Illuminated River International Design Competition

Illuminated River International Design Competition, River Thames London Crossings Project, Design Proposal

Illuminated River Design Competition 2016

Thames Lighting Crossings in London, England, UK: Architectural Contest Shortlist News

8 Dec 2016

Leo Villareal and Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands win the River Thames Lighting Competition.

Illuminated River London Bridge Designs

7 Nov 2016

Illuminated River International Competition Proposals

Proposals Unveiled for Lighting London’s Bridges

Proposals by six international teams, representing seventy-three artists, architects, designers, planners and engineers from Asia, Europe, North America and South America will be unveiled on Wednesday 9 November in the Illuminated River Exhibition, a free exhibition running for three weeks at the Royal Festival Hall (RFH) until Tuesday 29 November.

Illuminated River London bridges by Adjaye Associates
image © Malcolm Reading Consultants and Adjaye Associates

Illuminated River International Design Competition Designs

5 Sep 2016

Illuminated River International Design Competition Shortlist

Shortlisted Design Teams for River Thames Lighting Competition

Illuminated River

The six finalist teams (alphabetical):

– Adjaye Associates with Chris Ofili, Thukral & Tagra, Doug Aitken, AKTII, HPF (Hurley Palmer Flatt), Four Communications, DP9, Plan A and DHA Designs

– A_LA with Asif Kapadia, Simon Stephens, SEAM Design and GROSS.MAX

– Diller Scofidio & Renfro with L’Observatoire International, Arup, Transsolar, Jennifer Tipton and Oliver Beer

– Les Éclairagistes Associés with ecqi, ewo, Federico Pietrella, and GVA Lighting Europe Limited

– Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands with Future\Pace, Leo Villareal, Pentagram, Price & Myers, Atelier Ten, Beckett Rankine and Core Five

– Sam Jacob Studio and Simon Heijdens with Electrolight, Daisy Froud and Elliott Wood

The Illuminated River international design competition selected 6 teams from 105 entries based on past experience, 47% from overseas.

Illuminated River

Organisers Malcolm Reading Consultants (MRC) argued that this demonstrated that London “remains a top destination for international designers, artists, engineers and technologists post-Brexit”.

Malcolm Reading said: “This shortlist brims with promise: these teams are at the intersection of art, architecture, technology, engineering, film and literature. They have put together fascinating combinations of skills and we expect great things of them.”

Illuminated River

The second stage of the contest involves designs, with finalists asked to develop concept design lighting schemes for four bridges – Westminster, Waterloo, London and Chelsea, plus a design masterplan for all 17 bridges between Albert and Tower.

Of the six contenders we think it would be accurate to say Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands have the most relevant experience haivng already designed a bridge over the River Thames.

Comments welcome to info(at)e-architect.com

Illuminated River

Links:

Adjaye/Associates

AL_A and Gross.Max

Diller Scofidio + Renfro with Arup

Lifschutz Davidson Sandilands

Illuminated River International Design Competition Shortlist

• 105 teams (made up of 346 individual firms) entered the competition with nearly half the submissions coming from overseas

• 6 shortlisted teams will now create concept design lighting schemes for London’s famous bridges

• Finalist teams include celebrated and emerging artists and architects and feature international collaborations

• Artists James Turrell and Sir Michael Craig-Martin, together with former Serpentine Gallery Director Dame Julia Peyton-Jones and co-founder of Second Home, Rohan Silva, will complete the jury

Design teams from around the world entered a competition for a permanent light installation to breathe new life into the Thames, showing that London remains a world class leader for art, design and innovation.

The Illuminated River Foundation announced today (September 5, 2016) that the first stage of the Illuminated River International Design Competition, backed by the Mayor of London and the Rothschild Foundation, attracted 105 team submissions from around the world.

Forty-seven per cent of the teams came from overseas, demonstrating that London remains a top destination for international designers, artists, engineers and technologists post-Brexit.

No design was sought at the first stage, rather competitors made submissions based on experience, past projects and team composition. Six finalists will now go on to develop concept design lighting schemes for four bridges – Westminster, Waterloo, London and Chelsea – along with a design masterplan for all the 17 celebrated bridges between Albert and Tower.

