Architects Journal
October 2011
View all stories from this issue.
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‘Gloves off’ in rival plans bid
Ash Sakula Architects has drawn up alternative plans for the redevelopment of New Covent Garden Market in Nine Elms, south London -
CABE calls for design to be central to sustainable development
Design Council CABE has urged the government to place design at the centre of any presumption in favour of sustainable development, claiming it will ‘provide confidence to both local authorities and communities that developments are fit for their local context’ -
Corb your enthusiasm
Fans who celebrated Le Corbusier’s birthday on Thursday last week (6 October) may be saddened to learn old Corb came in for a bashing the very same day as part of a London School of Economics debate on architecture and happiness -
Heseltine backs design contests to boost regeneration
Michael Heseltine has urged the government to give architects a key role in stimulating regional economies in the UK -
Putting the ‘temporary’ into ‘contemporary’ while ignoring the ‘con’
Ian Martin designs a pop-up cast iron bridge -
RIBA freezes fees for third year in a row
The RIBA has announced it will freeze its annual membership fee for the third year running -
Stirling Prize school ‘should go mainstream’ says Zaha
Zaha Hadid says Evelyn Grace Academy could be the answer to social unrest and uninspired youth -
In pictures: Orbit tower tops-out on Olympic Park site
These are the latest images showing Anish Kapoor’s 114.5 metre-tall ArcelorMittal Orbit tower on the Olympic Park in east London -
€30,000 'Light of Tomorrow' student contest from Velux
[Registration must be completed by 1 March 2012] Velux has launched a ‘Light of Tomorrow’ student design competition with a total prize fund of €30,000 -
00 reveals Silicon Roundabout concept
[First look] Architecture 00 has unveiled a proposal to transform London’s Old Street roundabout into a ‘Start-up City’ -
10 Design trumps Zaha to land China library job
[First look] Hong Kong-based 10 Design has beaten Kengo Kuma and Associates, Hopkins Architects and this year’s Stirling Prize winner Zaha Hadid Architects to land a 55,400m² public library in Dalian, China -
12 new Scottish Schools for the Future projects announced
An extra 12 schools will be built through the Scottish Schools for the Future (SSF) programme, first minister Alex Salmond has announced -
2012 calendar free to subscribers
AJ subscribers can receive a free 2012 calendar featuring New London, a new drawing by acclaimed artist Stephen Wiltshire -
3DReid and Muse land huge Hampshire project
3DReid and developer Muse has won the £200 million project to redevelop five parcels of land in Basingstoke town centre -
5 Plus wins planning for Peel's waterside whopper
Medway Council has approved Peel Land & Property’s outline plans for its £650 million mixed-use Chatham Waters scheme in Kent designed by 5 Plus Architects -
ABW unwraps Ormskirk campus building
[First look + project data + plans] ABW Architects has completed this £14 million student ‘hub’ building for Edge Hill University in Ormskirk, Lancashire -
Aedas unveils Shanghai sky-linked showstopper
[First look + plans] Aedas has revealed this mixed-use shopping, office and gallery scheme in Hongqiao, Shanghai -
AHMM and Arup land £1.2 billion Silvertown Quays jackpot
AHMM and Arup have been named as part of the victorious Chelsfield and First Base bid to redevelop the 20ha Silvertown Quays site in east London -
AHMM lodges plans for Oxford Street theatre and office scheme
Developer Derwent has submitted plans for this mixed-use theatre and office scheme above the proposed Tottenham Court Road Crossrail designed by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris -
AHMM wins go-ahead for City Road 'White Collar Factory'
Allford Hall Monaghan Morris (AHMM) has won planning for this 26,800m² redevelopment at City Road Estate next to Old Street roundabout, London -
AJ exclusive: Doolan prize 2011 shortlist unveiled
The AJ can exclusively reveal the 13-strong shortlist in the running for the largest cash prize contest in British architecture; this year’s RIAS Andrew Doolan Best Building in Scotland Award -
AJ Exclusive: Velodrome wins top prize at BCI Awards
The AJ can reveal all the winners of the British Construction Industry Awards including the Prime Minister’s Better Public Building Award -
AJ Specification 10.11 – Lighting & Signage
Case studies of No.1 Smithery by Van Heyningen and Haward Architects with Purcel Miller Tritton, the Playboy Club by Jestico + Whiles and King’s College by Mitchell Taylor Workshop -
AJ Writing Prize Shortlist: A review of The Collection, Lincoln’s museum of archaeology, by Mike Hawkins
The Collection was built in 2005, designed by architects Panter Hudspith to house the extensive civic archaeological collection within the dense fabric of old Lincoln, between the cathedral at the top of the hill and the railway station at the bottom -
AJ Writing Prize Shortlist: Meet me at the Wit, by John S Clark
Sitting at the rooftop bar, perched 27 levels above the rattle of the Chicago Loop, the evening light fades over the hazy horizon of decaying west-side rooftops as the office fluorescent lights of the towers slowly assert their prominence. We watch the milling denizens of the 9-5 crowdhappily swilling their cosmos, whiskey sours, and Heinekens after a long day inside one of the neighboring high-rise cubicle farms -
