New City Architecture Award Presentation

The New City Architecture Award for 2007 was, as noted below, won by Foster + Partners for their new city office block complex at 51 Lime Street. The building was a joint development by The British Land Company Plc and Stanhope Plc and its Construction Management was by Mace Limited.

Pictured here receiving their Award Certificates from Alderman Sir David Brewer CMG - Lord Mayor Locum Tenens - at the Company's Annual Livery banquet at the Mansion House on Wednesday 12 March are (from left to right): Alderman Sir David Brewer, Ian Whitby of Foster+ Partners, Nick Moore of Mace, Andrew Highton of Stanhope, Richard Elliott of British Land and the Master of the Company, Jonathan Ball

The annual dinner at the Mansion House

I am sure better pictures of last night's Grand Event will come soon, but these three pictures are the best that a Nokia 6233 phone can do by candlelight. 

The maestro on the banjo was incomparable...  

...as was the grace recited in Cornish before the meal...

The 2008 WCCA Milo Lecture - 15 April 2008 - Draper's Hall

Read this doc on Scribd: space - The Milo Lecture

NEW CITY ARCHITECTURE AWARD FOR 2007

BREAKING NEWS

At the Company’s Annual Livery Banquet at the Mansion House this evening – Wednesday 12 March – the 2007 New City Architecture Award was presented to the developers, architects and main contractors of the winning building by Alderman Sir David Brewer CMG - the Lord Mayor Locum Tenens of the City of London.

The winner of the award which recognizes the contribution that the building makes to the streetscape and skyscape of the City of London as much as its architectural form was the Foster + Partners new office building at 51 Lime Street, EC3 built for The British Land Company Plc and Stanhope Plc. The construction management procurement was by Mace Limited.

The judges, chaired by Paul Finch were the Master of the Company Jonathan Ball, Edward King, Howard Copping and Peter Murray they were accompanied by the Clerk of the Company, David Cole-Adams visited nine buildings/sites on Wednesday 27 February and were impressed by several of the candidates for this year’s award.

In their report, Paul Finch noted ‘Our general comment was that the City has improved considerably in terms of the attention given to public space and the environs of new buildings in recent years, and we congratulate the City of London Corporation’s Planning and Streetscape Team for their work and commitment.

There are three buildings the judges wished to mention.

First, the new City Information Kiosk opposite St Paul’s, by the MAKE Architects for the City of London Corporation. If there were a ‘jeu d’esprit' award (which there is not), then this would have won it. The judges liked the attention to detail, the liveliness of the form, and the attractive face it presents to visitors and tourists.

There were two close contenders for this year’s award. The first was 51 Aldermanbury Square, by Eric Parry Associates for Scottish Widows Investment Partnership. There was much to admire in this scheme, including the clever treatment of the facade to reduce the apparent scale of the block, and the thoughtful curvature at the top of the building. At ground level, the cut through to the street beyond has created a significant improvement to pedestrian experience, including the view of the double height reception with its artworks, and the introduction of seating and water. The landscaping in Aldermanbury Square was welcomed; a rather dreary backwater has become a real City amenity.

The winner of this year’s award, however, was felt to have succeeded in addressing an even greater challenge: that of designing a building immediately next to Lloyd’s of London that works at street level. Foster & Partners’ Willis Building at 51 Lime Street for The British Land Co Plc and Stanhope Plc was felt to have succeeded extremely well. This time, curvature had been used for the concave façade addressing the side of Lloyd’s, reflecting it magnificently. At street level, there was a real feeling of being in a City of London space, and of being part of the close-knit world of insurance. Excellent paving, generous provision of seating, a new pedestrian route, and a ground floor animated with semi-public uses made this building a pleasure to experience. It is a very worth winner.

The Award Certificates were presented to:

Ian Whitby - Foster & Partners on behalf of the architects, Richard Elliott of The British Land Company Plc and Andrew Highton of Stanhope Plc for the developers and Nick More of Mace.

Book for the Banquet

Why are you waiting?


