New City Architecture Awards Decision Day

The Winners of the Company's New City Architecture Awards for 2011 were announced and certificates presentedby Sheriff Wendy Mead at the Livery Banquet on Wednesday 14 March.The short listed buildings can be viewed on an earlier post.

The assessors (pictured below sans Clerk) were The Master - Michael Wilkey; The Renter Warden, Jaki Howes; Paul Finch OBE (Chairman); Liveryman Barry Munday, Alex Scott-Whitby (student representative) and the Clerk, David Cole-Adams

The assessors' report is as follows:

Unusually, the weather was fine for the Assessment tour and the jury marked this singular event by deciding unanimously that two buildings should be joint winners of the New City Architecture Award for 2011 – an award given for the best work of architecture in the City of London completed free of planning conditions in the qualifying year. This was not as a result of an inability to make a decision, but for positive reasons related to the qualities and characteristics of the architecture.

The jury has picked buildings that both respond to Wren, that are both office-led developments, but which then differ utterly in the contributions they make to City life. By coincidence, both have lead architects from outside the UK, working in the City for the first time. This is further evidence of the global nature of the Square Mile.

The two could scarcely be more different in terms of the challenges they presented to the architects in terms of programme and site. Each contributes to the evolving nature of the City of London, and each has been the subject of some controversy, especially in the pre-planning phase. As built, they both bring positive elements to the City and are worthy joint winners.

One New Change, designed by Atelier Jean Nouvel with executive architects Siddell Gibson, is on a hugely sensitive site opposite St Paul's Cathedral. The architects have managed to deliver a thoroughly contemporary piece of architecture which nevertheless respects its historic neighbour, not least by providing wonderful views both from ground and roof level.

 

The creation of arcades within the development gives urban grain to what might otherwise have seemed a relentless block. This is particularly true of the Cheapside elevation, where the glazed facade is not only broken to create a route into the scheme, but is also given visual variety by use of fritting, and angled canopy panels reflecting the tops of the buildings opposite.

This is an excellent example of how an office development, by including a substantial retail element, can bring activity to the street and life to the area for workers, visitors and residents alike.

The Award recipients were Kiran Pawar of Owners Land Securities, Hala Wardé of concept architects Atelier Jean Nouvel (seen right receiving her certificate from the Sheriff and Master), Ron Sidell of executive architects Sidell Gibson and Phil Clarke of Management Contractors Lend Lease .

 The other winner - New Court, Rothschild's new home in St Swithin's Lane, is designed by OMA with executive architects Allies & Morrison. It is located on a very tight site with one of the city's narrower lanes providing access. In order to provide sufficient space not merely for staff offices but also for the Rothschild archive, housed at ground level, the architects have produced a modest tower with stacked 'boxes' emerging on the City skyline. This is uncompromising and refined architecture which has created a striking landmark.

In some ways, however, the ground treatment is even more important. Here the building opens up to reveal the rear of Wren's St Stephen Walbrook, and its beautifully restored garden. What might have been a fortress has provided a new City gem. 

Sadly Tony Chapman of owners Rothschild Bank was unable to be present but Ellen van Loon of OMA (shown left), Andrew Dean of Allies and Morrison and James Pearce of Lend Lease collected their respective certificates.

Arrangements will be made for the Award plaques to be fixed to the buildings in due course and for them to be unveiled by the Lord Mayor.