AJ Writing Prize Shortlist: Restoration of the Yale Art and Architecture Building by Dale Suttle
November 9, 1963 was to be a joyous affair at the new Art and Architecture School at Yale. The star Dean of the school, Paul Rudolph had just completed a trendsetting new building. Two thousand people gathered at the school for dinner, tours and a presentation by the British architectural critic Nicolas Pevsner -
AJ Writing Prize Shortlist: Revisiting the Idea Stores, by Hana Loftus
Walking down Whitechapel High Street, you have enough to do in dodging the stallholders and shoppers at one of the capital’s busiest street markets, at the heart of the largely Bangladeshi local community -
AJ Writing Prize Shortlist: The Carrot and the Cane by Malcolm Birks
As gestures go, the 100m sprint track at the Evelyn Grace Academy in Brixton, South London, is a very powerful one; an act of great force running through a void in the centre of the building. ‘Education is a competition,’ it shouts, ‘so you’d better get in training now.’ But is it just a one-liner, a clever juxtaposition but no more? -
AJ Writing Prize Winner: Alan Miller on Westfield Sydney Shopping Centre
Year one of architecture school kicked off with a discussion around the impossible question of “what is architecture?” -
AJ Writing Prize: How we picked a winner
Alan Berman of Berman Guedes Stretton explains how the judges awarded the AJ Writing Prize, in association with Guedes Stretton Architects -
All entries to the 2012 Small Projects Award now in the AJ Buildings Library
See images, drawings and working details for all 150 of the entries to this year’s competition in the AJ Buildings Library -
Allies and Morrison’s Elephant and Castle tower rejected
Allies and Morrison’s application for a 43-storey residential in Elephant and Castle, south London has been thrown out by planners -
Apocalypse Then: John Martin at Tate Britain
John Martin’s paintings of biblical disaster have influenced artists and filmmakers for years, but his greatest admirer was an architect, writes Rory Olcayto -
Arcadis buys EC Harris
Global consultancy Arcadis has bought project managing giant EC Harris in a move that will create a £1.45 billion turnover consultancy -
Architects cast doubt over Tory housing plans
Architects have questioned proposals to build 200,000 new homes through reviving ‘right to buy’ and selling public land to developers on a ‘buy now, pay later’ basis, announced by David Cameron at this week’s Conservative party conference -
Architects predict looming job cuts, says RIBA
Architects expect job cuts before Christmas as workloads continue to fall, according to research by the Royal Institute of British Architects -
Architects sought for Northern Ireland housing framework
[Requests to participate must be received by 9 November 2011] Habinteg Housing Association is on the hunt for architect-led design teams to provide multi-disciplinary services for a wide range of housing types across Northern Ireland -
Architects sought for post-2012 Park framework
The Olympic Park Legacy Company is hunting for up to a dozen architects to help with the long-term, housing-led transformation of Stratford after the 2012 games -
Architectural Review seeks new Editorial Assistant
The AJ’s sister publication, The Architectural Review, is looking for a full-time Editorial Assistant to join its small editorial team at its global headquarters in central London -
Architecture Foundation launches Inmidtown Habitats design competition
[Registration to be completed by 23 November 2011] The Architecture Foundation has launched an international design competition seeking proposals for urban beehives, bird boxes and planters in central London -
Arts Council announces £180 million fund for smaller projects
The Arts Council has decided to direct its funding towards existing organisations as part of an established move away from its past programme of building new, large-scale museums -
Ayr Academy, Scotland
[Requests to participate must be made by 22 November 2011] South Ayrshire Council is seeking design services for the new Ayr Academy -
BDP set to axe 15% of staff
The UK’s largest design practice BDP stands to lose up to 15 per cent of its workforce -
BDP shuts four UK offices as profit halves
The UK’s largest practice BDP is to shut its Belfast, Liverpool, Winchester and Edinburgh offices -
Beatrice Galilee on her plans for the Lisbon Architecture Triennale
Beatrice Galilee, a 29-year old writer and curator, has won the curatorship of the third Lisbon Architecture Triennale. Here she speaks to the AJ about her plans -
Belfast health trust launches design framework
[Requests to participate must be received by 23 December 2011] The Belfast Health and Social Services Trust is on the hunt for multidisciplinary design teams for a two year design services framework agreement -
Bennetts wins cash backing for Hornsey town hall overhaul
Bennetts Associates has bagged an initial cash injection from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for the long-awaited overhaul of Hornsey Town Hall in north London -
Best Practice: How big is a house?
