Projects + Buildings by Robert Adam Architects, UK
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World Buildings
28 Sep, 2009
Witanhurst Mansion Extension
The capital’s largest private residence (90 rooms) is to be extended under an by Robert Adam Architects. The Grade II star-listed property dates from 1774 is located in Highgate. It was sold in 2008 to Elena Baturina, the billionaire wife of the mayor of Moscow
21 May 2009
RIBA Award Winners
ADAM SAYS THAT FAIR JUDGEMENT OF CLASSICAL BUILDINGS NEEDS CLASSICAL KNOWLEDGE
Robert Adam Architects are delighted that 198 - 202 Piccadilly was short-listed for a 2009 RIBA Award. The strong classical design of the mixed-use building has made it a significant addition to the Piccadilly streetscape and has won two other awards.
The 2009 winners, announced today, did not include the Piccadilly building.
"If we had won," says Robert Adam, "it would have been one of the very few times that a traditional or classical building has received an RIBA award. But reaching the shortlist is important and I hope this is a signal towards a more liberal attitude, and that the Awards committee is doing more than just adding a 'token' classicist to avoid last year's furore."
In 2008 the RIBA was accused of stylistic prejudice by omitting from its short-list an outstanding classical building which had won major awards elsewhere, and favouring 'contemporary' design. "Adam points out that the RIBA illustrated the building with the much plainer minor elevation, instead of the principal and dramatic Piccadilly facade. It is as if they wanted to play it down as the odd man out and justify their decision by a false comparison with the indentikit modernist designs that made up the rest of the shortlist."
Despite this year's short-listing, Adam maintains that the chance of a 'classical' winner is significantly compromised by the lack of any assessors who are literate in the classical language.
"The assessors who came to the Piccadilly building were all knowledgeable within their disciplines, and quite positive, but walking round the building it became apparent that they were struggling to find a critical framework to assess a classic building. Of course knowledgeable assessors might not have found in Piccadilly's favour, but at least it would have been expertly judged. Architecture schools have failed miserably to produce a generation literate in traditional and classical architecture."
"The RIBA Awards represents a snapshot of the best new buildings in the UK" says Adam, who himself spent twelve years as an RIBA Awards judge "The winners are undoubtedly exceptional of their type but to truly reflect the diversity of British architecture, traditional and classical building must have a fighting chance to be judged among the best."
Recent English Buildings
Grafton Hall, Cheshire
2008-
Grafton Hall
Neoclassical English House, Hampshire
2008
Neoclassical English House
Recent London Building:
Piccadilly Office Building, West End, central London
2006
Robert Adam Architects exterior with make interior
Recent Welsh Building:
PLANS UNVEILED FOR NEW HOMES IN THE FIRST URBAN VILLAGE IN WALES
The first designs by Robert Adam Architects for homes in the initial phase of the proposed new Coed Darcy Urban Village at Llandarcy in South Wales were revealed this week.
Situated on a 400 hectare (1,000 acre) brownfield site, formerly occupied by Britain’s first oil refinery, the urban village will be based on centuries old principles which have successfully fostered thriving communities in the past.
A specialist team, including Robert Adam Architects, together with Edward Ware Homes (South Wales) Ltd and its Cardiff-based joint venture partner Atlantic Property Developments Plc, have been selected to initiate work on the scheme by the landowners, BP, and the Welsh Assembly Government, as well as Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council. Almost 150 homes and 58 apartments will be built on 4.2 hectares (10.4 acres) of the site.
Robert Adam of Robert Adam Architects said “Coed Darcy will be an exemplar of traditional urban design and the new houses will pay homage to the history and vernacular architecture of the area as well as being thoroughly modern in conception.”
The urban village will be compact and easily navigable for the pedestrian, through a carefully designed network of interconnecting streets. Workplaces, shops and housing will all be within easy walking distance of one another, a key feature of Coed Darcy’s commitment to sustainability.