The teams’ design challenge is to create an elegant and charismatic light installation that will be forward-thinking and environmentally-friendly, enhancing the capital’s status as a low carbon beacon and a world leader in cutting edge technology and engineering.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said:

“This competition is a really exciting opportunity – the shortlisted design teams will now have their work showcased in a world class cultural city. It’s fantastic that submissions have come from so many different countries: the competition shows that London is open to talent from all around the globe.”

“The Illuminated River will breathe new life into the Thames and create a dazzling outdoor gallery for Londoners to enjoy each night, showing that our capital remains a leader in innovation, sustainability and artistic creativity. I wish all the finalists luck in the next stage of the competition, and look forward to seeing the ideas they come up with.”

Hannah Rothschild, Chair of the Illuminated River Foundation, said:

“The response to the Illuminated River competition was extraordinary and humbling: more than 100 teams entered the competition, including some of the leading international names in design, lighting, technical and the arts.”

“The final shortlist represents an exhilarating mix of talent, inspiration and design approach. In November the finalists’ concept designs will be unveiled, and London will have six possible visions of how the river and the city might be transformed after dark.”

Malcolm Reading, Competition Organiser, said:

“The combination of London’s emblematic river, the Foundation’s inspired vision, and support from London’s most notable civic stakeholders has attracted competitors from diverse cultural backgrounds.”

“This shortlist brims with promise: these teams are at the intersection of art, architecture, technology, engineering, film and literature. They have put together fascinating combinations of skills and we expect great things of them.”

Notable contemporary artists featuring on the six finalist teams include:

• Chris Ofili, a British Turner Prize-winning painter who represented Britain at the 2003 Venice Biennale in collaboration with David Adjaye

• Asif Kapadia, a British BAFTA, Cannes and Oscar-winning director whose most notable works are the documentaries Amy and Senna

• Jennifer Tipton, a MacArthur Fellow who is regarded as one of the most versatile designers for theatre and performance lighting

• Federico Pietrella, an Italian artist who has developed a unique style using a rubber date stamp and blue ink as his medium of choice

• Leo Villareal, the American sculptor and installation artist responsible for The Bay Lights, a public light installation on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge

• Simon Heijdens, a Dutch installation artist whose works have been installed and exhibited in over 50 public spaces worldwide, including the permanent collections of MoMA, the Fonds National d’Art Contemporain, and the Art Institute of Chicago

Concept designs will go on display to the public in November, in London and online.

The Illuminated River Foundation also released details of new jurors who will complete the international competition jury:

• Sir Michael Craig-Martin CBE RA, conceptual artist

• Dame Julia Peyton-Jones DBE, Director Serpentine Galleries 1991-2016

• Rohan Silva, co-founder at Second Home

• James Turrell (honorary member), space and light artist

Illuminated River

They join previously-announced jurors: Lord Rothschild OM GBE, Chairman of RIT Capital Partners plc, Chairman of the Rothschild Foundation, philanthropist, notably in the arts, and the Rothschild family member responsible for Waddesdon Manor; Hannah Rothschild, Chair of the Illuminated River Foundation, writer, filmmaker and Chair of the National Gallery Board of Trustees; Justine Simons OBE, Deputy Mayor for Culture and Creative Industries, City Hall; Ralph Rugoff, Director, Hayward Gallery; Professor Ricky Burdett, Professor of Urban Studies and Director, LSE Cities and Urban Age; and Lucy Musgrave, Director, Publica. The jury will be advised by the Competition Director, Malcolm Reading.

The Illuminated River project will provide London with a new, free permanent attraction and is supported by a broad coalition of stakeholders including the Mayor of London, the City of London, Westminster City Council, Transport for London, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and Network Rail. Around £20m in funds will be raised, largely from private sources by the Illuminated River Foundation, the coordinating charity which is supported by the Rothschild Foundation.

It is anticipated that jury interviews with the shortlisted practices will take place in late November 2016, with the winner announced in early December.

For further updates, please visit the competition website:

http://competitions.malcolmreading.co.uk/illuminatedriver/

2 Jun 2016

Illuminated River International Design Competition in London

River Thames Lighting Competition focuses on central London’s celebrated bridges between Albert and Tower

Creative teams asked to submit details of proposed team and experience at the competition’s first stage.