Minimum space standards would kill innovative micro-homes, writes Paul McGrath -
'Beyond Disaster, through Solidarity, towards Sustainability'
Paul Finch’s letter from London: The UIA conference of 5,000 architects in Tokyo is a tribute to Japan’s resilience -
Bishop review: time to pay up for design review
Design Council CABE (DCC) has been urged to abandon its top-down approach to design review and start charging developers for the service -
Bisset Adams unwraps £3m Blackpool library revamp
[First look] Bisset Adams has completed an overhaul of the Grade II-listed Carnegie library in Blackpool -
Britain's best university buildings: Libraries
To celebrate the start of the academic year, the AJ Buildings Library showcases images, drawings and data for the UK’s best university buildings. Part 1 of 4: Libraries -
Britain's best university buildings: Student accommodation
To mark the start of the academic year, the AJ Buildings Library showcases images, drawings and data for the UK’s best university buildings. Part 2 of 4: Student accommodation -
Britain's best university buildings: Student Unions
To mark the start of the academic year, the AJ Buildings Library showcases images, drawings and data for the UK’s best university buildings. Part 3 of 4: Student Unions -
British starlets narrowly miss out on Moroccan resort complex
London-based Moxon Architects has been pipped to the post in the race for another major scheme in Morocco -
Broadway Malyan unwraps Bournville College campus
[First look + project data + plans] Broadway Malyan has completed this £66 million campus for Bournville College in Birmingham -
BSF ‘made the schools estate worse’
The bulk of England’s secondary schools estate is in a worse condition than it would have been had Building Schools for the Future never happened, the head of the Department for Education’s Central Capital Unit told a conference -
Buckley Gray Yeoman replaces Gaunt Francis at St Katharine's Dock
Buckley Gray Yeoman (BGY) has been brought in by St Katharine’s Dock’s new owners, the Max Property Group, to take on the office-led refubishment of London’s only marina -
Buildings without people are like fish without water
Paul Finch’s letter from London: Is property really a ‘people business’? -
CABE and residents slam Gensler's Thames river park
Design Council CABE has attacked a proposed kilometre-long floating park scheme for the Thames designed by Gensler -
Canned Designs
In the wake of the Stirling Prize, it may be worth sparing a thought for the non-starchitects out there still struggling to achieve recognition -
Capita Symonds and Populous scoop Mumbai race track masterplanning job
A consortium including UK consultancy Capita Symonds has been appointed to prepare the masterplan and business case for a Grands Prix-standard race circuit and associated regeneration project in Mumbai -
Capita Symonds plots Victoria eco-revamp
Capita Symonds has been appointed to work on a string of eco-friendly projects in Victoria, London -
Capita Symonds snaps up architects ESA
Public sector giant Capita Symonds has bought ESA Architects for an undisclosed sum -
Carmody Groarke completes Frieze Art Fair pavilions
Carmody Groarke has released these pictures of its temporary pavilions for the annual Frieze Art Fair in London’s Regents park -
Carmody Groarke wins Windermere Steamboat Museum contest
Carmody Groarke has seen off the likes of Niall McLaughlin, Terry Pawson and Adam Khan, to win the RIBA-run competition to overhaul the Windermere Steamboat Museum -
Casper Mueller Kneer completes White Cube Bermondsey
[First look + project data] Casper Mueller Kneer has taken the wraps off its 5,440m² art gallery for White Cube in Bermondsey Street, London -
Competitions: Editor's Pick, 13.10.11
Newcastle’s Hatton Gallery, Northern Ireland housing and an Architecture Foundation contest for urban beehives. The editor’s pick of this week’s top competitions -
Conservation: St Patrick's Church, Soho Square, London
Technical & Practice: Castanon Associates put its faith in simplicity for the renovation of St Patrick’s church in London’s Soho Square, writes Felix Mara -
Consultation starts on Make’s Elephant and Castle masterplan
Make’s masterplan for the redevelopment of Elephant and Castle in south London has gone out to public consultation -
Contest launched for Whitehill Bordon eco housing
[Submissions must be received by 7 November 2011] East Hampshire District Council and Radian Housing Group have announced a contest to design three terraced houses at Whitehill Bordon eco-town in Hampshire -
Controversial revamp of Farrell's TV-am hq slammed
A controversial multi-million-pound overhaul of Terry Farrell’s Postmodern TV-am headquarters in Camden, London, has been described as ‘mind-deadening’ by fans of the building -
Could Thames river park float to Singapore?
The funders behind the controversial Thames Riverpark have surprisingly let slip they could take the Gensler designed-scheme to Singapore if London doesn’t want it -
Council gives thumbs up for Allies & Morrison's Hereford market plan
[First look + plans] Herefordshire Council has approved the £80 million redevelopment of Hereford’s Old Market masterminded by Allies and Morrison -
CPA: Construction recession worst for 30 years
The construction industry is experiencing its worst decline for 30 years, losing £32 billion since 2007, according to the latest forecasts from the Construction Products Association -
CPMG wins planning for HMS Belfast visitor centre
[First look + plans + project data] Nottingham-based CPMG Architects has landed planning permission for a Quayside Pavilion serving HMS Belfast in central London -
CZWG's Croydon skyscraper set for approval despite CABE concerns
CZWG’s long-awaited 55-storey tower in Croydon looks set to be given the green light despite calls from DC CABE the scheme should be simplified -
DC CABE’s Diane Haigh steps down
CABE figurehead Diane Haigh has left the Design Council to pursue other challenges, it has been announced -
Deborah Saunt: ‘Never use a fee scale for small projects’