Robert Adam has skilfully incorporated the distinctive features and use of materials that characterise the local architecture into his own designs for Coed Darcy. Consequently the new homes are of a style, which, he says “you would immediately recognise as local to this part of Wales.”
Round corner towers and single rounded bays, gleaned from the castellated main house that once stood on the local Gnoll house, characterise parts of the townscape, most noticeably in the three – storey structure marking the entrance to the development. Other features echo those seen in the surviving buildings on the estate, likewise the usage of traditional materials such as brick beneath slate roofs, timber and clay tiles.
The ‘garden suburb’ homes in the adjoining Llandarcy village, originally designed to accommodate oil workers, were used as a template for further housing in Coed Darcy.
Properties situated on the perimeter of the development complement the character of the main residential area, reminiscent of the visual character of some of the thirteenth century castles and fortresses in South Wales, notably Castell Coch in Cardiff and Hen Domen Castle in Powys.
Professional Team
Developer: Edward Ware Homes & Atlantic Property Developments Plc
Architect: Robert Adam Architects
Environmental Planners: Environmental Resource Management
Consulting Engineers: Environmental Resource Management
Landscape Architects Camlin Lonsdale
Sustainability Consultants Welsh School of Architecture
Engineers: Galvanyze Consulting Engineers
Info re this Robert Adam building received 270606 from Stratton & Reekie
Robert Adam Architects - Edinburgh Masterplan
Robert Adam Architects - Masterplan
Robert Adam Architects - 16 Mar 2005 Leith Docks PR:
Masterplan for Western Harbour, Leith, Edinburgh
Robert Adam Architects have developed a detailed masterplan for the future development of Western Harbour in Edinburgh. The site is a large trapezoidal land-fill area pointing northward into the Forth and adjacent to the historic fishing village of Newhaven. Whilst the harbour was previously Edinburgh’s main port, the extensive dock area is now largely redundant due to industrial decline and has become increasingly dislocated from the traditional city fabric. Emphasis has recently shifted towards regeneration, with the area reassessed as a site for new development.
Robert Adam Architects have designed the scheme according to the principles of Traditional Urbanism. A new approach to planning developed over the last 25 years, this technique recognises the value of traditional planning and empahsises the need in today’s architecture to marry what is still vital in local tradition with the best in our increasingly global civilisation.
The masterplan places emphasis on the creation of desirable places. The space is defined by interconnected character areas rather than detached, industrial scale structures which often relate poorly their surroundings and are difficult to adapt over the long term. Buildings groups within are of mixed scale and use, encouraging pedestrian street life throughout the whole day and ensuring a sense of welcome and safety. Urban spaces are similarly well defined and enclosed and are located within a varied network of easily negotiable streets and passageways. Importantly, all buildings are constructed in local materials and designed with reference to the local building character, avoiding the development looking and feeling as though it could be anywhere.
The design establishes a clear and positive urban vision for the future of Western Harbour, using traditional planning methods to meet our modern needs and aspirations. Whilst ensuring the reconnection of the site to the City of Edinburgh, the masterplan creates a place with an identity specific to the immediate locality with the potential to renew the urban life of the area.
English Architecture
Robert Adam - Classical Architect from Georgian period
London Architecture
Practice Information
Robert Adam Architects is one of the UK's best known classical and traditional design practices. Robert Adam is also a world leader in Traditional Urbanism which creates secure and sustainable communities which encourage street life and local identity.
The firm is based in Winchester and London. It is one of the foremost designers of new country and town houses in England as well as master planning villages and traditional town centres. Recent projects include the masterplans for Edinburgh Forthside, the Scottish capital's new waterfront and a new mixed use development on London's Piccadilly.
Info re Robert Adam received 270606 from Stratton & Reekie
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Robert Adam Architects buildings - page : adrian welch / isabelle lomholt
Website : www.robertadamarchitects.com
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