In the England Capital, the preparations for the Olympic Games in 2012 are more frenetic each day.
In the year when London will host the Olympic Games for the third time, after 1908 and 1948, there will also be 10 architectural projects inaugurated.
Projects signed by world famous architects.
People say that these new buildings will change the face of London.
1. LONDON BRIDGE TOWER
When it will be finished, in 2012, the 72 levels transparent sky scraper designed by the famous Renzo Piano, will beat all the records. With it’s 306 meters high, The Shard will be the tallest building in Europe.
The building costs more than 2 billion euros and will be equipped with 44 elevators, officers, apartments, restaurants, stores and a Shangi-La Hotel.
A true vertical city, where 10.000 people will work.
London Bridge Tower
2. THE AQUATICS CENTRE
According to estimates, the huge swimming complex designed by Zaha Hadid especially for the Olympic Games will be finished by the summer of next year. Meanwhile, the work on the Olympic Park in London is following it’s course: recently there were tested two out of the three news pools. The gigantic structure will have a capacity of almost 17.500 people.
THE AQUATICS CENTRE
3. THE PINNACLE
The 287 meters tall building designed by Kohn Pederson Fox will raise in the heart of the city, between Bishopgate and At Mary Axe. The project has recently been restarted after some delays caused by the economical crises. The face of the aerodynamic building is created of two glass layers: one internal which is water proof and an external one who’s role if to defend the building from the wind.
THE PINNACLE
4. BBC BROADCASTING HOUSE
The piece of resistance is the 4000 square feet newsroom, designed as a movie theater. The new BBC building, which is being built near the historical center of the 30s was designed by MJP Architects. It has 80.000 square feeet of studios and offices and will become one of the biggest production centers in the world.
BBC BROADCASTING HOUSE
5. EXHIBITION ROAD
Jeremy Dixson and Edward Jones handled the restyling of the Exhibition Road. The South Kensington Boulevard where we can find the most famous museums of the City, is visited each year by 19 million tourists, and the intervention of the British architects will connect the South Kensington train station to Hyde Park.
EXHIBITION ROAD
6. TATE MODERN 2
After Tate Modern, the former electrical center that has become a world symbol of contemporary art, the architects from Herzog & De Meuron also designed the Tate Modern 2. The futuristic building, a multi shaped jewel, which is bended and partially transparent, will raise in the area where a long time ago there were the central’s gas tanks.
TATE MODERN 2
7. SEAL HOUSE
This complex of office buildings and malls near the London Bridge has had a long “trip”. The British architect David Chipperfield needed to redo the projects to resize the last four floors. But even so, the asymmetric building will be finished before the Olympic Games.
SEAL HOUSE
8. W HOTEL LEICESTER SQUARE
The five stars hotel in Leicester Square will open it’s doors this Summer. Situated in the hear of London, the curbed walls building designed by the Jestico & whiles architectural firm has a structure of Portland cement and it’s dressed in transparent walls. According to the architect John Whiles, it will be a “jewel in the string of lights in West End”.
W HOTEL LEICESTER SQUARE
9. ONE HYDE PARK
80 new super luxury apartments placed between two glass and steal pavilions will appear in this area, considered to be one of the most exclusive areas in London. The residential area will be connected through other 4 pavilions of different height to three areas dedicated to stores, which will be at street level, face to face with Knightsbridge. The project is created by Rogers Stirk Harbour & Partners.
ONE HYDE PARK
10. KING’S CROSS CENTRAL
The King’s Cross changed of look is taken care of by the architects from John McAslan & Partners, and represents one of the most ambitious and expensive projects that are under development right now in London. When they will be finished, the rebuilt train station, will “live together” with a modern atrium, with a semi transparent roof.
KING'S CROSS CENTRAL