DSDHA’s Deborah Saunt and Ben Addy of Moxon shared advice on charging clients for their services at the launch of the annual AJ Small Projects award -
DSDHA wins first skyscraper project
DSDHA has scooped its first ever skyscraper commission to design a 30-storey London tower -
Euro crisis in Holland
In a bid to bring architecture to the masses, Architecture For One Euro has launched in Rotterdam, offering a drop-in professional service where shoppers can get advice on their design problems for just €1 -
Everyone's a critic
The AJ Writing Prize is our contribution to the fight against architectural ‘churnalism’, writes Christine Murray -
Exciting rebrands on the way for anarchism and sustainability
Ian Martin condemns the Stirling Prize fix -
Faith schemes battle for design prize
Extensions to a Benedictine abbey, an Islamic cemetery and a cathedral visitor centre have been shortlisted for this year’s Arts and Christian Enquiry (ACE) and RIBA Award for Religious Architecture -
Farrells to re-examine Vauxhall Cross gyratory
Terry Farrell and Partners has been appointed by Lambeth Council to work on a strategy for the future of Vauxhall Cross road interchange in south London -
Feilden Clegg Bradley lodges plans Middleport Pottery overhaul
Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios (FCBS) has submitted proposals to restore and regenerate the UK’s last working Victorian pottery -
Firstsite, Colchester, Essex, by Rafael Viñoly Architects
Gold Rush - Colchester is the latest town to receive a unique cultural landmark, but is Rafael Viñoly’s delayed golden crescent worth its wait? -
Fobert wins Tate St Ives project for a second time
Jamie Fobert Architects has won the re-run contest to design an extension to Tate in St Ives, Cornwall -
Footprint: The Thames 'Super Sewer'
As London prepares to radically change its water systems, architects can seize an opportunity, writes Richard Ashley -
Forbo Shares Carpet Tile Expertise in CPD Seminar
With its CPD entitled “Specifying Carpet Tiles for the Modern Commercial Environment” Forbo offers flooring specifiers the opportunity to look in depth at this increasingly popular style of floor covering and enhance their knowledge of manufacturing methods, advances in construction, new design opportunities and all relevant environmental considerations. -
Forget the built environment, let’s shape a Brutalist protest movement
Ian Martin designs a sparkling crystalline cluster of hope for the new Libya -
Former Buro Happold engineer guilty of Yeates murder
Vincent Tabak has been found guilty of murdering his next-door neighbour Joanna Yeates -
Foster and Tomlinson submit 23ha Nine Elms plans
Foster + Partners and Neil Tomlinson Associates have submitted outline plans for the redevelopment of New Covent Garden market in Nine Elms, south London -
Foster on all-star shortlist in museum of ancient India contest
Foster + Partners has been named alongside Daniel Libeskind and Snøhetta on the stellar shortlist to design the new museum of ancient India in Patna -
Foster reveals self-funded proposal for a four-runway airport in the Thames Estuary
Foster + Partners has unveiled its vision for a £50 billion transport hub in the Thames Estuary, featuring a new airport built on reclaimed land -
From the archives: Imre Makovecz (1935 – 2011)
Read Jonathan Glancey’s 1981 Architectural Review article on Hungarian architect Imre Makovecz who died last week aged 75 -
From the archives: TV-am studios by Terry Farrell Partnership
Read Jonathan Glancey’s 1983 Architectural Review article on Terry Farrell’s TV-am building in Camden, London -
Funding finally confirmed for Knight’s Mersey bridge
The government has confirmed it will provide £470 million towards the £590 million construction of Knight Architects’ Mersey Gateway bridge following years of delays -
Gensler’s Thames river park sent back to drawing board
Gensler’s proposed 1km-long floating park on the River Thames is to be redesigned and will not now be completed in time for the London 2012 Games -
GHM Rock Townsend completes east London community centre
[First look + plans + project data] GHM Rock Townsend has completed this £5 million youth centre for the Osmani Trust in Whitechapel, east London -
GKD Copper Mesh Used For St. Lawrence Cemetery Chapel
The Chapel of St. Lawrence in Vantaa, Finland, was now awarded the European Copper in Architecture Award. About 700 m2 of GKD bronze mesh of the type Baltic provide the object with a distinctive look. The award acknowledges outstanding copper projects in contemporary European architecture. Out of the 66 entries, the cemetery chapel of St. Lawrence, designed by Avanto Arkkitehdit, emerged as the winner. -
Government unveils 55 new free school projects
The government has announced that another 55 new free schools and 13 University Technical Colleges (UTC) will open by September 2012 -
Green light for Make's Chiswick Octopus scheme
Hounslow Council has approved Make Architects’ so-called Octopus scheme in Hounslow, west London -
Hadid tipped to design Baghdad opera house
Zaha Hadid is among several architects invited by the Iraqi government to design a landmark opera house in Baghdad -
Hatton Gallery refurbishment, Newcastle
[Expressions of interest must be received by 17 October 2011] The University of Newcastle is calling for architectural design services for the refurbishment of the Hatton Gallery on its campus -
Hawkes wins green light for underground PPS7 home in Kent
Hawkes Architecture has won permission for this subterranean PPS7 country house on the outskirts of Canterbury, Kent -
Hawkins\Brown completes Coventry student hang-out
[First look] Hawkins\Brown has taken the wraps of this new student union building for Coventry University -
Hawkins\Brown joins call to revive Parliament Square overhaul
Hawkins\Brown has welcomed a report by the Hansard Society calling for the redevelopment of Parliament Square in London -
Head of Norwich's new architecture school named
Architect and academic Adrian Friend is to develop and lead Norwich University’s new architecture school -
Helsinki station design contest, Finland
