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.
Out of the box by Cadence
Indian architecture firm Cadence have completed a residence in Bangalore, India, which features cast-concrete external walls decorated with perforations.
Called Out of the Box, the project is situated in a residential area of Bangalore and is designed to block views of the neighbouring buildings from within.
The courtyard is elevated above street level on the first floor and features two perforated walls, traditionally known as jali walls, that allow light and cooling air to pass through from the outside.
The plan is a variation on a traditional courtyard house layout; instead of placing the courtyard in the centre of the building the architects have split the house into quarters and placed the courtyard in the northwest corner.
Photographs are by Clare Arnie.
Photographs are by Clare Arnie.