PLP Architecture’s Post

How do tall buildings integrate into the urban fabric and historical heritage of our cities? 🏛️ Join the discussion from the NLA's recent webinar on tall buildings and their role in the urban fabric. London and cities across the UK are transforming, but how do these skyscrapers integrate with historical heritage and local environments? Watch the webinar to discover city-wide strategies, innovative designs, and how tall buildings are shaping the future of urban landscapes. Don’t miss out! 📽️ Watch now: https://lnkd.in/eZB8miEA #UrbanDevelopment #Architecture #TallBuildings #Heritage #London #Webinar

A must watch for anyone interested in the next chapter of the story that is Manchester’s growth and evolution as an international city. The outward expansion of the city centre into its forgotton hinterland presents the opportunity to create green, livable new neighbourhoods, connected into the commercial core. Something regularly pointed out as lacking in Manchester. This opportunity hasn’t really presented itself so far as we have been regenerating whilst working with relatively small landholdings in the traditional city centre in the main. Very difficult to create new ‘places’ and build the infrastructure (green and open spaces in this case) whilst working at that scale. Victoria North, Holt Town etc offer room to breathe by comparison. This is neighbourhood scale place making. The next twenty years look very different to the last twenty.

🚫🌷 Tulip Tower Rejected by London Mayor Sadiq Khan London’s skyline won’t see the Tulip Tower after all. Mayor Sadiq Khan has rejected the controversial project. Here’s what happened and why it matters: 1. Project Overview 🏙️ The Tulip Tower was proposed to be a 305-meter-high observation tower in the heart of London. Designed by Foster + Partners, it promised panoramic views and a unique addition to the city’s architecture. 2. Reasons for Rejection 🚫 Mayor Khan cited several reasons for the rejection: Impact on Skyline: Concerns about how the tower would fit with London’s historic skyline. Environmental Concerns: Questions about the sustainability of the project. Public Benefit: Debates on whether the tower would provide enough public benefit to justify its construction. 3. Public and Expert Opinions 💬 The project faced mixed reactions. While some hailed it as a modern marvel, others criticized it for potentially disrupting the visual harmony of London’s historic buildings. 4. Economic and Cultural Impact 💼 Proponents argued that the Tulip Tower would boost tourism and create jobs. However, critics were skeptical about its long-term economic benefits and potential cultural clash. 5. Future of Urban Development in London 🌱 The rejection of the Tulip Tower highlights the ongoing debate about balancing modern development with historical preservation. Future projects will need to consider these factors more carefully. To delve deeper into the details of this decision, check out our full article. Read More https://lnkd.in/eXRVbSCb 💬 What do you think about this decision? Should modern architecture take precedence over historical aesthetics? Share your thoughts in the comments! 👇 #TulipTower #LondonArchitecture #UrbanDevelopment #Sustainability #ConstructionNews

Read Leif Lomo and Rutger Huiberts, AIA’s reflections on the recent NYLON event, “Reinvigorating Cities Through Active Public Spaces." In a piece published by NLA, the KPF Directors reflect on the event, which explored projects to revitalise Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue and London’s Knightsbridge, prioritizing pedestrians. “Knightsbridge and Fifth Avenue represent two of the greatest shopping streets in the world, but they are overwhelmed by their popularity and competing needs. Both initiatives address complicated questions such as who the land should serve, why, and how.” Read the full article here: https://bit.ly/4ixMb8r As programme champion for NLA’s City Dialogues, KPF is dedicated to supporting cross-city conversations, to enable experts from around the world to share best practices and learn from each other to identify solutions for some of the 21st century’s most challenging problems. Rendering by Field Operations, courtesy of New York City Hall. Cannon Ivers Isabel Castilla Larisa Ortiz Madelyn Wils Alexis Taylor AIA New York | Center for Architecture #KPF #KohnPedersenFox #Placemaking #PublicSpaces #Community #NewYork #London #UrbanRegeneration

