New London Architecture
NLQ Issue 59
London has endorsed Sadiq Khan’s commitment to environmental principles, including his ULEZ plan for cleaner air, and the country is now preparing itself for a potential change in Downing Street.
While it will be fascinating to watch key built environment issues, such as housing, emerge from this political arena, a focus on tall buildings and public spaces as mainstays in how the city develops is a safe bet across the professions.
This issue of NLQ looks at both of these issues on the back of research. For tall buildings, we celebrate a decade looking at how the capital has changed its attitude to, and aptitude for, going high. Public space, moreover, has moved up the agenda as the city grows and people’s wellbeing at work and play becomes more important, not least as a draw back to the office. The London Festival of Architecture represents a celebration of this, while Public London looks at the issue as it evolves.
Both of these areas (and myriad others) fall under the watch of Ian Thomas CBE, CEO of the City of London Corporation, whose job is partly to create a more liveable Square Mile as it redefines itself while maintaining its thrust as the UK’s financial centre. Thomas is profiled this time.
Both of these areas (and myriad others) fall under the watch of Ian Thomas CBE, CEO of the City of London Corporation, whose job is partly to create a more liveable Square Mile as it redefines itself while maintaining its thrust as the UK’s financial centre. Thomas is profiled this time.
We take a deep look at Hopkins Architects as it too grapples with forging a new identity, a year after the death of its famous founder Sir Michael, with both a pipeline of major blue-chip projects endorsing its pioneering nature and its business-as-usual approach.
And we celebrate Peter Murray, an extraordinary mentor to so many, and a real polymath whose impact on the capital — including on cycling, publishing, architecture, design, even toy making — is peerless as he glimpses his next chapter at the remarkable age of 80.
There’s plenty more besides — a look at the mega mixed-use Gaumont project in Chelsea and at the Cancer Hub in Sutton, a reappraisal of ‘profit’ by Seaforth Land’s Tyler Goodwin, and a Q&A with Jo McCafferty on housing and more.
Enjoy the issue!
David Taylor
Editor
Editor
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In the issue
FEATURES
Tall Buildings Special 10
Essay, Viewpoint and Yolande Barnes’ column in our special celebrating
10 years of tall buildings research
Essay, Viewpoint and Yolande Barnes’ column in our special celebrating
10 years of tall buildings research
LFA Special 22
A look back over 20 years of the Festival, including Cecilia Lindström and Jack Salabank on Public London
A look back over 20 years of the Festival, including Cecilia Lindström and Jack Salabank on Public London
New Londoner 32
David Taylor meets City of London Town clerk and chief executive Ian Thomas
David Taylor meets City of London Town clerk and chief executive Ian Thomas
Profile 40
Peter Murray at 80 — profile of the remarkable NLA co-founder and design dynamo by David Taylor
Peter Murray at 80 — profile of the remarkable NLA co-founder and design dynamo by David Taylor
The New Teams 52
A new chapter — Hopkins Architects taking on the future, by David Taylor
A new chapter — Hopkins Architects taking on the future, by David Taylor
Building review 82
Up in lights — The Gaumont mixed-use project in Chelsea from Cadogan Estates
Up in lights — The Gaumont mixed-use project in Chelsea from Cadogan Estates
REGULARS
Need to know 6
The quarter — our summary of all the key news events this term
The quarter — our summary of all the key news events this term
Opinions 60 | 62 | 64
Opinions this time from Populo, Hoare Lea and Seaforth Land
Best of the web 66
Five minutes with... Laura Samullo of Stride Treglown
Letter from the boroughs 68 Liquid assets — Enfield’s Penny Halliday on Meridian Water
Coffee break 74
Jo McCafferty of Levitt Bernstein answers the questions
My London 94
Historic England’s Tom Foxall reminisces about Walthamstow
PLUS...
Portfolio 8
The Don’t Move, Improve! winner for 2024
Innovation Summit 39
Robert Gordon Clark reports on NLA’s Innovation Summit at Guildhall
Murray Mint 50
Leading London — Peter Murray puts the case for a city architect
Meet the expert 70
Carl Vann of PTE reflects on the Expert Panel’s work on housing issues
Project preview 78
Beating the big ‘C’ — the ongoing Cancer Hub project in Sutton
Market essay 92
Gerald Eve partner Lloyd Davies on current conditions in the capital
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