Architecture for Tibet plans a new academic centre for orphans, Nelson Mandela reveals the designs for a new children's hospital in Johannesburg and the Mayor of London stands up for architects...
UNITED KINGDOM
The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (Cabe) has refused to support the online planning application for Britain's new US Embassy. The $1 billion complex's environmental footprint, relationship to nearby Nine Elms Lane and "the nature and deliverability of the public realm elements" were all areas of concern for Cabe. Outline plans for the development, dubbed the "iceberg", designed by Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects, include a main building of between 40,000 and 50,000 sqm with three entrance pavilions. London mayor Boris Johnson has also expressed concern over the design.
INDIA
An up-and-coming Brooklyn-based organisation wants to offer architectural assistance to a Tibetan exile community living in northeast India. Architecture for Tibet was founded by John Ullman in June 2008 after he visited the town of Tawang in the Himalayas. The organisation's first project is the Manjushree Orphanage Academic Centre, which will be a two-storey school and community centre housing classrooms, a library, a computer and language lab and a multi-purpose room. It will also be equipped with a geothermal system for radiant heating. Construction is expected to begin in March 2010, with an estimated cost of $200,000.
SOUTH AFRICA
Nelson Mandela launched Sheppard Robson and John Cooper Architecture's winning design for a new specialist children's hospital in Johannesburg on July 31. The proposals will be developed with local architects Gapp and Ruben Reddy. The hospital will be a 200-bed, eight-theatre facility with plans to expand to 300 beds. Construction of the $950 million hospital will begin in late 2010 and is expected to take 18 months to complete. "The design centres around a secret garden around which all activity is based. The shallow floor plans enable much of the building to be naturally lit and ventilated with daylight concentrating into all areas," the architect said.
UNITED STATES
The Hudson River Park has announced a winning plan for Pier 57 at West 15th street. YoungWoo & Associates, with New York architects LOT-EK designed the rooftop carpark crowning a small city of local artisans working out of shipping containers. The Hudson River Park board and community advocates selected the design because of its economic feasibility, emphasis on the arts, innovative mix of uses and the fact that it generated fewer vehicular trips. The board scrutinised YoungWoo and LOT-EK's approach to historic preservation, in particular their balance between transforming the pier and preserving it, adding transparency, light and greenery while remaining true to the pier's industrial history.
UNITED KINGDOM
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, will be calling on the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA) to channel funding back to social housing projects after the government decided to redirect funds. The affordable housing program plans to upgrade over 100,000 poor quality social houses. Johnson said the government had raided funds set aside for the scheme, which architects had been relying on to keep them afloat during the recession. He will be using his role as chair of the agency to fill the hole in the budget, with cash coming from additional resources announced by the government for the HCA as part of the prime minister's $3 billion housing package.