The five or more finalists who reach the second stage will create concept designs for four bridges – Westminster, Waterloo, London and Chelsea – along with a design masterplan for all the bridges.

Competition deadline 14:00 BST July 7, 2016.

Illuminated River International Design Competition

The Illuminated River Foundation and the Mayor of London today (Thursday, 2 June 2016) launched a global search for an outstanding team of artists, designers, engineers, architects, technologists and other specialists to create inspirational light art on London’s bridges to reinvigorate the River Thames at the heart of the capital.

Illuminated River International
View from the International Space Station © Tim Peake

The two-stage Illuminated River International Design Competition will award the commission to create an elegant and charismatic light art installation of world-class quality for all of the 17 road, rail and pedestrian bridges between Albert and Tower (for the full list see Notes to Editors).

Illuminated River International
From left to right: London Bridge, Cannon Street Railway Bridge, Southwark Bridge, Millennium Bridge, Blackfriars Bridge and Blackfriars Railway Bridge (all taken from the Shard) ©Luke Hayes / Malcolm Reading Consultants

The project will provide London with a new – and free – permanent attraction and is being supported by a broad coalition of stakeholders including the Mayor of London, the City of London, Westminster City Council, Transport for London, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and Network Rail. Around £20m in funds will be raised, largely from private sources, by the coordinating charity the Illuminated River Foundation, which is supported by the Rothschild Foundation. The competition is being run according to EU procurement guidelines and is independently organised by Malcolm Reading Consultants, whose recent work includes competitions for the Museum of London, the gold medal-winning UK Pavilion at Milan Expo 2015 and Tintagel Castle Bridge. Full details of the project and how to enter the competition are on the dedicated competition website.

Website : Illuminated River International Design Competition in London

Illuminated River International
Vauxhall Bridge from Millbank, looking southwest towards Battersea Power Station ©Luke Hayes / Malcolm Reading Consultants

Hannah Rothschild, Chair of the Illuminated River Foundation, said:

“Even by London’s standards, this project is unprecedented in boldness and imagination: the opportunity to influence and transform the look, identity and experience of the world’s greatest city.

“We’re looking for the finest artists, architects, designers, engineers, technologists and specialists to work together to help realise this exciting ambition. Collaborators can be from different disciplines with varying degrees of experience.

“What matters is bold and innovative thinking to put the art back into London’s greatest artery.”

Illuminated River International
Westminster Bridge, looking north from The Queen’s Walk, and with the Palace of Westminster adjacent to its north bank ©Luke Hayes / Malcolm Reading Consultants

Malcolm Reading, Competition Director, said:

“No design is sought at the first stage, simply a proposal of a multi-disciplinary team and evidence of previous experience – competitors will need to get these in by the deadline of July 7th 2016.”

The (at least) five creative teams who reach the second stage of the competition will be asked to design a concept scheme for four specific bridges – Westminster, Waterloo, London and Chelsea – responding to their unique and individual characters, and an overall masterplan for the full run of 17 bridges. An honorarium of £15,000 will be awarded to each of the shortlisted teams following the selection of the winner.

The competition jury includes Lord Rothschild OM GBE, Chairman of RIT Capital Partners plc, Chairman of the Rothschild Foundation, philanthropist, notably in the arts, and the Rothschild family member responsible for Waddesdon Manor; Hannah Rothschild, Chair of the Illuminated River Foundation, writer, filmmaker and Chair of the National Gallery Board of Trustees; Justine Simons OBE, Head of Culture, City Hall; Ralph Rugoff, Director, Hayward Gallery; Professor Ricky Burdett, Professor of Urban Studies and Director, LSE Cities and Urban Age; and Lucy Musgrave, Director, Publica. Other jurors may join the process subsequently; these will be advertised on the competition website. The jury will be advised by the Competition Director, Malcolm Reading.

The shortlist of finalists is expected to be announced in late summer 2016, and, following an exhibition of concept and masterplan designs, the winner announced in December 2016.

Once the competition has concluded, the winning design will be developed to RIBA Stage 4, with relevant permissions secured over nine to 12 months in 2017.

Implementation of the first phase of the project (anticipated to comprise up to eight bridges between Westminster and Tower, but subject to change depending on planned work schedules to the bridges and other relevant river works) will take place in 2018.