[Submissions must be received by 15 January 2012] Roofing company Cembrit is seeking design proposals for a train and bus station in the Malmi suburb of Helsinki -
Heneghan Peng completes ‘bubble gum’ Olympic Park bridge
[First look] Heneghan Peng Architects has completed this brightly coloured bridge for the Olympic Park in Stratford, east London -
HGP submits 28-storey Southampton tower scheme
[First look] HGP Architects has submitted a planning application for this £74 million mixed-use skyscraper project in Southampton -
High Speed 2 professional services framework
[Requests to participate must be received by 3 November 2011] High Speed Two Limited is seeking architectural services to support a parliamentary bill for a proposed new rail link between London and the West Midlands -
Hilary Benn accepts Shadow Communities brief
Former environment minister Hilary Benn has been appointed to oversee Labour’s housing policy review -
HKR splinters
What exactly is going on at HKR Architects, I hear you ask? A good question -
Housebuilders warn of 'building ice age' if planning reform stalls
The Housebuilders have urged the Government to stick to its contentious planning proposals or risk a ‘house building ice age’ -
How I very nearly moved myself to tears with my own genius
Ian Martin is overcome by the sheer emotional power of his work -
Ian Martin on satire, Berthold Lubetkin and wafty lofty types
‘We were skint and I needed work’: Rory Olcayto interviews AJ columnist and ‘The Thick of It’ writer Ian Martin on his life in architectural journalism -
Ian Martin's speech at the launch of The Coalition Chronicles
I’m 58 years old and standing on a chair…I love a crowd when I don’t know many people. It’s more exciting. -
Ian Simpson wins planning for Canary Wharf tower scheme
[First look] Ian Simpson Architects has won ‘unanimous’ consent for a 31-storey housing-led scheme for Londonewcastle and European Investments in Canary Wharf, east London -
In Pictures: LoveLight 2011
Last Thursday saw the third annual LoveLight event bringing together architects and lighting designers to share their creative ideas -
In pictures: Union Terrace Gardens contest shortlisted schemes revealed
[First look] These are the six proposals battling for the contentious commission to overhaul Union Terrace Gardens in Aberdeen -
Industrial heritage faces ‘bleak’ future, warns English Heritage
Disused industrial buildings are more at risk of destruction than any other kind of building according to an English Heritage (EH) report -
International arena contest, Copenhagen
[Requests to participate must be received by 15 November 2011] The city of Copenhagen has launched a design competition for a 35,000m2 multi-purpose indoor arena -
It's a wrap: FAT finishes 260m-long facade for the BBC
[First look + plans] FAT, working with Holder Mathias Architects, has completed this £30 million production village for the BBC in Roath Basin, Cardiff -
It's showtime: BFLS completes Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
BFLS’ newly completed Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in Cardiff – Wales’ national music and drama conservatoire – will open to students later this month. -
Jestico + Whiles lands Norfolk academy job
[First look + project data] Jestico + Whiles has secured a contract for a major redesign of Thetford Academy in Norfolk -
Kalzip - Fit for 40 years!
Kalzip aluminium standing seam system’s outstanding durability has been independently authenticated by virtue of testing undertaken by Germany’s Federal Institute for Material Research and Testing (BAM). BAM’s thorough examinations and assessments have been taking place for more than 40 years in three types of aggressive environment - marine, urban and industrial - and the results confirm Kalzip’s long term corrosion-resistance and performance capabilities. -
Kalzip XT roofing ideal for Slough Bus Station
Over 1,200 sqm of Kalzip’s aluminium standing seam roofing system, including 1,000 sqm of revolutionary Kalzip XT profile and smooth curved sheets have been installed on the impressive new Slough Bus Station. bblur Architecture was responsible for the futuristic design concept and delivery of this iconic building on behalf of their client, Slough Borough Council for use by local bus operators. -
Kalzip XT roofing ideal for Slough Bus Station
Over 1,200 sqm of Kalzip’s aluminium standing seam roofing system, including 1,000 sqm of revolutionary Kalzip XT profile and smooth curved sheets have been installed on the impressive new Slough Bus Station. bblur Architecture was responsible for the futuristic design concept and delivery of this iconic building on behalf of their client, Slough Borough Council for use by local bus operators. -
Kiev Islands contest, Ukraine
[Registration must be completed by 26 October 2011] The city of Kiev in the Ukraine is seeking proposals for the re-use of a series of islands in the city centre -
Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts by Sheppard Robson
Lancaster university’s BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ LICA building shows Sheppard Robson’s commitment to sustainable design, writes Felix Mara. Photography by Hufton + Crow -
Legalese: Payment
New payment legislation will make being an architect easier, writes Peter Stockill -
Libeskind completes redesign of Dresden Museum of Military History
Daniel Libeskind’s has completed the redesign of the Dresden Museum of Military History which officially opens this Friday (14 October) -
Libya ‘to reassess 40% of jobs’
As many as 40 per cent of Libya’s construction projects could be up for review despite pledges by the country’s liberators to honour all ‘legally obtained’ contracts, a leading architect within the country has said -
Localism: identifying the people that matter is vital
The Localism agenda means more work and more proactivity, so getting the ‘key influencers’ on side early is critical, says Geoff Armstrong -
Lost in epic f*cking space
How Ian Martin became the foremost piss-taker of architecture, then politics. Rory Olcayto interviews the AJ’s star columnist and author of The Coalition Chronicles -
