London Mayor Boris Johnson Asked Apple to Help Build Garden Bridge

[MacRumors]

London Mayor Boris Johnson tried to convince Apple to fund the UK capital's project to build a "Garden Bridge" across the River Thames, as reported by Business Insider.

The report cites an article published today in The Architects' Journal which details how Johnson secretly travelled to California in early 2013 to meet Apple executives and pitch the ambitious project, before he had received official backing for the scheme from his office.

Proposed design for Garden Bridge over the River Thames (Image: Arup)​

Apple is well known for its intense interest in architectural design and its close attention to detail when planning and building its retail stores. However, it has little history of funding projects unrelated to its technology business, making Johnson's attempts to woo the company seem ill-judged.

In a statement given to The Architect's Journal, the London Mayor's office confirmed a meeting indeed took place with Apple to discuss "investment opportunities in London." However, Apple informed the publication that the company has "no involvement in this bridge project and is not considering getting involved."

Article Link: London Mayor Boris Johnson Asked Apple to Help Build Garden Bridge

 

[Sirious]

Why doesn't he ask TfL to help, since they 'reinvest all their income'?

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

What exactly would Apple have gotten out of this?

They're all about architecture when it comes to selling products... But that bridge isn't part of any of their stores. Would it be visible from their stores?

Imagining street vendors on the bridge selling Apple products now.

 

[redhanded]

Apple showing some good sense then.

The Garden Bridge is a complete waste of money. Hopefully it will get cancelled.

 

[captain cadet]

I dont support the conservatives at all, I support Plaid, but he is one of the few MPs I like! I know he can make a fool out of himself, but if you meet him or ever talk to him, he is so on the ball and understands where people and companies are looking, so it was quite possible Apple were already looking at that, he found out and tried to convince them more.

 

[Quu]

Boris is a bumbling buffoon. And I say that as a Londoner.

 

[69Mustang]

They could use some of that $185 million from Google to fund the bridge. They better be quick though, as the EU is already saying that deal might be a no-no.

 

[Rogifan]

Well Jony did give Boris an iPad mini as a gift one year.

http://bit.ly/1PYfoUo

 

[captain cadet]

Well Jony did give Boris an iPad mini as a gift one year.

http://bit.ly/1PYfoUo

"Ipad Mini Jony Ive, CEO Apple Inc"
Ops... They kick off a fuss when we do our paperwork wrong but not when they do!

 

[Reason077]

Why doesn't he ask TfL to help, since they 'reinvest all their income'?

TfL are paying a lot of money towards this bridge, which is one of the reasons this thing is so controversial - it's a vanity project that has pretty questionable value in terms of transport.

e.g.: Cycles won't be allowed on the bridge (London desperately needs better cycle routes, especially crossing the river), and it won't be a public right of way. It may be closed for corporate events, closed at night time, and tickets may be required at peak times.

Still, it's a cool project.

http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/...o-be-repaid-over-50-years/8691575.fullarticle

 

[Kissaragi]

Thats really weird

 

[redhanded]

The computer generated image of the bridge in this article is the view you would see from a drone flying over the river.

If you were walking along the embankment, you'd see a concrete bridge with some sprigs of parsley on top.

 

[Sandstorm]

I'd have much more respect for Apple if it DID projects like this. Many companies do a lot of things like this (charity/PR/image for the greater good of societies they operate in). But nooo, not Apple - the richest company on earth with billions and billions of cash stashed (in places where there are the worst tax loopholes, no less).

 

[Reason077]

The computer generated image of the bridge in this article is the view you would see from a drone flying over the river.

It's the view you'd see from Waterloo bridge, more or less.

 

[Ivan0310]

I'd have much more respect for Apple if it DID projects like this. Many companies do a lot of things like this (charity/PR/image for the greater good of societies they operate in). But nooo, not Apple - the richest company on earth with billions and billions of cash stashed (in places where there are the worst tax loopholes, no less).

As with any other publicly traded company, they've got a board and shareholders to answer to. Look at how guarded Apple has been with their cash reserves and their interest in ever increasing profit margins and you'll see this was an obvious result.

 

[Mike Oxard]

TfL are paying a lot of money towards this bridge, which is one of the reasons this thing is so controversial - it's a vanity project that has pretty questionable value in terms of transport.

e.g.: Cycles won't be allowed on the bridge (London desperately needs better cycle routes, especially crossing the river), and it won't be a public right of way. It may be closed for corporate events, closed at night time, and tickets may be required at peak times.

