Oh the irony… I am writing this over 2,000 miles away in the historic city of As Salt in Jordan. I’m here exploring how old buildings and monuments can contribute towards our future… indeed how their adaptation can help us reduce our use of precious resources and energy.
My home for the afternoon, Bayt Daish, is not even that old – a 1950s building which five years ago was a ruin, but has since been beautifully restored by the Petra National Trust. It has now found a new life as a place where tourists like me can visit and where local people make a living. This is where I’m following the depressing news of Angela Rayner’s decision to approve the demolition of Orchard House, Marks & Spencer’s flagship building on Oxford Street.
