And another Company author

In line with (recent) tradition, notice is given of a literary work by a member of the Company - in this case, Guy Booth.  The introduction on the opening page of his novel reads as follows:

The book's front and rear covers are illustrated below to give readers a flavour of the work:

                                                       

The customary prize will be given to be best review of the book posted  in response to this invitation but, remember, the Blog Master's decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

The unveiling of the 2011 WCCA 'New City Architecture Award' plaque at Broadgate

a change of scale in Bishopsgate

Friday 30 March saw the unveiling of the New City Architecture Award for 2010 at 201 Broadgate / The Broadgate Tower by the Rt Hon The Lord Mayor, Alderman David Wootton. The ceremony took place in the covered space between the two buildings in the presence of representatives of the building owners - British Land, the architects and engineers - Skidmore Owings and Merrill and a selection of members of the Company including the Master and Wardens and the assessors for the award.

Following a welcome by the Chief Executive of British Land, the Lord Mayor paid tribute to the developers and their architects for what he saw as a distinguished addition to the City and its skyline. He had been pleased to be taken on a trip to the top of the tower from which vantage point he had been able to see the building which would sghortly be occupied by his legal practice.

He also paid tribute to the Chartered Architectrs' Company for the encouragement the gave to both developers and architects through their annual awards.

the reception prior to the unveiling of the WCCA plaque

the Right Honourable Lord Mayor of London,  Alderman David Wootton

The Lord Mayor's badge of office: 'Domine Dirige Nos' - 'May the Lord guide us'

The Lord Mayor and the chief executive of British Land, Chris Grigg,  unveil the plaque

The geometrical world of Skidmore Owings & Merrill, Chicago

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The 'SHARD', now the tallest structure in Europe, had its apex fixed today

30 March 2012.

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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.

The Company at Haberdashers' Hall

A significant number of members of the Company find Haberdashers' Hall - a Michael Hopkins building which was the winner of the New City Architecture Award some years back - an agreeable place in which to hold the Annual Livery Banquet. This ensured that there was virtually a full house for this year's event on Wednesday 14 March.

The Master hosted our official guests - Sheriff Wendy Mead and Mr Robert Tipping, Sir David Brewer CMG and Lady Brewer and the Master of the Fletchers' Company (our own Senior Past Master Deputy John Owen-Ward MBE), the Prime Warden of the Basketmakers' Company (Deputy John Barker OBE) and the Master Furniture Maker Hugh Garforth-Bles and their respective ladies. The York Guild of Building was represented by Past Master and Clerk Steve Bielby.

pictured (from left) The Clerk, David Cole-Adams; Upper Warden Dr Mervyn Miller and Mrs Ann Yorke; Mr Robert Tipping; Lady Brewer; Sheriff Wendy Mead CC; The Master, Michael Wilkey; Sir David Brewer; Mrs Susan Wilkey; Renter Warden Mrs Jaki Howes; Honorary Chaplain Rev Canon David Parrott; Junior Warden Dr Geoffrey Purves and Mrs Ann Purves.

In her response to the Civic toast The Sheriff  passed on greetings from the Lord Mayor who was currently abroad on City and national busuiness and drew attention to the role played by the Company in helping to improve the environment of the City. She congratulated those who were about to be revealed as the wnners  of the New City Architecture Awards for 2011.

Sir David Brewer, in responding to the toast to the guests, put in a serious plug for support for the development of the new premises being developed for the Guildhall School of Music and Drama at Milton Court. The Master is seeking to encourage members of theCompany to contribute to an appeal he has launched in support of the School.

The conclusion of the evening was the presentation by The Sheriff and Master of the New City Architecture Award Certificates for 2011 to the owners, architects and main contractors of New Court, St Swithin's Lane (the new Rothschild Bank Headquarters) and One New Change. Further details of these awards will be included in a the next post.

It's all part of the Master's Lot

On the day on which the London Evening Standard reported a further lapse in the behaviour of  the nation's Members of Parliament (some were caught cheating in the annual pancake race between the elected members, the House of Lords and the Parliamentary press corps), The Master, pictured above, took part yesterday in what is becoming an established City Tradition - The Guildyard Yard Pancake Race Meeting. This is organized by the Poulters' Company in conjunction with The Cook and the Butler caterers with races being held in different categories - Masters, Liverymen, Ladies and a fancy dress event. You could be forgiven for thinking that the Masters pictured were in the latter category.

