Nick Simpson
@iamnicksimpson.bsky.social
Architecture | Sustainability | Politics | Passivhaus | Cycling | Cities | EU
Another Passivhaus project breaking ground soon. Beautiful site in Scotland with an incredible view. Exciting times!
October 11, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Another Passivhaus project breaking ground soon. Beautiful site in Scotland with an incredible view. Exciting times!
One moment of levity however was the newly married couple that walked through the counterprotest, to a huge round of applause and cheering.
September 28, 2025 at 7:20 AM
One moment of levity however was the newly married couple that walked through the counterprotest, to a huge round of applause and cheering.
Equally, there was a minority that seemed intent on picking a fight with the police, who in my opinion did the best they could under really difficult circumstances.
Fighting the police, surrounding them and calling them fascists is not how you show that you’re in the right.
Fighting the police, surrounding them and calling them fascists is not how you show that you’re in the right.
September 27, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Equally, there was a minority that seemed intent on picking a fight with the police, who in my opinion did the best they could under really difficult circumstances.
Fighting the police, surrounding them and calling them fascists is not how you show that you’re in the right.
Fighting the police, surrounding them and calling them fascists is not how you show that you’re in the right.
Brilliant to see thousands come out in Newcastle today to show that the far right are not welcome here.
September 27, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Brilliant to see thousands come out in Newcastle today to show that the far right are not welcome here.
Stopped by at Mayfield Park, Manchester’s newest park.
Possibly the best children’s park I’ve seen anywhere. Which maybe highlights how few new parks (or even new play facilities) we’ve built in the UK for the past few decades.
Not easily accessed, but finding places for a new park can’t be easy.
Possibly the best children’s park I’ve seen anywhere. Which maybe highlights how few new parks (or even new play facilities) we’ve built in the UK for the past few decades.
Not easily accessed, but finding places for a new park can’t be easy.
September 22, 2025 at 6:10 AM
Stopped by at Mayfield Park, Manchester’s newest park.
Possibly the best children’s park I’ve seen anywhere. Which maybe highlights how few new parks (or even new play facilities) we’ve built in the UK for the past few decades.
Not easily accessed, but finding places for a new park can’t be easy.
Possibly the best children’s park I’ve seen anywhere. Which maybe highlights how few new parks (or even new play facilities) we’ve built in the UK for the past few decades.
Not easily accessed, but finding places for a new park can’t be easy.
Google is now sending me push notifications for ‘news’ from X, which turn out to just be hard right propaganda about how we’ve “lost control of our borders”.
Am I the only one? Is this what’s happening now?
Am I the only one? Is this what’s happening now?
September 2, 2025 at 7:27 AM
Google is now sending me push notifications for ‘news’ from X, which turn out to just be hard right propaganda about how we’ve “lost control of our borders”.
Am I the only one? Is this what’s happening now?
Am I the only one? Is this what’s happening now?
I’m all in favour of rewilding in the right location / circumstances, but do all parks in the UK now have large sections that have been closed off and abandoned?
August 31, 2025 at 6:59 AM
I’m all in favour of rewilding in the right location / circumstances, but do all parks in the UK now have large sections that have been closed off and abandoned?
Spotted this in the architectural press. A small development of timber frame homes in Honor Oak Park, London, near to - and influenced by - the Walter Segal housing in Lewisham.
Each house on timber columns above screw piles due to sitting between protected trees.
dowenfarmer.com/projects/hon...
Each house on timber columns above screw piles due to sitting between protected trees.
dowenfarmer.com/projects/hon...
August 20, 2025 at 5:48 AM
Spotted this in the architectural press. A small development of timber frame homes in Honor Oak Park, London, near to - and influenced by - the Walter Segal housing in Lewisham.
Each house on timber columns above screw piles due to sitting between protected trees.
dowenfarmer.com/projects/hon...
Each house on timber columns above screw piles due to sitting between protected trees.
dowenfarmer.com/projects/hon...
A big part of Jeugdland is allowing kids to build their own dens with timber pallets, hammers, nails and saws.
August 17, 2025 at 7:34 AM
A big part of Jeugdland is allowing kids to build their own dens with timber pallets, hammers, nails and saws.
I saw this recently, at a place called Jeugdland (Youth Land) in Amsterdam. It seems that someone is teaching kids how natural materials were once used to build housing. Which is pretty great!
August 17, 2025 at 7:32 AM
I saw this recently, at a place called Jeugdland (Youth Land) in Amsterdam. It seems that someone is teaching kids how natural materials were once used to build housing. Which is pretty great!
Stumbled across this infill housing, then realised it’s by Marlies Rohmer, where I worked years ago as a stagiaire.
Whether you like the brickwork isn’t the point, it’s just good urbanism. Great layout and density, plus details like street-facing external window seats.
rohmer.nl/en/projects/...
Whether you like the brickwork isn’t the point, it’s just good urbanism. Great layout and density, plus details like street-facing external window seats.
rohmer.nl/en/projects/...
August 16, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Stumbled across this infill housing, then realised it’s by Marlies Rohmer, where I worked years ago as a stagiaire.
Whether you like the brickwork isn’t the point, it’s just good urbanism. Great layout and density, plus details like street-facing external window seats.
rohmer.nl/en/projects/...
