The most interesting contemporary architecture in London?
 

I am reading a book about the wanton architectural vandalism in London in the 40s,it was so appalling that the author painted a most bleak future.<BR><BR>However, I am far more optimistic. All of you love and familiar with London, to an foreigner,supposedly visiting London for the first time, what would you hasten to show the modern side of London architecutre? what's your most pride?

The Tate Modern. Remarkable recycling of an empty power station<BR><BR>The Lloyd's Building in the City. More engineering than building, a kind of mini Centre Pompidou<BR><BR>Canary Wharf. Perhaps derivative of Manhattan. But the underground stations of the Jubilee Line from Westminster to Stratford are worth examination one by one.<BR><BR>The Barbican. Forty years old now, but still a striking plan. Try the walk at second floor level from the Museum of London to the Arts centre, and at that centre try a coffee on the lakeside.<BR><BR>The Eurostar terminal at Waterloo station, seen from outside<BR><BR>The British Library. Good and lavish use of brickwork in an age of steel<BR><BR>Paternoster Square, north of St Paul's, is promising, but not yet open<BR><BR>Please write if I can help further. Welcome to London.<BR><BR>Ben Haines <BR> <BR> <BR><BR>

<BR>Dear Mr.Haines:Thank you for the reply.<BR><BR>I quite agree with you about the Tate Modern. I like the concept of wide open entrance very much. To me,the building is far more interesting than its exhibitions.<BR><BR>I remember once I stood at the corner of the square of Church St.Helene,gazing fascinatedly at the Lloyd's building for a long time.<BR><BR>I am afraid my experience with the maze like walkways of The Barbican preject wasn't very positive,probably wandering around it in a bleak winter late afternoon didn't help either.<BR><BR>I will definitely visit Canary Wharf and Peternoster Square this summer.<BR><BR>Anyone else? Any suggestion would be very appreciated.

A bit further along the South Bank from Tate Modern (opposite the Tower) is the new HQ building for the Greater London Authority, which may well be open to visitors by the time you get here. All the signs are that this will be an interesting building for its attempted expression of democratic values (a MOMA style spiralling walkway and galleries overlooing the debating chamber, and an outside meeting/performance space) and its ecological/environmental ambitions: you understand I'm quoting here from the advance PR!!<BR><BR>As someone who uses Canary Wharf Underground station every day, I second that nomination. This station is built in a giant concrete box which had to be designed to allow for the pressure of the rising water table in this very soggy part of the Thames Valley. Westminster Underground station is also striking, being built along with the new(disappointing, in my view) Parliamentary office building on top, while the existing Underground lines carried on operating right through the middle of the site.<BR><BR>There is a much talked-about private house beside the railway line north from Kings Cross, whose architect owners built large parts of it out of straw insulation with a quilted covering - but I suspect it's not open to view. <BR><BR>Anyone interested in visiting London for architecture should consider coming in late September for the Open House weekend, when anyone can visit all sorts of buildings not normally open.<BR><BR>Useful websites on this topic are:<BR>http://www.londonopenhouse.org/<BR>http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/yourlond...es_index.shtml

Dear Mr.Wallace:Many thanks for your info.<BR>I would be very interested to know the exact location of the house north of King Cross.<BR><BR>Thank you in advance.

Judy, I believe it was in Islington, but as a confirmed 'Sarf Londoner', all that area is 'heads below their shoulders' country to me. I do remember seeing it from the train shortly after it was featured on a couple of local TV shows.<BR><BR>one of those shows was the second web reference I gave above - a series of short films on BBC local TV for London (including downloadable Realplayer clips), one of which is on precisely that house.<BR>It was also featured in the Channel 4 series 'Grand Designs': http://www.channel4.com/life/microsi...gns/index.html has among other things a walk-through animation<BR>(follow the links &gt;London&gt;Islington).

Patrick:Thank you for the note.I have checked the site of grand designs,it is quite fascinating.<BR><BR>I just read something about Peternoster Sqare project being revised several times,does anyone know the story?