I won't bore you with the rules - suffice it to say that special hats, gloves (health and safety considerations) and aprons have to be worn as do Masters Gowns and badges. A predetermined amount of tossing is required and, should you drop the pancake, you either beat it to the ground (as my old school cadet Sergeant Major used to say about dropped rifles) or you suffer penalty point deductions.

I would like to report that, while the Master looks as though he was behind at this stage, he came through to breast the tape in record time. Sadly not. Still, as we should know in this Olympic year, the Corinthian ideal is of paramount importance. Ther's always next year.

New City Architecture Award for 2011

At its main Livery Dinner in March the Company will announce the winner of its coveted New City Architecture Award for 2011. The eligible buildings / works of architecture are those which have been completed free of planning conditions in the year to 30 September 2011. The award is made specifically to the building which, in the opinion of the judges, makes the most significant contribution to the street scape and skyscape of the City of London.

The assessors this year were Paul Finch OBE (Chairman), Michael Wilkey (the Master), Jaki Howes (The Renter Warden), Barry Munday (Court Assistant) and Alex Scott-Whitby (Student Member of the Company). They were assisted by the Clerk, David Cole-Adams, who led the way and organized the necessary food and beverage stops. By way of showing that they took their task seriously regardless of the weather they are depicted alongside rugged up against the unseasonal weather.

There were four buildings on the shortlist:

One New Change, London EC4

New retail and office complex

Architects: Atelier Jean Nouvel (Concept) and Sidell Gibson Architects (Delivery)

Building Owner: Land Securities

Main Contractor: Lend Lease

1 Bartholomew Lane, London EC2

New offices  behind a part retained part new facade

Architects: Sidell Gibson Architects

Building Owner: Hines UK

Main Contractor: Balfour Beatty

Mint Hotel, Pepys Street, London EC3

new hotel building

Architects: Bennetts Associates

Developer: Mint Hotel Group

Main Contractor: Laing O'Rourke

New Court, St Swithins Lane, London EC4

New headquarters building for NM Rothschild & Sons

Architects: OMA (concept) and Allies & Morrison (delivery and fitout)

Building Owner: Rothschild

Main Contractor: Bovis Lend Lease








As noted above, the Assessors decision will be made known on Wednesday 14 March - watch this space and feel free to register your comments on the likely or your preferred outcome.

Stephen Holl AIA Gold Medal Winner 2012

21 February 2012

Stephen Holl, founder and Director of Holl Architects, New York and Beijing, has been awarded the American of Institute of Architects Gold Medal for 2012. Holl is most famous for his Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art in Helsinki.

But, his firm has been exceptionally active in China. His recently, and extremely controversial project, Beijing's Linked Hybrid is situated along the waterfront. A series of 8 mixed-use towers, connected by an enclosed 20th floor walkway, the project is located adjacent to the ancient Beijing walls and is claimed by some to have destroyed the character and history of this part of Beijing. Linked Hybrid contains 220,000 sq. m. of space. Open passages at ground level are said to allow for permeability but the view below of the large reflecting pool doesn't make that clear!

It must be said, though, that the architecture is pretty slick and much in the 'Holl-style'.

Vanke International in Shenzen, China Vanke Centre tower and offices with residential and other uses is a wonder and is apparently one of very few LEEDS platinum-rated buildings worldwide and is said to be 'tsunami-proof'.

This 'horizontal skyscraper'-it is as long as the Empire State Building is tall-floats above a lush tropical garden. 'Shenzen windows', glass cubes sunken into the floor, give 360-degree views of the garden.

A lesser known Holl project is the work for Loisium, the Austrian 'World of Wine' up the Danube from Vienna in the wine village of Langenlois. Here in the midst of a medieval wine village and set amoungst the vines is a gem of a Visitors Centre.

Holl's design is based on the essence of wine and the wine country. His image takes the ideas for materials from those of a wine bottle: green glass, brown cork and silver aluminium foils around the top. So the building is faced in sparkly silver-coloured nautial aluminium panels and the slits, reminiscent of the old cellar lanes connecting the vineyards and the wine-growers houses and cellars far below ground in the loess soil. These meandering cellar lanes have been renewed and made safe and form part of the visitor experience at Loisium.