Please don't struggle to resist the lure of the Egyptian Hall at the Mansion House - the venue for the Company's Annual Livery Banquet on Wednesday 12 March 2008.

The Company will be entertaining Lord Mayor Locum Tenens Alderman Sir David Howard, a selection of Masters of other Companies and will be entertained by the Master's principal guest (and fellow Cornishman) Alderman Sir David Brewer and by the Tresco Syncapators - a lively jazz group from, you probably guessed, somewhere in the South West.

As noted in the previous post, the New City Architecture Award for 2007 will be announced and presented on the night with certificates being given to the succesfulo building's Owner, its Architect and the the Main Contractor. At some later stage there will be a separate ceremony to mark the handover of the Award Plaque which will be designed in collaboration with the project architects - this way we hope that they will be encouraged to fix the plaque to the building.

Those interested in making bookings please contact the Clerk without delay.

This is an ideal opportunity to invite your friends and colleagues to share in a convivial evening in unparalleled surroundings.

Book soon to avoid disappointment.

Attractions at the Livery Banquet

As if you needed more reasons to attend the Company's Livery Banquet on Wednesday 12 March ...............

For the first time in living memory those responsible for carrying out the assessment of the New City Architecture Awards for 2007 enjoyed a cracking good day with clear blue skies and equable temperatures. There were also a good number of worthwhile schemes that had been shortlisted for consideration. They were (in no particular order):

New Street Square, EC4
Shoe Lane Streetscape Enhancement Works
5 Aldermanbury Square EC2
1 Basinghall Avenue EC2
1 Coleman Street EC2
51 Lime Street EC3
Bow Bells House EC4
St Paul's Information Centre EC4
Monument Pavilion EC3

The assessors (pictured above after their lunch stop at a well known City landmark) were Paul Finch (Chairman), The Master, Liveryman Peter Murray, Assistant Howard Copping and Assistant Edward King. They were accompanied by the Clerk David Cole-Adams.

Now it would be telling to reveal the identity of the winner at this stage - the announcement will be made at the Livery Banquet at the Mansion House on Wednesday 12 March - be there to see if your assessment of the schemes tallies with that of the judges. Remember, the criteria for the Award is not just the architectural solution; heavy emphasis is also put on the contribution which the building makes to the streetscape and skyscape of the City of London.

No Lack of Connections

Never let it be said that the Company of Chartered Architects lacks connections or that the architectural study trips organized it its name are all fun and frivolity.

Following the main part of the recent tour a small but persevering band pressed on for what was intended to be a bit of R & R after the rigours of temple, palace and archaeological site visiting. The targets were that former outpost of the Empire - Ooty (or Udhagamandalam to give it its current name) and then on to Cochin in Kerala.

In Ooty they just happened to encounter the local correspondent for the nationally circulated and influential newspaper - The Hindu who took the opportunity to get a few quotes and the photograph.

While bookings will shortly be taken for the 2009 study trip - to West Coast USA - Phoenix, Los Angeles and San Francisco - it cannot be guaranteed that national press coverage will result from the tour itinerary of any extension of it.

PASSAGE FROM INDIA AND PANCAKES

Home are the hunters,

Home from the Hills ………………

In instalments, the various members of the Company’s recent architectural study tour to South India have made it back to Blighty. While some were, temporarily, the worse for wear, a good and definitely educational time was had by all.

The Master ensured that the long hours of coach travel between the various sites and cities visited were lightened with a series of daily broadcasts from the front of the coach detailing the adventures (or misadventures) of that legendary Cornishman Denzil Pemberthy. There will almost certainly be a full, illustrated and scholarly report on the trip appearing in the next edition of the newsletter and on the Company website in due course.

Literally thousands of photographs were taken – not a lot, sadly by the Master who, early on, inadvertently managed to drop his camera down the toilet (best not to enquire about the circumstances). Happily there were others who recorded the occasion on Shrove Tuesday when the assembled group met at an enchanting lake side site on the outskirts of the 16^th century of Bijapur to watch the sunset, to observe the rituals normally associated in the City with that day – pancake races and to partake of sundowners.