As part of last month’s London Festival of Architecture, LFA founder and NLA co-founder, Peter Murray OBE, shared his views on what makes London a standout metropolis. He was joined in conversation by Beatrice Galilee, a renowned British curator and international design and architecture writer. Peter drew on his experiences and insights of a career in the built environment spanning more than 50 years, to inform his unique perspective on what makes a great city. The conversation provided a deeper understanding of what truly makes London the greatest city in the world, highlighting its rich history, innovative design, transport, vibrant cultural scene, and evolving skyline. Lecture highlights: ● The remarkable current boom in the city of London is bringing more towers into the construction pipeline.  ● Affordable housing is really tricky. The capital needs available funding to deliver the numbers - 300,000 homes annually -  to meet current levels of demand.  ● Affordable housing is a critical issue in many urban areas - rising property values and rents make it difficult for low to moderate-income families to find affordable places to live. ● Today, we need to find more space, infill it, and densify suburban areas. This makes better use of land, supports public transportation, and creates more vibrant, walkable communities.  ● City architects are needed now more than ever; cities need a powerful voice that brings a high-profile, creative, holistic, and strategic approach to urbanism. This is a voice that London is currently lacking. Peter finished with: “Those of us in the built environment sector must take great responsibility for areas where we are currently underperforming, compared to other cities. A large focus on livability, quality of life, well-being, health, sustainability, and housing is essential.” As we reinvent our urban environment, shaped by social, economic, and technological changes, our buildings need to adapt. The key to London’s resilience will be its ability to adapt. It’s fair to say there is still much to be reckoned with, and the journey toward shaping an even better city requires clarity, passion, and drive to create an equitable, sustainable, and prosperous city. NLA’s mission to bring people together to shape a better London is setting this agenda and supporting the future of our beloved city. #UrbanLandscape #Insight #History #Culture #GrowingCity #Architecture #Comms

This alternative urbanism poses the question, what form should the 1.2 million new dwellings needed to address Australia’s housing shortage take? Given the scale of housing required, there is reason to think that modernism, led by government and in suitable locations, is the weapon of choice. Indeed, the modernist emphasis on machine-age efficiency, speed, and scale will be required to yield the scale of development needed to house millions of people. While critics may bemoan the ‘mild boredom of order’ and lack of ‘heart and soul’ that results, residents would likely be glad of a roof over their heads- something the critics have learned to take for granted. Study Urban Design in person or online at the Australian Urban Design Research Centre: https://lnkd.in/gH_3P8vm #UrbanDesign #AustralianUrbanDesignResearchCentre #universitywa #uwadesign

"Usually, when I advise clients on the merits of submitting an application for a Certificate of Immunity from Listing, I explain that the risk is that if it is not granted, then the building will automatically be listed. Not so for City Hall." The famous London City Hall building has been refused listing for a second time, paving the way for proposals to overhaul the 22-year-old landmark. Partner Lucy Markham from our Historic Environment and Townscape team reviews the curious case of the City Hall listing, highlighting the careful balance required between preserving modern architecture and allowing time for proper historical context. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/eQ7SJfyn #MEHEAT #CityHall #ListingCases

Europe’s tallest skyscrapers haven’t defined their city’s skylines for very long – the continent's six tallest buildings were all been built within the last 15 years. While Moscow dominates the list of Europe’s tallest buildings, the construction of a new skyscraper as tall as the London Shard was approved last month, and they will be tied as the two tallest skyscrapers in Western Europe. While other major cities like Amsterdam and Brussels have high-rises, planning regulations and restrictions set in the 1960s and 70s have prevented developers from disrupting the historical landscapes of older, low-rise architecture with any record-breaking skyscrapers. Created by Sara Wiatrak.

Delighted to welcome Allies and Morrison to the forum as a new partner 🎉   Allies and Morrison is a practice of architects and urbanists based in London. They design individual buildings – with a long-standing reputation for the quality of their work, winning over 50 RIBA Awards. They also design places: new pieces of city, new residential communities, new university campuses, new settlements and more.   Currently, they are the lead architects in Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield (URW)’s recently launched Masterplan Framework, aimed at transforming Croydon’s North End Quarter, which includes the Whitgift Centre, Allders, and surrounding areas   Paul Eaton, Partner, Allies and Morrison, said: “The Masterplan Framework focuses on revitalising the centre of Croydon; transforming it with green pedestrian-friendly routes and public spaces, high-quality homes and thriving retail and community spaces. We look forward to working with Croydon’s many communities to progress this ambitious and exciting vision.”   #NewPartner #Collaboration #CroydonGrowth   Find out more about our current partners: https://lnkd.in/e7CaHBU5  

2024 saw a surge in innovative urban design projects worldwide, with cities prioritizing sustainability, community engagement, and adaptability. From the revitalization of historic districts to the creation of pedestrian-friendly zones, these projects showcased a commitment to improving quality of life and building more resilient urban environments. Notable examples include the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link, a stunning bridge connecting two major cities in China, and the Jamul Marina, a luxurious waterfront development in California that balances luxury with sustainability. These projects exemplify the trend towards thoughtful, human-centered urban planning.🙂 Would you like me to provide more details on a specific project, or perhaps discuss the trends driving these innovative designs? 👉Here are some additional points I could include: * Specific examples of sustainable features in these projects (e.g., green roofs, renewable energy) * How these projects address social equity and inclusivity * The role of technology in urban design (e.g., smart cities, data-driven planning) * The impact of these projects on local communities and economies!💥 #urban #urbandesign #urbanism #urbanplanning https://lnkd.in/dr_BnhG3