The winner of the Company's New City Architecture Award given for the building or structure which, complete and free of plannng conditions in the qualifying year, makes he most significent contribution to the stretscape and skyscape of the City of London was Broadgate Tower and 201 Broadgate. Designed by SOM for British Land. The judges felt that this made the biggest contribution to provision of new public space in the City, partly because it had the greatest opportunity. The opportunity has been taken with relish.
The development comprises a tower and horizontal block, with a glazed roof connecting them, providing a through route which links seamlessly to the rest of the Broadgate / Liverpool Street Station area.
The drama of the space between the buildings stems partly from volume, but in particular from a series of huge buttress structural elements which take load from the tower. In terms of scale this was the most powerful design the judges saw, but at the smaller scale of public realm, attention to detail was evident in the paving, seating, and lighting installation. Last but not least, the inclusion of a raised lawn element, and a hanging garden wall now growing, was a welcome complement to the hard landscaping of a development well worth visiting.
This year’s judges - Paul Finch OBE (Chairman), Edward King (Master), Dr Mervyn Miller (Renter Warden), Howard Copping, Michael Bailey were assisted by the Clerk, David Cole-Adams in making their inspecton and deliberations.
A high commendation was awarded to the redevelopment of the site known as The Walbrook bounded by Walbrook, Cannon Street and St Swithin’s Lane. The architect was Foster and Partners, the client Minerva. The judges regarded this as an impressive contribution to the City’s streetscape, partly because of the way louvres have been deployed to blur the junction between elevation and roof in a pleasing way. This is particularly evident from the restored public courtyard garden next to the building, where the geometry of the roof is most impressive. The large (visible) foyer on Walbrook was admired, as was the neat turning of corners. The judges looked forward to occupation of the retail space.
Judges wished to mention the retail and residential project at 12-18 Artillery Lane E1 and 120 Middlesex Street, admired for its brise soleil in the attractive shared courtyard space. A positive addition to the area. The Architects was ORMS, and the client Artillery Lane Ltd.
A commendation was awarded for a pair of projects by the City Corporation’s Street Scene Team.
The first ( pictured left), carried out in conjunction with Architects Freeland Rees Roberts is the relocation of the St Lawrence Jewry drinking fountain to the south of St Paul’s Cathedral, by Carter Lane Gardens. The juxtaposition of High Victorian with Wren was enjoyed.
The second (right) is the improvements to Bow Churchyard, an oasis of relative tranquillity off busy Cheapside – the collaborating architects are Burns and Nice.
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