Disappointed by the fact that the Company would be precluded from taking part in the annual inter-livery Pancake day races in Guildhall Yard on the day, the Master contrived to purchase the wherewithal to replicate the event. A couple of oversized stainless steel vessels (a cross between a wok and a salad bowl) served as frying pans with what passed for the pancakes being sourced from the restaurant where lunch had been taken. That the consistency of these items was somewhere between a chapati and an over-cooked omelete proved to be of assistance to those less dextrous at the tossing element required of the contestants. Marks were awarded by the race supervisor – Common Councillor Michael Welbank – for both outright speed and tossing style and Team A (pictured above) were victorious – not least because they managed to complete the course without serious mishap or spillage.

To say that the few assembled locals, our driver and guide were somewhat mystified by this eccentric behaviour would be putting it mildly!

Pictured here are most of the assembled party relaxing and taking 'gimkas'* after the exertions of the race.

* a curious beverage consisting of a lemon flavoured soft drink suitably reinforced with a slug of Mr Gordon's finest - the latter thoughtfully procured by the Master at the duty free emporium in Dubai.

Newsletter Issue 11 - Jan 2008

Unveiling of plaques at the City of London School on 15th January 2008

More than 60 members of either the Worshipful Company of Chartered Architects or the John Carpenter's Club [the school's 'old boy' association] gathered in the entrance lobby of the City of London School on 15th January 2008 to celebrate the unveiling of two plaques.

The first plaque acknowledges the two architects of the school's current building - Stuart Murphy, then Architect and City Planning Officer - and Tom Meddings, the 'project architect'.  Both designers were old boys of the school.

The second plaque celebrates the Stuart Murphy Visual Arts Scholarship, which was raised by OC Brian Waters as Master of the Worshipful Company of Chartered Architects in 2002-3.  Many of the 39 contributors to this scholarship attended.

The evening started with a welcome from the Head Master, David Levin. The Murphy family was represented by Mrs. Jane Murphy and children, Giles and Sarah. The Meddings family by children Luke and Tarsin; Mrs Pauline Meddings sadly not being well enough to attend.

Brian Waters first explained the purpose and background of both memorials, and then a family joint venture succeeded in unveiling the two etched-glass plaques. They are positioned in the school's entrance hallway, alongside the three architectural models of the school's various buildings: in Milk Street, on Victoria Embankment and finally the current new school building, located next to the 'Wobbly Bridge'.

David Levin explained the school's bursary schemes. The Murphy Scholarship fills an important need – to support a qualifying fifth-former who is at risk of having to leave the school rather than enter the sixth-form.

The first Scholar, Yates Norton, now in his second year in the Sixth Form, spoke eloquently and thanked his sponsors for the opportunity the Scholarship has given him. He has now been offered a place at Sidney Sussex college, Cambridge to read Fine Arts – which appropriately is taught at the Faculty of Architecture. The Head Master and the School were very generous hosts. The JCC met the cost of making the plaques, which were designed by Brian Waters. 

Former CLS Second Master and archivist Terry Heard had even managed to find and display archive tracings and drawings of preliminary projects prepared for the new school building's construction!

New Liverymen and Freemen welcomed into the Company

Those being admitted by the Master to the Freedom or Livery of the Company on 21 January 2008, and shown in the photos below, are as follows (top to bottom):

Duncan Greenaway and Peter Williams - who both saw the end of their periods as indentured students of the Company, were admitted as Freemen by Servitude.

Malcolm Bender

Sandra Papworth

Tom French

were, all three, admitted to the Freedom of the Company by Redemption.

Peter Murray

Paul Weston

were both admitted to the Livery.

 

All were wished a long and happy association with the Company by the Master.

Livery Court and Luncheon at Decimus Burton's Athenæum, Pall Mall.

Many thanks to the Master for enabling the Court and their Guests to have both meeting and luncheon at the the famous Athenæum club on Pall Mall.  Enjoyed by all - much entertained by  the guest speaker, Mr.Ken Dwan, Master, the Company of Watermen and Lightermen, onetime winner of the equally famous 'Doggett's Coat and Badge' (not to say his Olympic rowing achievements).