Implementation of the second phase comprising the remaining bridges is likely to take place during 2019 to 2020.

Illuminated River International
Westminster Bridge, looking north towards Charing Cross Station ©Luke Hayes / Malcolm Reading Consultants

The Illuminated River International Design Competition Details

This two-stage competition is being run in accordance with EU procurement guidelines and the Public Contracts Regulations 2015. The competition has been advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU).

For full details of how to enter, please see the Search Statement available on the competition website.

The Illuminated River Foundation

The Illuminated River Foundation was established in 2016 (application registered with the Charity Commission) to procure and oversee the Illuminated River project. The charity’s core project is the creation of public art through light on London’s bridges. The Foundation’s mission is to celebrate London’s famous river: enhancing some of the capital’s less well-used public spaces and improving and enlivening the atmosphere of the river on winter afternoons and after dark.

The Illuminated River is anticipated to be one of the most ambitious public art initiatives in Europe in recent years. It will provide London with a new, free attraction focused on 17 of its celebrated and very individual bridges; help to sustain London’s momentum as one of the most creative and innovative global cities; provide the opportunity for growing London’s night time economy and, through the use of new technologies, support London’s move toward low-carbon, sustainable and green solutions.

In parallel, the charity will work to engage the public in the initiative and the concepts behind it through a variety of education and engagement activities; see the Foundation’s website (below) for details as these are announced.

The funds for this circa £20m project will be raised, largely from private sources, by the Illuminated River Foundation, backed by the Rothschild Foundation and working in collaboration with other stakeholders. Following the competition and the detailed design stage, the funds will be granted, along with the design, to the relevant organisations which manage or own the bridges.

The 17 bridges within the scope of the project are: Albert Bridge, Chelsea Bridge, Grosvenor Railway Bridge, Nine Elms (planned), Vauxhall Bridge, Lambeth Bridge, Westminster Bridge, Hungerford Bridge and Golden Jubilee Footbridges, Waterloo Bridge, Garden Bridge (planned), Blackfriars Bridge, Blackfriars Railway Bridge, Millennium Footbridge, Southwark Bridge, Cannon Street Railway Bridge, London Bridge and Tower Bridge.

Malcolm Reading Consultants

Malcolm Reading Consultants (MRC) is a strategic consultancy specialising in the selection of contemporary designers. MRC believes in the power of design to create new perceptions and act as an inspiration – either at the local level, or internationally.

MRC is the leading specialist in design competitions in Europe. Recent work includes competitions for the Museum of London, the gold medal-winning UK Pavilion at Milan Expo 2015, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, Tintagel Castle Bridge, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park’s Culture & Education Quarter, the Mumbai City Museum, the Natural History Museum and New College, Oxford.

Location: Queen’s Walk, London, England, UK

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Bridges in London

Garden Bridge
Design: Heatherwick Studio / Arup
Garden Bridge across the River Thames
photo : Moreno Maggi
Garden Bridge across the River Thames in London by designers Heatherwick Studio

Rotherhithe Bridge in London

A recent London architecture competition on e-archietct:

24 May 2016

Paddington Place Alternative Competition Winners

John Thompson & Partners and AR Urbanism have jointly won the unofficial design competition to find an alternative to Renzo Piano’s Paddington Pole.

The competition was organised by lobby group Create Streets to show the west London neighbourhood could be improved and densified without the need for a skyscraper.

Paddington Place Alternative Competition Winner
image from architects

Paddington Place Alternative Design Competition

Website : River Thames Garden Bridge Funding

Rolling Bridge, Paddington Basin, west London
Design: Heatherwick Studio
Rolling Bridge in London

The Jubilee Bridge
One-World Design Architects
Planning permission gained for speculative pedestrian bridge linking Battersea with Fulham. Piling work on one side of the Thames is being undertaken through a s106 agreement related to a riverside development:
The Jubilee Bridge London

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Bridge designs on e-architect:

Contemporary Bridges

Garden Bridge across the River Thames

Garden Bridge across the Thames in London
Garden Bridge across the River Thames
picture: EPA/Arup

Rolling Bridge Paddington Basin

Comments / photos for the Illuminated River International Design Competition for the River Thames in London page welcome

Website : Illuminated River International Design Competition for River Thames