly technical- I even…Read More

IABSE Future of Design London 2015

What is there to say about the Future of Design conferences that hasn’t been said before? Tom has reviewed previous conferences with aplomb and we (as the organising committee for FoD London 2015) are…Read More

Being Brunel For Three Years

I’ve been Being Brunel for three years, today. This is the 157th unwarranted opinion I’ve sent out into the virtual wilderness about my chosen profession. There’s something oddly disconcerting about the coincidences…Read More

Engineering Is Art: 300 – 349

It seems apt that the official Being Brunel mad-rush season comes to an with this post- as the last-push of daily doubles to get #EngineeringIsArt back on target reaches its head. After today we return to regular, weekly…Read More

Future of Design North 2015: Part 2

If you haven’t heard of the IABSE Future of Design events (then you should at least read the first post of this two-parter)- they’re a series of conferences aimed at celebrating and sharing the best of (structural) design. This year … Read More

Future of Design North 2015: Part 1

With a quote from Prince Phillip about how the world that surrounds us is the vision of architects and engineers, the IABSE Future of Design North started off as it meant to continue; celebrating…Read More

Engineering Is Art: 250 – 299

Over a year ago, I decided that I had too much spare time, and though “let’s find an engineering picture for every workday”. The purpose is long forgotten, but who needs a reason to enjoy some…Read More