Architectural Study Trip to West Coast USA

For those eagerly awaiting news of the proposed architectural study trip to Phoenix (for Taliesan West and other local attractions), San Francisco and Los Angeles, I can report that this has been rescheduled to run from Thursday 16 April to Saturday / Sunday 1 or 2 May 2009. Prices and a detailed itinerary are being out together in conjunction with Karen Bergenthal (who so successfully manager the trip to Chicago, Milwaukee, Pittsburgh and Falling Water) with input for the Phoenix bit from Richard Saxon. It is possible that a brief trip up the Napa Valley (to look at the architecture of the wineries there of course) might be worked into the itinerary.

A Few More Forthcoming Events

With the Court Lunch on Monday 21 January all but booked out (just a few places left) Members might want to note the dates listed below in their diaries. Further details of all these events will follow before the end of the month when the next edition of the newsletter is sent out.

The Livery Banquet - Wednesday 12 March at the Mansion House

The Milo Lecture - Tuesday 15 April at Drapers' Hall - a different format this year with the lecture being given by space architect David Nixon. David is a British architect and principal of Altus Associates in Los Angeles, specializing in 'designed out of earth habitats, and widely recognized as 'the godfather' of space architecture. He co-founded Future Systems Architects in 1977 and, for many years, collaborated on their successful projects.His design work in the space field ranges from unmanned space laboratories to rocket launch installations and antenna tracking stations.

Attendance at this lecture will be open to all for the modest charge normally associated with the RIBA's lecture series which will, hopefully, include a glass of wine at the end.

The lecture will then be followed by a black tie dinner at Drapers' Hall for which there will be a further and more substantial charge. There will be three speeches woven in and out of the menu which will explore the impact of architects in space. The theme will be access to space, architecture and survival in space and the scientific and global benefits of being there.

In addition to a further contribution from David Nixon there will be talks from Dr Paul Scully-Power -oceanographer and astronaut- and Will Whitehorn - President of Virgin Galactic. A calling notice and full particulars will be sent out shortly.

And, talking of other worldly experiences, there is the Master's Weekend Visit to the Isles of Scilly to look forward to - Friday 16 to Monday 19 May. Details have already been circulated but will be sent out again with the newsletter to catch those who have been preoccupied with the festive season these last few months.

Moving into June there is a real budget event being arranged by Stephen Wagstaffe in the form of a Sunday visit to the North Weald Airfield in Essex. Dates and the cost are being finalized and will be circulated shortly. This one will be good one for those wondering what to do with their children on a sunny Sunday afternoon and will include a buffet lunch in the Flying Club.

Court Lunch - Monday, 21 January, 2008

There are still places left for the Court Lunch at The Athenaeum on Monday 21 January at the very reasonable price of £60.00 per head.

While calling notices have been sent out, the Clerk will be happy to accept booking by email in the first instance backed up by the required cheque.

It is intended that the meal will be finished between 2.30 and 2.45 to allow those who need to return to their gainful employment in reasonable time. The relatively low alcohol content of the Cornish wine on offer will assist concentration later in the afternoon.

Book now to avoid disappointment.

Oh, and a very happy new year from the Clerk

Temple Bar memorial plaque

to our occasional readers

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2007 

and a successful year A. D. 2008!

What do Livery Companies do...?

Dear All – from time to time the Fellowship of Clerks (AKA the Clerks’ Mafia) get together a collection of data about the roles of Livery Companies. This is produced in the form of a folded leaflet finishing up 120 x 70mm. I will be getting 150 copies of this leaflet in the new year and will be happy to make copies available to those wanting one. I usually have copies about my person to give those who wish to know what Livery Companies do..

RSS readers to notify you of new posts on the WCCA blog

How can I know when the Clerk has added a post to the WCCA web-log (= the 'blog'), without having to open up the site every time in a web browser program (eg Internet Explorer)?

