Issue#04—2013
Issue#04—2013

Issue#04—2013

I recently had an interesting discussion with an architect friend who expressed his frustration at the lack of ambition of his clients. This coincided with a very interesting radio series that I listened to on the ‘Politics of Architecture’ in the UK. This dealt with some of the issues surrounding the loss of control that architects have encountered within the construction process and the progressive move towards design and build over the last 15 years. This it was said had partly led to the bland architecture that we have today within the public realm.

It was encouraging to hear that there were a number of initiatives, some led by government, towards a more enlightened design ethos for the future.

I am sure that all of us would whole heartedly support a more innovative and sympathetic approach to the everyday buildings that the majority of us have to live and work within.

In our latest edition we try and highlight some examples that follow this philosophy: An Eco centre in Essex, Tidemill Academy in London and a simple yet very successful bus station in Haldensleben, Germany.

Bus Station Haldensleben

The new central bus station in the town of Haldensleben gracefully fills a void that gives shape to what had until recently been an abandoned site in front of the main railway station. The requirement for sheltered links between bus…

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Cory Environmental Centre

The Cory Environmental Visitor Centre within the Thurrock Thameside Nature Park was a design competition won by van Heyningen and Haward Architects. The area is a new, green wildlife space created on the restored Stanford-le-Hope and Tilbury landfill site. It…

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Düppel Prison, Berlin

Düppel prison, designed by MGF Architekten, stands in the heart of the Berlin suburb of Zehlendorf. Unusually located close to the city centre, it is approached via an avenue lined with mature trees. With their design, MGF Architekten have moved…

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Galvanizing Delight

Sandsfoot Castle was built by Henry VIII between 1539 and 1541 to work with Portland Castle to protect the waters of the Portland Roads against the threat of foreign invasion. Standing on the cliff edge, the castle has been under…

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Police Station in Madrid

The design for this new Police Station in Madrid has intentionally moved away from the traditional ethos of being a slightly detached, secure civic building. The building seeks to be transparent and inviting to the general public, with a new…

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Public Housing in Seville

When it comes to designing social housing, the areas that justifiably tend to receive the greatest attention are those based around the accommodation and communal space. Features such as parking facilities are usually overlooked and devoid of architectural inspiration. However,…

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Schaustelle at Pinakothek Museum

When Munich‘s Pinakothek der Moderne art museum required a seven-month renovation earlier this year, it was the perfect opportunity to create a new, temporary space to house exhibitions and events during its closure. Berlin architect Jürgen Mayer H. was selected…

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Technical Operations Centre

The newly opened Technical Operations Centre forms the municipal headquarters for the management of all logistical-based services required across the city of Munich and its surrounding areas. The centre combines administration alongside the engineering departments. At the core of the…

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Tidemill Academy and Deptford Lounge

The Giffin Street redevelopment’s brief was to form a focal point for the local community as the key part of a five year plan for the regeneration of Deptford town centre. The scheme puts a new primary school at the…

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