Paternoster Square:<BR>- bombed flat in 1940/41 (previously a centre for publishers and printing, and a substantial stock of books was lost at the same time)<BR>- post WW2 reconstruction in standard "shoe-box" + windswept concrete piazza + pointless steps style (my prejudiced view but one shared by Prince Charles, see http://architronic.saed.kent.edu/v5n2/v5n2.06d.html<BR>- major public debate about rebuilding in the late 1980s, with several designs and concepts put forward (I believe Charles Jencks wrote a book about it all)<BR>- now being rebuilt in a more or less pastiche Georgian style (as far as I can see): http://www.paternosterlondon.co.uk/

Thanks to everyone for great information. All I can add are some of my pictures of the Jubilee Line and Tate Modern.<BR><BR>http://travelswithus.net/england/jubilee.htm<BR>http://travelswithus.net/london01/tate-mod.html<BR>http://travelswithus.net/london01/etc.html

Thank you again,it has been such a pleasure to read all your notes.<BR><BR>One more question: From what I read they used to plant all the flowers mentioned in Shakespear's plays in the garden of Brockwell Park,near Brixton,do they still keep the tradition? I have tried to search the park sites,but failed to find out any any info.

There is also the Peckham library in South East London, and a very clever small doctor's surgery under the Hammersmith flyover. This latter one was one of the finalists of the Royal Institute of British Architects prize last year. It might be worth it to check out their web site to see the other runner-ups. BTW, the winner was a striking project of an ex-factory converted into an intelligent theme park in Yorkshire. Worth seeing it if you have some extra time and are passionate about architecture

Vincent:Thank you for the note.<BR><BR>Does anyone hnow the address of Peckhem Library?

122 Peckham Hill Street<BR>SE15 5JR<BR><BR>See: http://www.southwark.gov.uk/template...Detail.cfm/998

Excuse my ignorance, as this building may have been identified (but I don't know its name): On the South side of the Thames (and visible from the water, closer to the Tower Bridge than Waterloo, there is a bluish (?) glass dome bldg. Not a bldg with a dome, just really a dome more or less. And it looks as though part of it cracks open to the sky. What is the name of this bldg and does it the top open up? Sorry for being vague, but thx for the help.

There is an glass octagonal building visible from the Tower of London. Does anyone know what that is? I must say it was a shock to the system!

Ben:Thank you for the info.<BR><BR>I have seen some interesting outdoor modern sculpture in the City,such as the one across St.Stephen. Does anyone have some suggestion ?

In answer to trying and bettyk, the new building across the Thames from the Tower is going to be the HQ for the Greater London Authority, and is supposed to be called City Hall. I have read that there will be a roof-top terrace.<BR><BR>I think it looks like a giant car headlight, especially at night.<BR><BR>Great pictures, Shrimp!

The original plan for the new City Hall did have a feature like a headlight, but I've already heard the final version nicknamed the Glass Testicle.<BR><BR>Another thought - not exactly architecture, more engineering - the Thames Barrier at Woolwich - designed to be raised against the kind of 'surge tide' conditions that could cause enormous damage in London. There are boat trips to look at it, but in my view the visitor centre on the southern bank is worth a visit if you're interested in major projects. Like a lot (but unlike City Hall, which came in on time and on budget), the Barrier took years longer and pots more money than expected - it was so huge that Dutch engineers had to be called in to finish it. But it might already have paid for itself, having been raised several times over the years. The oly problem is, the country is slowly sinking, so we'll need something bigger still in a few decades' time.

Can't believe that no one has yet mentioned either the new courtyard at the British Museum or the Millennium Bridge. <BR><BR><BR>Although I know that both have had a bumpy reception, quite literally in the latter case, I find that each has beautifully redefined the space it's in. <BR><BR>The British Library, formerly dark and unwelcoming, now has a brilliant focal point. And there are few architectural experiences in London that compare with standing on the center of the Millennium bridge, with the Tate Modern and St. Paul's at opposite ends, Canary Wharf on one side, and the rest of London on the other. And the sight of it at night, from many locations, is quite awe inspiring.