2019 BUILDING TOURS REVISITED – What is in store for 2020?

Hugo Road from the inside..

It can only be assumed that a strong affinity for buildings is intrinsically imprinted on the psyche of all those who become architects. What else could entice so many AIA UK members to the Chapter’s annual series of building tours?  But then - add to that underlying psyche - the rather blatantly obvious point that building tours are simply the easiest, most enjoyable way of earning Continuing Education credits and the popularity of building tours can be fully appreciated.

In 2019, the building tour series was somewhat curtailed by circumstances outside the Chapter’s control. As planning for the upcoming summer season begins, the question arises – what is in store for 2020? 

Last year’s building tours came from three sources. One source was AIA Design Award winners; another was the pool of iconic UK architects; and another - perhaps under used – was the AIA UK membership.  One can only hope that this year a member’s project also becomes a Design Award winner or perhaps an icon, but - in any event - the field is wide open and ALL buildings have a chance at making the grade.

If you have any ideas for a building tour; if you have contacts that would facilitate access to an interesting project; if your firm has recently completed a quality project; let us know via chapterexecutive@aiauk.org and we can consider your contribution to the year’s agenda.  Planning for the summer season will start in February.

18 Jul 2019 - Coal Drops Yard by Heatherwick Studio

Reimagining two disused Victorian structures, this project transformed buildings never designed for public use into a new retail destination and publicly accessible space. The roofs of both structures were in need of significant repair, providing an opportunity to create a unique moment – a ‘kissing point’ where the two roofs stretch to meet each other, forming a new upper storey and a sheltered double-height space beneath that can host performances. 

Marrying crafted elements with precision engineering, the design comprehensively yet sensitively restored the buildings and yard to provide a wide range of unit sizes to cater to a changing sector.  CES Credits = 1.5 HSW.

12 Jul 2019 - 4 Pancras Square by Eric Parry Architects

4 Pancras Square forms the keystone of this new public space at King’s Cross and cements the success of a new urban quarter. The quality and robustness of this project was developed following the success of the client’s preceding office buildings, within a backdrop of a changing market, more flexible user requirements and a much sharper focus on sustainability and user well-being.

The building – which won a Commendation at the 2019 AIA UK Design Awards - consists of ten storeys of office above ground, an office reception & cafe, retail units at ground and lower ground floors, and two levels of basement, a total of 305,000 ft2 GEA. A weathering (corten) steel exoskeleton characterises the building and gives a strong identity for Universal Music the building’s anchor tenant. A vierendeel truss at the first floor allows the transfer of structure to widely-spaced ground floor columns that open up the ground floor. CES Credits = 1.5 HSW.

15 May 2019 - Hugo Road by Robert Rhodes Architecture + Interiors

Hugo Road is an award winning (Finalist, AJ 2018 Retrofit Awards; Finalist, Sunday Times 2018 Home Extension of the Year; Long List, 2019 New London Architecture Don’t Move, Improve) project designed by AIA UK’s past President, Robert Rhodes.  

It challenges the traditional layout of the terraced house. By moving the entrance, circulation and services spaces into a slender, two-storey side extension, the house was released the house from its Victorian formality.  The new diagram shifted the focus of the house to the garden level and freed the raised ground floor to provide much needed private space.  CES Credits = 1.5 HSW

Written by: Lorraine King AIA