A high-ranking Ripple executive, Sendi Young, has come under fire from several illustrious Harry Potter stars, thanks to her ambitious plans to overhaul a 1960s one-story home in the idyllic West Hampstead borough of London. The central bone of contention revolves around the proposed modern, box-like aesthetic which critics, including Emma Thompson, Imelda Staunton and Jim Broadbent, believe jars terribly with the quaint, Victorian charm of the neighbourhood.
In a plea to the Camden Council, Thompson was particularly vocal about her distaste for the proposed construction style, suggesting that it would be better suited to Malibu than the historic West Hampstead. She underscored that while she had no objections to modern designs per se, they needed to be appropriately integrated into their surroundings. This plan, she firmly attested, sorely lacked that harmony.
Parallelly, Staunton and her spouse, Jim Carter, voiced their concerns over the striking use of metal cladding, comparing it disparagingly to an industrial, rather than Edwardian, residential area. Moreover, if the design was endorsed, it opened the floodgates for a troubling precedent in the locale.
Notably, the dissenters objected to more than just the aesthetics of the proposed dwelling. Staunton voiced fears about the new residence casting shadows and obstructing daylight, leading to potential ramifications for the local wildlife habitat. They also expressed concerns over residents’ privacy, particularly of female students from a nearby school due to the planned expansive windows.
Undeterred by the celebrity resistance, Young and the responsible design firm, Scenario Architecture, seem determined to forge ahead. They were even quoted expressing their surprise at the star’s conservative viewpoint given their own creative backgrounds.
Meanwhile, on the professional front, Ripple has recently notched up a significant victory against the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In July, a US court ruled that the company selling XRP on digital asset exchanges did not in itself establish an investment contract. Nonetheless, a point to consider is that the court did conclude that XRP is a security when sold to institutional investors per the conditions of the Howey Test.
So, between home renovations and financial regulations, it certainly is an eventful time for Ripple’s managing director for the UK and Europe.
Source: Cryptonews