Maggie’s leaves home
The award-winning Maggie’s Centres, designed by a raft of stars including Rem Koolhaas, are now starting to emerge all over the world -
Maggie's Centre, Gartnavel Hospital, Glasgow by OMA
Rem Koolhaas has typically broken with convention with his doughnut-shaped, non-cosy Maggie’s Centre. And where’s the kitchen? Rory Olcayto goes on a walk -
Make reveals Kurdistan children's hospital plans
Ken Shuttleworth’s practice Make has unveiled these proposals for Kurdistan’s first children’s hospital -
Make’s Riverside Quarter scheme rises from the ground
Make and careyjones chapmantolcher’s 204-home Riverside Quarter project in Wandsworth, south London has started on site -
Margam Country park restoration, Port Talbot
[Tenders must be received by 29 November 2011] Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council is seeking architect-led teams to work on a second round Heritage Lottery Fund application for the restoration of Margam Country park -
Marketplace competition launches in Tenerife
[Requests to participate must be received by 21 November 2011] The Spanish city of La Laguna has launched a competition to design a marketplace in the north of Tenerife -
Marley Eternit and the AJ Small Projects Award
Marley Eternit is proud to be sponsoring the AJ Small Projects Award -
'Massive missed opportunity': Government slashes solar panel funding
The government has confirmed plans to more than halve state subsidies for solar panel schemes of up to 4 kilowatts -
Masterplanning - York Heslington East Campus, York, by BDP
The success of BDP’s masterplan for York’s Heslington East campus relies on five key moves -
Metro Station 20 design contest, Sofia
[Registration must be completed by 9 December 2011] The city of Sofia in Bulgaria has launched a competition seeking preliminary designs for a new metro station -
More practices join burgeoning B3 stable
Booming Cardiff-based practice B3 Architects has added yet another design studio to its growing fold after merging with Glasgow’s G5 Architecture & Design -
Moussavi wins major housing competition in Paris
Farshid Moussavi Architecture (FMA) has seen off French practices LAN and Brenac & Gonzalez to win the competition to design a new residential complex in Paris -
Muf and Greyworld come to Grizedale Sculpture Trail
[THIS WEEK] Now there’s two more reasons to visit Cumbria, writes James Pallister -
Muf prepares meanwhile use for Foster’s Croydon site
Muf Architects has floated a meanwhile-use concept for the site of Foster + Partners’ proposed Ruskin Square overhaul in east Croydon, London -
New custody centre for Gloucestershire Police Authority
[Tenders must also be received by 21 November 2011] Gloucestershire Police Authority is on the hunt for architects to design a 50-cell custody centre in Waterwells, Gloucestershire -
New Practices #85: New Town Studio
The latest in a series of practice profiles looking at architects who have recently decided to go it alone either through choice or redundancy -
New Practices #87: Annabelle Tugby Architects
The latest in a series of practice profiles looking at architects who have recently decided to go it alone either through choice or redundancy -
New Practices #88: Bradley Van Der Straeten
The latest in a series of practice profiles looking at architects who have recently decided to go it alone either through choice or redundancy -
Norman Foster pays tribute to Steve Jobs
Norman Foster has said he was ‘greatly privileged’ to have known Apple chairman and co-founder Steve Jobs who died this morning following a battle with cancer -
NPPF consultation lands 13,700 responses
The government has given MPs extra time to contribute to the debate over its controversial planning reforms following huge interest in the policy -
NPPF round-up: Princes Foundation among those calling for changes
The Princes Foundation for the Built Environment has demanded ‘significant’ changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) as the consultation period on the new rules draws to a close -
Obituary: Gwen Cottrell (1952-2011)
RIBA East Midlands regional director Gwen Cottrell has died from leukaemia at the age of 59 -
Olympic Stadium back on the market
The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) has re-started the tender process today for a new tenant for the Populous-designed Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Games -
Olympic village reaches home straight
The number of units completed on the 2012 Olympics Athletes’ Village in east London has passed the symbolic 2,012 milestone -
OMA unwraps Glasgow Maggie's Centre
[First look] OMA has completed the new Maggie’s Cancer Caring Centre in the grounds of the Gartnavel Hospital in Glasgow -
OMA/Progress at the Barbican
OMA’s first UK exhibition is noisy and invigorating, but cutting through the cacophony is a challenge, writes James Pallister -
Open fire: Magma’s Olympic rifle range completes
Berlin and London-based Magma’s 2012 Olympics rifle range project in Woolwich has opened -
Open House photo competition captures London’s changing face
The AJ can reveal the winners of the 2011 Open House London photography competition -
Page\Park to float alternative Tesco plans in Glasgow
Page\Park Architects has been commissioned by campaigners to draw up alternative designs for a Tesco supermarket in Milngavie, Glasgow -
Paramount Architects bags first major planning permission
[First look + plans] Emerging practice Paramount Architects + Designers, headed by former Conran & Partners managing director Richard Doone, has won permission for its first project -
Partington wins planning for Seifert replacement
Robin Partington Architects has the green light to replace Richard Seifert’s 1972 International Press Centre on Shoe Lane in London -
Party Conference round-up: design and planning on the agenda again
The importance of design and the future of planning were key issues at this year’s party conferences -
Paul Morrell reappointed for another year
Paul Morrell has been reappointed as government chief construction adviser under a one-year extension to his current contract -
