British practice Marks Barfield Architects, famous for designing the London Eye, are a step closer to realising their latest urban observation structure: the i360 Brighton. This week the international team who created the London landmark were reunited on Brighton beach as as loans of more than £40 million have been agreed to begin the tower's construction. Bringing together companies from the UK, France (Poma), the USA (Jacobs Enginneering) and the Netherlands (Hollandia), the project has been described as "truly unique."
England: The Latest Architecture and News
Beachfront Observation Tower Confirmed for the British City of Brighton
Renzo Piano-Designed Residential Tower Planned to Neighbor the Shard
Sellar Property Group has announced plans to commission yet another Renzo Piano-designed tower in London at the base of The Shard. Replacing the current Fielden House, a 1970s office building located on London Bridge Street, the new 27-story residential tower plans to provide 150 apartments, retail space and roof garden. As part of the area’s regeneration plan, the project will be the third Piano-designed building on the block.
Critical Round-Up: Tate Britain Renovation, Caruso St. John
London's Tate Britain, a partner gallery to the Tate Modern (who recently appointed Herzog & de Meuron to design a new extension), recently unveiled Caruso St. John's transformation of the oldest part of the iconic Grade II* listed Millbank building. The £45 million project to restore, renovate and reinterpret one of the UK's most important galleries has been met with a largely positive critical response; read the conclusions of The Financial Times’ Edwin Heathcote, The Guardian’s Oliver Wainwright, The Independent's Jay Merrick, the RIBA Journal's Hugh Pearman, and the Architects’ Journal’s Rory Olcayto, after the break…
LSE Asks for 'Further Work' To Be Done on Shortlisted Designs
Following the announcement last month that the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) had shortlisted five designs for their new Global Centre for Social Sciences (GCSS) in London's Aldwych, they have now revealed that "there’s not one really outstanding scheme" and "there’s some further work to do by the practices and the LSE." Therefore contestants Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, OMA, Hopkins Architects, Grafton Architects, and Henegham Peng Architects must reconsider their proposed designs.
AD Classics: Rogers House / Richard + Su Rogers
The Rogers House, designed by Richard and Su Rogers in 1968, is one of the lesser known architectural works from the master who went on to design the Centre Pompidou in Paris with Renzo Piano. The house, which represented British Architecture at the 1967 Paris Biennale, was commissioned by Rogers' parents and was granted Grade II* Listing in February 2013 - a rare accolade for a building so recent - cementing its importance in the architectural heritage of the United Kingdom.
Described by Rogers as "the most successful small project I've been involved in", the house carefully balances the openness of shear glass facades with the need to provide his parents with privacy and seclusion - a task made harder by the building's location, just a short walk from Wimbledon Village in central London. Incorporated within the design is a separate flat and pottery studio which were positioned to provide a sound barrier between the house of the adjacent road. It is, essentially, "a transparent tube with solid boundary walls".
AHMM to Design London's New Metropolitan Police HQ
Following the news last month that the RIBA and the Mayor of London’s Office revealed the five shortlisted designs for the new Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) headquarters, it has been announced that Allford Hall Monaghan Morris's (AHMM) design has won. The competition attracted submissions from the likes of Foster + Partners, Allies & Morrison, Keith Williams Architects and Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands. AHMM's proposal will be located in London's Whitehall Conservation Area and is set for completion in 2015.
Elliptical Bridge Proposal / Penda
Architecture firm, penda design house, led by Chris Precht and in collaboration with Alex Daxböck, submitted designs of a pedestrian bridge for the RIBA-sponsored Salford Meadows Bridge Competition in England.
The "O" is an elegantly simple concept, manifesting itself as a striking reinterpretation of a traditional pedestrian bridge. The multifaceted bridge offers unique and evolving perspectives to approaching pedestrians, culminating in a mesmerizing ellipse that engulfs those crossing the Irwell River. "Creating an inviting gesture for the Salford meadows was a main goal," says Precht, we envisioned "a transition space, where the structure almost hugs you."
