The team have in anticipation launched a micro site, http://www.ripedesign.com/formula1 and there is a news story on our website http://www.ripedesign.com.

We had many sleepless hours, loads of weekends worked and sterling effort by all in the team but particularly Michael Backhouse.

I had the opportunity to visit the hotel as it was being built – not so many months ago… and there was just sand and structure – the building rate and overall creation was phenomenal and the scale and ambition of the project is huge.

Now this coming Sunday I will watch the Grand Prix as it race THROUGH this building.

Firstly we see the Soviet area East German parliament, Palast Der Republik – what is left of it after “selective rebuilding”. Then we see the new united German parliament – the Bundestag with the old Reichstag building with Fosters dome in the background. This was shot from an internal bridge within the parliament complex – thanks to a behind the scenes visit.

This is followed by 2 quick shots from The Museum Island. One is the famous head of Nefertiti, the other Rodin’s thinker.

Lastly is the art installation Shalechet (fallen leaves) by Menashe Kadishman in the Libeskind designed Jewish Museum in Berlin.

As per usual I had an absolute blast in my favourite city.

I will post up a different posts of what we did, places we visited and just general musings.

We also got to see some very old and good friends like my friend Manfred whom I met in Cape Town in 96.

I’ll put up some small vids just to get a general gist.