The adjacent hotel is altogether different. Four stories tall and hovering above the ground to permit views to the vineyard slopes beyond from the Visitors Centre and the village itself, the hotel rooms on the upper floors are supported by a 'forest of trees', columns of different diameters, harking back to links with the landscape itself.

Bright yellow-gold is used for the 'trees' and the surrounds of the projecting window pods; perforated aluminium panels form the basic facade with glass at the ground and first floors to enhance transparency.

Holl has been responsible for much of the interiors, too, designing door furniture and light fittings amoungst other elements. The 'frog lighting' in the bar is echoed by a 'frog feature' in the floor of the spa.

A final clever twist is the design of the bathtubs, inserted into what look like old oak casks. Anyone for trodding grapes?

RIBA/WCCA Travel Award 2011 Presentation

In 2008, the Worshipful Company of Chartered Architects announced its intention to collaborate with the RIBA to create an annual travel award of £2000 to be awarded to a student - or group of students - enrolled on the first year of a RIBA Part 2 at a London school of architecture. The Award is made in memory of Stuart Murphy who was a former Chief Planning Officer of the City of London, and also a past Master of the WCCA. 

In 2011 the administration of the award was passed from the RIBA Education Department to the RIBA London Region. This move has proved a great success, and there there have been many more applicants. The presentations by the two joint-winners for 2011 took place in the Lasdun Room at the Royal Institute of British Architects on the evening of 31 January 2012. Despite competition from a simultaneous Rogers Stirk Harbour presentation in the building, there were forty people present at the beginning of the event, and sixty once the rival presentation had finished.

Jaki Howes introduced the audience to the Worshipful Company and declared its aims.
Alex Scott-Whitby extolled the benefits of the Travel Award and introduced the two joint winners for 2011. 

The first presentation was by Danny Fenster from the University of Greenwich. He had visited Chongqing in China, with the aim of seeing what could be discovered from planning processes in very rapid urban development. Chongqing is situated on hills. The new redevelopment appears to ignore topography, sense of place and history, but gives rise to a strange three-dimensional circulation patterns – all beautifully demonstrated in Danny’s animations. Undeveloped land is sold on to developers, and then flattened to accommodate identical 30-storey residential blocks. 

Naveen Anadakumar, from the University of North London, went to Sri Lanka to find out how community input could be incorporated into the redevelopment of a country that has been so ravaged by war, floods and landslides. He carried out interviews, held workshops in schools and talked to as many people as possible. He found he could make an immediate difference by persuading shopkeepers in Ballicaloa to put rubbish bins onto the streets, and in addition invented a really practical drainage system. 

The two presentations were followed by lively discussion. Both emphasised the importance of finding a way to talk to people about architecture and the environment in a way that they can practically understand.

Mervyn Miller thanked Naveen for his fascinating work and presented him with the second part of his prize. Roger France presented Danny with his prize, and thanked Laura Broderick and Jessame Cronin of the RIBA London Region, the WCCA Master of Students, and finally both winners and audience for a splendid evening.

Waiting for the start...

Jaki Howes introduces the event

Alex Scott-Whitby introduces the presentations...

2011 joint-winner Danny Fenster with a map of Chongqing

2011 joint-winner Naveen Anandakumar presents...

Question Time

Danny gets a cheque from WCCA's Roger France

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Newsletter Issue 26 - Feb 2012

Newsletter26

Queen's Jubilee Card Competition

The Worshipful Company of Chartered Architects (WCCA), and the Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA), are inviting architects and students of architecture in the Commonwealth to participate in a fun international design competition for a 3D ‘pop-up’ Diamond Jubilee card for HM The Queen. (If you Google ‘pop-up card’, there are lots of great images on the web.) 

The winning card will be delivered to HM The Queen by the Worshipful Company of Chartered Architects to celebrate her (60th) Diamond Jubilee. The winner will be awarded a prize of £60.00 to cover the cost of materials, and two invitations to the Annual WCCA Livery Banquet in the City of London, at which their achievement will be recognised with a framed Certificate. 

If you are interested in taking part, full details are available on the competition home page http://queensjubileecardcomp.blogspot.com/ You should register your interest by 20th March 2012, and submit you completed 3D ‘pop up’ Diamond Jubilee card entry by 20th April.

30th January 2012