Pavilion of Protest at the RIBA
[THIS WEEK] Is it brave or foolish to host Pavilion of Protest at the RIBA? James Pallister -
'Planning terrorism': Robert Adam reveals rival to HKR's Poole plans
Robert Adam has drawn up a ‘tower-free’ alternative to HKR Architects‘ ‘run-of-the-mill’ proposals for West Quay in Poole harbour -
Planning: Suburban housing density
Pre-planning toolkit: Suburban character and high densities need not be mutually exclusive, writes Richard MacCormac -
Porphyrios completes ‘neo-classical’ Islington homes
[First look + plans] Work has completed on this the neo-classical, 119-home scheme in Islington, north London by Porphyrios Associates -
Postmodernism post-mortem
Now Postmodernism is over, we can try to define it. But the V&A’s exhibition doesn’t clear things up, writes Joseph Rykwert -
Postmodernism redux
FAT has resurrected Postmodernism and turned it radical in the latest issue of Architectural Design, but it’s still not cool, writes Steve Parnell -
Prasad lands place on Green Construction Board
Former RIBA president Sunand Prasad is one of two architects appointed the Green Construction Board, the government has revealed -
Preston's Brutalist bus station is 'treasure', says Koolhaas
Rem Koolhaas has hailed Preston’s under-threat Brutalist bus station as an ‘emblem of a period when architecture was interested in doing good things’ -
Prince Charles' right to veto on draft bills revealed
The Prince of Wales was asked if he wanted to veto around 12 draft bills between 2007-2009, including those relating to housing and planning, according to an investigation by The Guardian -
Prince's Foundation unveils Knockroon housing
[First look + plans + project data] The Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment has completed the first show homes on its 28-hectare Knockroon housing development in Cumnock, East Ayrshire -
Pritzker ceremony relocates to Chinese capital
The Pritzker Architecture Prize Ceremony will be held in China for the first time next year -
RA unveils Tatlin's tower
The Royal Academy of Arts has unveiled a 1:40 scale reconstruction of Vladimir Tatlin’s unrealised monument to the third international -
Ralph Erskine's Byker and Clare Hall cross paths
[THIS WEEK] In a new photography show, a Cambridge college and Tyneside estate share subtle details, says James Pallister -
Real Venice at Somerset House
[THIS WEEK] ? The Real Venice show makes saving the city glamorous, writes James Pallister -
Reimagining New York's waterfront
[Submissions must be received by 15 January 2012] The CIVITAS Group has launched an ideas contest seeking architectural concepts for New York’s east side waterfront park -
Rem Koolhaas turns back on cities
Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA) founder Rem Koolhaas has said he will abandon urbanism to focus on the countryside -
Resurrection mooted for Simpson’s Blackfriars tower
Ian Simpson Architect’s 52-storey skyscraper on the South Bank could be restarted if a deal is wrapped up to rescue the project from administrators -
Revealed: Herzog & de Meuron's proposed new Oxford faculty
Swiss practice Herzog & de Meuron has released the first image of its proposed new Blavatnik School of Government in Oxford -
RIBA floats degree in architectural management
The Royal Institute of British Architects with the Bradford Management School has launched an MBA in architectural and construction management -
RIBA urges architects to ‘Get local’
The RIBA has urged architects to seize the localism agenda and help communities make the most of their new planning powers -
RMJM bags £262 million Russian airport job
RMJM has won an international contest to design a 254,000m² terminal building at Domodedovo Airport in Moscow -
RMJM's 'gold and bronze' learning centre opens at Surrey University
RMJM’s £10.8 million new faculty building for the University of Surrey, featuring a gold and bronze anodised-aluminium facade, has opened to students -
Robert Stern lands his first UK commission
American architect Robert Stern has won his first UK commission to redesign a Mayfair Mansion block into a £400m Luxury Housing Development. -
Rogers and PRP set up new offices in China
Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (RSHP) and PRP have become the latest practices to open new offices in China as British architects continue to win huge commissions across the country -
Ryder scoops planning for new free school in former hospital
Ryder Architecture has won planning permission to convert a disused hospital in Battersea, south London into a free school -
Science Museum denies dropping Wilkinson Eyre
The Science Museum in London has denied reports it has dropped Wilkinson Eyre from a £150 million redevelopment programme -
Scottish Parliament quells concerns over ‘life or death’ flaws at Holyrood
The Scottish Parliament has played down reports that a faulty safety feature on Enric Miralles’ Scottish Parliament building in Edinburgh has halted maintenance works -
Sound solution at performing arts centre
An acoustic ceiling from Ecophon, part of leading international materials company Saint-Gobain, has transformed a performing arts centre in Chesterfield. -
Sound solution for students
An innovative acoustic ceiling design from Saint-Gobain Ecophon has given the newly opened International and Postgraduate Student Centre a contemporary new look as part of a complete refurbishment.Spread over three floors, the building has been transformed into a state-of-the-art student centre to provide both teaching and social spaces which focus on and meet the needs of the students. -
Stanton Williams lands planning for Virginia Water pavilion
[First look + project data] Stanton Williams’ scheme for a visitor centre in Windsor Great Park has received planning permission -
Stanton Williams scoops planning for Nantes Musée d’Art scheme
Stanton Williams has landed planning permission for its £42 million art museum project in Nantes, France -
Steve Jobs' message to architects
Apple co-founder gave us what we want, before we knew we wanted it – a skill the best architects share -