Still, it's a cool project.

http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/...o-be-repaid-over-50-years/8691575.fullarticle

There's a project in Liverpool to convert a disused flyover to an urban park

https://www.spacehive.com/theflyoverliverpool

 

[musika]

I can only imagine what a bridge designed by Apple might look like.

 

[CFreymarc]

What exactly would Apple have gotten out of this?

They're all about architecture when it comes to selling products... But that bridge isn't part of any of their stores. Would it be visible from their stores?

Imagining street vendors on the bridge selling Apple products now.

Companies and individuals contributing to urban landscapes is a huge political tool going back centuries. Help with a public structure, less hassle from the city government when you set up a business or private residency.

 

[Lostanddamned]

TfL are paying a lot of money towards this bridge, which is one of the reasons this thing is so controversial - it's a vanity project that has pretty questionable value in terms of transport.

e.g.: Cycles won't be allowed on the bridge (London desperately needs better cycle routes, especially crossing the river), and it won't be a public right of way. It may be closed for corporate events, closed at night time, and tickets may be required at peak times.

Still, it's a cool project.

http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/...o-be-repaid-over-50-years/8691575.fullarticle

Not to mention limiting the number of people on the bridge at any one time.

BoJo may play up the buffoonery, but he’s as calculating and callous as the next Tory.

 

[wordsworth]

Despite the 'garden' aspect, this project truly stinks.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

I'd love to have seen the Apple execs faces when Johnson told them, "I have a bridge to sell you."

Seriously though, the idea isn't that farfetched. Public-private projects are quite common now. Naming rights for public buildings and parks, leased out parking and driving enforcement (parking meters, red light cams, speed cams), leased out toll roads. A bridge isn't that far off the mark and as expensive as a bridge costs why not go to a company that has that kind of cash sitting around?

Obviously it didn't make business sense for Apple, but can't blame Johnson for trying. Much better than jacking up taxes or fees like they usually do.

 

[ApfelKuchen]

I'd have much more respect for Apple if it DID projects like this. Many companies do a lot of things like this (charity/PR/image for the greater good of societies they operate in). But nooo, not Apple - the richest company on earth with billions and billions of cash stashed (in places where there are the worst tax loopholes, no less).

"Many companies do a lot of things like this?" Some companies do indeed do some things like this. A cynic might say that they're building monuments to themselves. Of course, many companies put their names onto sports arenas. Do you seriously think that's due to civic-mindedness? Others contribute to education or health initiatives, or give to cultural institutions. Apple's been putting a fair chunk of change into renewable energy projects, and seems to get pretty good marks for trying to right worker abuse amongst its suppliers. That's not out-right donation, of course, but any spending on such things over and above doing things the "dirty way" would be considered wasteful or foolish in some circles.

Publicly-traded companies, by their nature, cannot be major philanthropists. They are expected to return value to their shareholders, not give it away. If you see a company's name on a charitable event sponsors list, chances are it came from the PR budget, as shareholders are far more forgiving of marketing expenditures than they are of giving to a cause they do not personally support.

Philanthropy, for good or bad, belongs to the people who were enriched by the company. Tax laws around the world tend to support that bias (taxing the rich at higher rates than corporations). If someone's name is going to be on that bridge (or a hospital or university building), it'll more likely be an expression of personal vanity than corporate.

 

[sflagel]

Our mayor would do good to focus less on bridges between Nine Elms and Pimlico, bike lanes in K&C and Westminster, and glass high rises in Hampstead, and instead more on teen murder rates, pollution, and housing costs that mean you need to earn £ 1 mn a year to live in a 3 bed in central London.....

 

[Tycho24]

Lol...
Omg, am I the only one that TOTALLY had a flashback from Steve's last public appearance (pitching Apple Campus 2 @ Cupertino City Council) of the scummy/sleazy, opportunistic, dbag of a woman that kept on insisting Apple provide free wifi for Cupertino??

 

[MH01]

What exactly would Apple have gotten out of this?

They're all about architecture when it comes to selling products... But that bridge isn't part of any of their stores. Would it be visible from their stores?

Imagining street vendors on the bridge selling Apple products now.

They get some good PR.

Nope you cannot see the bridge from thier stores.
[doublepost=1454090140][/doublepost]That image of the Thames ..... If only that how it looks lol.... never ever fall in

 

[weckart]

Boris is a bumbling buffoon. And I say that as a Londoner.

Boris likes to play the bumbling buffoon in public and this seems to be fooling a lot of people. Ask anyone who has had to deal with him. A lot more ruthless and calculating behind the scenes.