As the number and diversity of web-logs has increased, it has become important to be notified when a new 'post' - a new contribution - has been made to a blog. It is rather the same with e-mail programs, which usually have a facility to inform you when a message has arrived by informing you that "you have mail". Once the particular e-mail has been read, the message disappears.

With blogs, this is best done using the RSS system. This service notices when additions or changes have been made to a blog or other internet site and automatically informs a central data base somewhere out there in the electronic ether. A RSS reader (a program one installs on one's own machine) interrogates this database automatically every few minutes, and if a change in the specified site or blog has occurred, places a notice on the individual's' computer screen. Any number of blogs and sites can be interrogated in this way, once they are registered.

The WCCA site is connected to the RSS feed system.

• So what do I do?

Firstly you can include sites as well as e-mail addresses in you mail program.  This way you will be notified of a new post as if it were a new e-mail.  This works well with Apple Mail for example.

Or down-load a free RSS feeder program, and install it on your particular machine. Here are sites that offer these programs, the first for PC:

http://www.illumio.com/web/ActionPublic_how_it_works.do

and the second and third for Mac OSX:

http://www.opencommunity.co.uk/vienna2.php

http://www.utsire.com/shrook/

To new visitors to this blog....

One can...:

1) Make a comment on any particular 'post' by clicking on the 'Comments' button at the foot.  Your comment will be moderated - that is: checked out by the WCCA web-master to see that it's inclusion on the blog page will not be detrimental in some way -  and then it will appear at the foot of the relevant post in reverse chronological order with any other comment made.  If several people make comments, this process can develop into a sort of on-line conversation or debate.

2) One can.... send the Clerk of the Company an e-mail directly by clicking on his 'e-mail the Clerk' button at the foot of the first page.

3) The first page shows the last 12 blog-posts made in reverse chronological order.  You can peruse other older posts by clicking on the 'older posts' button at the foot of the page.  Each successive click will bring up the former 12 posts.

4) One can.... navigate through all the posts by using the 'Blog Archive' or 'Topics' buttons located a bit down on the right hand panel.  By date or subject. As more posts are made these labels will expand to include new areas of interest or organisation.

5) One can.... go to the new WCCA 'Virtual Red Book' by clicking on the  image of the real 'Paper Red Book' on the right- hand panel.  This part gives  a lot more data about the company, its origins and its current membership lists. We also have added direct links to the Travel Award pages and other current subjects of interest.

6) Clicking on any of the images opens them 'full-size' in a separate window, from which they can easily be downloaded.

7) Two tips: Firstly, click on the particular post title to make or read a comment - this action will display that particular post on a single page with its 'comments' window at the foot, and secondly use the 'Direct Connections' buttons for other parts of the website, or click on the red Temple Bar logo to return to the WCCA blog page.

8) One can....send any post to a friend's e-mail address by clicking on the envelope symbol at the end of that particular post.

The point of the blog is to keep our organisation in up-to-date contact with the public and our membership, and involve people as much as possible.  It needs YOUR participation.  If you have suggestions for posts yourself, send your ideas to the clerk or web-master by e-mail and one or the other will respond.  There are buttons to do this on the first 'splash page'; the one with the big photograph of the latest award winning project.

Lord Mayor's Show 2007

The Lord Mayor's Show 2007

For those wondering if the Company's participation in the Lord Mayor's Show was a figment of the Clerk's imagination - something to fill up the odd corners of the newsletter - look no further. Here is proof.

Proudly declaring themselves to be Chartered Architects are the Master, the Upper Warden (who seems to have drawn the short straw pole carrying-wise), the Master of Students and the Almoner. In case you were wondering about the aged bus and the even more aged steam roller called Joan, these are simply props to add gravitas and cohesion to an otherwise disparate group of Livery Companies who combined to make up the Modern Companies entry in the Show.

Maybe there should be a modest prize for the best caption for the photograph. I personally wonder how or why the steamroller managed to miss the opportunity of flattening the last surviving building from the previous Paternoster development.