Stock Woolstencroft bags 'unanimous' approval for Olympic Fringe scheme
Stock Woolstencroft, with urbanists Studio Aitken, has won approval for a mixed-use creative industry workspace and housing scheme at the northern gateway to the Olympic Park in east London -
Stuart Lipton to head Tottenham riot rebuild taskforce
Property developer Stuart Lipton and entrepreneur Julian Metcalfe have been chosen to oversee the regeneration of Tottenham and Croydon respectively following the riots -
Student contest for 'water sensitive' masterplan, Melbourne
[Registration must be completed by 5 December 2011] The Monash University Centre for Water Sensitive Cities has launched a contest seeking concept housing masterplans for a disused site in Melbourne, Australia -
Student design competition launched for steel airport concept
[A Notice of Intent must be submitted by 20 January 2012] Launched by the British Constructional Steelwork Association and Tata Steel, proposals are sought for a long-span airport terminal built from steel -
Studio E wins contest for new North Kensington academy
Studio E Architects has been named as the winner in the contest to design a new academy and leisure centre in North Kensington -
Sustainability in Practice - Haysom Ward Miller's RSPB bird hide
Twitchers’ paradise Haysom Ward Miller’s wing-shaped RSPB bird hide on the Norfolk coast is a dramatic step up, writes Hattie Hartman -
Sutherland Hussey on shortlist for £30 million drama academy in China
Edinburgh’s Sutherland Hussey Architects has been shortlisted against three local practices to design an extension to Beijing’s Central Academy of Drama -
Tate St Ives extension, Cornwall
[Expressions of interest must be received by 10 November 2011] The Tate St Ives Gallery in Cornwall is seeking an architect for a 900m² extension -
Temporary structures for Guimarães, Portugal
[Enrolment must be completed by 6 January 2012] The Portuguese city of Guimarães is looking for proposals for five temporary urban structures as part of its 2012 European Capital of Culture programme -
Tenement repair and conservation, Isle of Bute
[Requests to participate must be received by 23 November 2011] Argyll & Bute Council is seeking conservation architects for the ‘sympathetic’ repair of tenement buildings -
Terry Farrell hits out at Foster's estuary airport scheme
Terry Farrell has criticised Norman Foster’s proposed new £70 billion airport in the Thames estuary, instead advocating a new rail hub connecting existing airports on a site he is masterplanning in west London -
Tesco considers shelving BIM mandate
Construction News understands Tesco is considering dropping plans to demand building information modelling (BIM) across its new build construction projects -
The Diary of an Anonymous Architect #4
The fourth in a new series about the day-to-day travails of an embattled practitioner. This week: Planning Appeal -
The Diary of an Anonymous Architect #5
The fifth in a new series about the day-to-day travails of an embattled practitioner. This week: Planning v Democracy -
The French know how to fete the architectural creme de la creme
Paul Finch’s letter from London: Britain should take a lesson from the French in how to celebrate individual design talent -
The Golden Smile: Blackpool rolls out Comedy Carpet
A £4 million Comedy Carpet, featuring gags, catchphrases, and the names of more than 1,000 comedians has been completed in front of Blackpool Tower. -
The Potemkin shop
[THIS WEEK] Empty shops need a helping hand from canny disguises, writes James Pallister -
Tonkin Liu scoops planning for cliff-top house
[First look + plans] London-based architects Tonkin Liu has received planning permission for a cliff-top house in St Margret’s Bay near Dover -
TP Bennett scoops planning for Sea Containers House revamp
TP Bennett has bagged planning permission to revamp Sea Containers House on London’s South Bank -
UCAS reports 17% drop in architecture applications
University admission service UCAS has reported a 17 per cent drop in students wanting to study architecture compared to this time last year -
Udderly charming - Designscape shows off Somerset dairy
[First look + plans] Bath-based Designscape Architects has revealed these pictures of its completed Hill Farm Dairy project in Somerset -
'Ungainly' Glasgow riverside pavilions win go-ahead
GD Lodge Architects has won planning permission for a £10 million, four-pavilion restaurant and leisure development at Broomielaw Quay in Glasgow -
URS Scott Wilson and RTKL on embassy framework
URS Scott Wilson, RTKL and Jordon & Bateman have won places on the Foreign Office architectural and lead design services framework -
Video: RIBA Stirling Prize 2011
Stirling sponsors Benchmark present exclusive footage from the RIBA Stirling Prize 2011 -
Westminster University architectural services framework
[Completed PPQs must be received by 14 November 2011] The University of Westminster is on the hunt for architects for a four year framework -
What Steve Jobs can teach architects
Design something your client never knew they wanted, says Christine Murray -
White Arkitekter scoops planning for Southend pier scheme
[First look + plans] Scandanavian practice White Arkitekter has won planning permission for this £3 million cultural centre at the end of Southend pier in Essex -
Work nears completion on Foggo's Cannon Place
Construction is nearing completion on Foggo Associates’ Cannon Street Station redevelopment in the city of London -
YRM's Hinkley Point nuclear plant goes in for planning
YRM’s £10 billion Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant project in Somerset has been submitted to the Infrastructure Planning Committee (IPC) -
Zaha Hadid at the RIBA
[THIS WEEK] Hadid’s lecture at the RIBA didn’t live up to her powerful projects, writes James Pallister -
Zaha Hadid unwraps Roca gallery in Chelsea
[First look + plans] Zaha Hadid Architects has completed this 1,100m² showroom for bathroom manufacturer Roca in Chelsea Harbour, London
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