Shortlist Announced for LSE Global Centre for Social Sciences
The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) have unveiled five shortlisted proposals for the new £90 million Global Centre for Social Sciences (GCSS) in London's Aldwych. The competition, which has attracted designs from the likes of Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners and OMA, will be the school's "biggest ever building project" and is set to "transform" the world-leading institution. Other entrants include Hopkins Architects, Grafton Architects, and Henegham Peng Architects. See the anonymous proposals after the break...
Diesel Village / Brinskworth
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Architects: Brinskworth
- Year: 2012
Libeskind's Institute for Democracy and Conflict Resolution Abandoned
Following the news in 2010 that Daniel Libeskind was to design a "landmark" building for the UK's University of Essex, it has been announced that the plans have been abandoned. What was known as the Institute for Democracy and Conflict Resolution (IDCR) "was intended to become the ‘anchor’ to a new Knowledge Gateway research park at the university’s Colchester Wivenhoe Campus".
The Serpentine Sackler Gallery / Zaha Hadid Architects
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Architects: Zaha Hadid Architects
- Area: 1566 m²
- Year: 2013
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Manufacturers: Erco, Dyson, OAG Architectural Glass, VALMIERA GLASS
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Professionals: Liam O’Connor Architects, Isometrix, Rise, Gleeds, DP9
Hackney Marshes Centre / Stanton Williams
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Architects: Stanton Williams
- Area: 3060 m²
- Year: 2011
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Professionals: Webb Yates Engineers, Arcadis, John Sisk & Son
Shortlist Unveiled for London's new Scotland Yard
The RIBA and the Mayor of London's Office has revealed the five shortlisted designs for the new Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) headquarters, set for completion in 2015. The proposed designs, attracting submissions from Foster + Partners, Allies & Morrison, Keith Williams Architects, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM), and Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands, will be located in the Whitehall Conservation Area and be renamed back to 'Scotland Yard'.
Read more after the break...
Montpelier Community Nursery / AY Architects
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Architects: AY Architects
- Area: 136 m²
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Professionals: Forest Gate Construction Ltd, KLH, Price & Myers
Preston Bus Station Listed, Escapes Demolition
Following news last week that four post-war buildings had been listed in the UK, the campaign to Save Preston Bus Station reached a victory today when it was announced that Ed Vaizey (Architecture and Heritage Minister) has listed the Brutalist icon, removing the threat of demolition. The campaign, which has garnered words of support from the likes of Richard Rogers and Rem Koolhaas, has been been underpinned by support from Angela Brady PRIBA, former President of the Royal Institute of British Architects.
London's Largest "Living Wall" / Gary Grant
The Rubens at the Palace Hotel in Victoria, London, has unveiled the city's largest "living wall" - a vertical landscape, composed of 16 tons of soil and 10,000 plants, designed to reduce urban flooding. Taking two months to construct and covering a 350 square foot area, the 21 meter high wall will beautify the cityscape year round with seasonal flowers such as strawberries, butter cups and winter geraniums.
Because of the lack of absorbent surfaces in the Victoria area of London, the Victoria Business Improvement District (BID) decided to step in with the design of this incredible wall that combats urban flooding with special water storage tanks. Designed by Gary Grant of Green Roof Consultancy, these tanks can store up to 10,000 liters of water that are then channeled back through the wall to nourish the plants. Not only will the wall do a great job of keeping the surrounding streets flood-free, it boosts the area's green appeal and attracts wildlife into the dense urban environment.
River Hull Footbridge / McDowell + Benedetti
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Architects: McDowell + Benedetti
Maggie’s Newcastle / Cullinan Studio
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Architects: Cullinan Studio
- Area: 300 m²
- Year: 2013
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Professionals: Campbell Reith, K J Tait Engineers, Mansell, Sarah Price Landscapes, Schofield Lothian, +2