Renzo colouring London
Italian architect Renzo Piano is to literally brighten up the lives of Londoner’s on their way to Covent Garden from Oxford Street. Aiming to bring a sense of “joyous vibrancy” to the area by Centre Point, he has proposed cladding 20 different facets of Central Saint Giles, a mixed-use development by Legal & General Property and Mitsubishi Estate Company, with red, orange, green and yellow glazed ceramic cladding.
As the cladding is installed a striking new landmark will emerge defined by dramatic facades of primary colours which at first glance appear a bold contrast to this too long neglected corner of central London.
But Piano says it is much more rewarding to look deeper: "The colour idea came from observing the sudden surprise given by brilliant colours in that part of the city. Cities should not be boring or repetitive. One of the reasons cities are so beautiful and a great idea, is that they are full of surprises, the idea of colour represents a joyful surprise."
Central Saint Giles will be Renzo Piano's first completed building in London and contains 400,000 sq ft (37.116 square meters) of the highest specification offices with breathtaking views, 109 private and affordable apartments and 26,300 sq ft (2443 square meters) of shopping, cafe and restaurant space. The architect is also working on the Shard of Glass at the London Bridge.