Whether you like the brickwork isn’t the point, it’s just good urbanism. Great layout and density, plus details like street-facing external window seats.
rohmer.nl/en/projects/...
Even a couple of days ago, the story being pedalled was still ‘the Greens can’t win here’. Yet Dr Sarah Peters and the @greenparty.org.uk won.
Don’t believe people who tell you that the party that you really believe in is a wasted vote.
Don’t believe people who tell you that the party that you really believe in is a wasted vote.
August 15, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Even a couple of days ago, the story being pedalled was still ‘the Greens can’t win here’. Yet Dr Sarah Peters and the @greenparty.org.uk won.
Don’t believe people who tell you that the party that you really believe in is a wasted vote.
Don’t believe people who tell you that the party that you really believe in is a wasted vote.
Free sunscreen vending machines in busy urban parks and play areas.
Because preventing skin cancer is easier, cheaper and better for society than treating skin cancer (or dealing with the consequences).
Because preventing skin cancer is easier, cheaper and better for society than treating skin cancer (or dealing with the consequences).
August 12, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Free sunscreen vending machines in busy urban parks and play areas.
Because preventing skin cancer is easier, cheaper and better for society than treating skin cancer (or dealing with the consequences).
Because preventing skin cancer is easier, cheaper and better for society than treating skin cancer (or dealing with the consequences).
Saw a Citroen Ami in the wild for the first time yesterday. They look brilliant for those that can’t / won’t cycle but only need to do short trips.
Make you wonder how on earth we have ‘cars’ many multiples of the size of them.
Make you wonder how on earth we have ‘cars’ many multiples of the size of them.
July 29, 2025 at 6:18 AM
Saw a Citroen Ami in the wild for the first time yesterday. They look brilliant for those that can’t / won’t cycle but only need to do short trips.
Make you wonder how on earth we have ‘cars’ many multiples of the size of them.
Make you wonder how on earth we have ‘cars’ many multiples of the size of them.
Main entrance (Great Parkway) into Newcastle Great Park is currently closed off by police.
These drive-in, drive-out suburban estates that we continue to build are a disaster.
These drive-in, drive-out suburban estates that we continue to build are a disaster.
May 30, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Main entrance (Great Parkway) into Newcastle Great Park is currently closed off by police.
These drive-in, drive-out suburban estates that we continue to build are a disaster.
These drive-in, drive-out suburban estates that we continue to build are a disaster.
Is that why those who enjoy their Brexit Freedoms the most have that flushed, rosey appearance..?
May 20, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Is that why those who enjoy their Brexit Freedoms the most have that flushed, rosey appearance..?
Same! Although the edges need another trim today.
May 18, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Same! Although the edges need another trim today.
@alastaircampbell2.bsky.social Surely a decent shout for Tree of the Day? It’s a beauty.
A stunning old oak at Woodhouse Farm Campsite near Winksley, North Yorkshire.
A stunning old oak at Woodhouse Farm Campsite near Winksley, North Yorkshire.
May 11, 2025 at 9:12 AM
@alastaircampbell2.bsky.social Surely a decent shout for Tree of the Day? It’s a beauty.
A stunning old oak at Woodhouse Farm Campsite near Winksley, North Yorkshire.
A stunning old oak at Woodhouse Farm Campsite near Winksley, North Yorkshire.
Wild flower patch coming along nicely. Increasingly alive with little pollinators.
If you look closely, you can see how the dandelions all open back up as the sunshine hits them.
If you look closely, you can see how the dandelions all open back up as the sunshine hits them.
May 9, 2025 at 8:10 AM
Wild flower patch coming along nicely. Increasingly alive with little pollinators.
If you look closely, you can see how the dandelions all open back up as the sunshine hits them.
If you look closely, you can see how the dandelions all open back up as the sunshine hits them.
I’m not even joking about how proud of Newcastle this makes me.
(It is literally the home of Greggs, in fairness.)
(It is literally the home of Greggs, in fairness.)
May 7, 2025 at 7:14 PM
I’m not even joking about how proud of Newcastle this makes me.
(It is literally the home of Greggs, in fairness.)
(It is literally the home of Greggs, in fairness.)
So, that thing you do when walking into diagonal hail, when you’re squinting and looking down at the pavement…
…but greenfly.
Never seen so many as today. Endless clouds of them.
What on earth is causing this?!
…but greenfly.
Never seen so many as today. Endless clouds of them.
What on earth is causing this?!
May 6, 2025 at 6:31 PM
So, that thing you do when walking into diagonal hail, when you’re squinting and looking down at the pavement…
…but greenfly.
Never seen so many as today. Endless clouds of them.
What on earth is causing this?!
…but greenfly.
Never seen so many as today. Endless clouds of them.
What on earth is causing this?!
Has anyone read these and if so, are they good?
April 30, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Has anyone read these and if so, are they good?
Listened to Robert Preston’s podcast recently?
I like the guy a lot, but in terms of pace…
I like the guy a lot, but in terms of pace…
April 13, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Listened to Robert Preston’s podcast recently?
I like the guy a lot, but in terms of pace…
I like the guy a lot, but in terms of pace…
It looks to me like we are - yet again - at this stage of what looks to be yet another economic implosion:
April 9, 2025 at 10:47 AM
It looks to me like we are - yet again - at this stage of what looks to be yet another economic implosion: