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SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED TO DEVELOP NEW PUBLIC SQUARE AT KING’S CROSS STATION
27/01/09
Six leading teams of architects have been short-listed to develop their ideas for a brand new public square for London at King’s Cross station.
Bigger than Leicester Square, the new square at King’s Cross station is one of the most important schemes of its kind for the capital, giving London its first dedicated open approach to a major station.
Network Rail and Camden Borough Council are developing ideas that not only take advantage of the profile and prominence of this unique setting, but provide a pleasant and functional space for the thousands of people who will use it every day. The new square should also provide a fitting frontage to the original historic Grade I listed southern face of the station, designed by Lewis Cubitt in 1851, which will be uncovered for the first time since 1972.
The square will be created as part of Network Rail’s major station redevelopment and will be located on the site of the current Euston Road concourse which is set to be demolished following the completion of the new station concourse.
The six short-listed teams were drawn up from more than 100 expressions of interest received from firms from all over the world. The six shortlisted design teams, alphabetical:
- Field Operations with Buro Happold, Concepto, Macgregor Smith, Tomato
- Gehl Architects and Landscape Projects with a team comprising Martin Stockley
Associates, Simon Fenton Partnership, four23, and Hansen & Henneberg.
- Gross.Max. Landscape Architects
- Gustafson Porter with Arup, Space Syntax, Davis Langdon
- Martha Schwartz Partners and Buro Happold with Squint/Opera, Davis Langdon,
Quatro
- Stanton Williams
Ian Fry, Programme Director for Network Rail said: “The new square will become a key feature of the redeveloped station when it is complete in 2013. This new London landmark will not only benefit the travelling public who will gain from the creation of more space and new fantastic facilities, but King’s Cross Square will allow people to appreciate the restored William Cubitt façade and make a significant positive impact on the surrounding area.”
Malcolm Reading, of Malcolm Reading Consultants, who is managing the competition on behalf of London Borough of Camden said: “The panel were really encouraged by the level of interest from around the world and this has resulted in an exceptional shortlist. There is a very rich mix of collaborators within the teams which is going to ensure just the sort of innovative urban response that the promoters are looking for.”
The short-listed teams will submit their ideas over the next few months, with the winning designer being selected in the summer. The anticipated budget for the project is £6m.
The competition is promoted by Network Rail and the London Borough of Camden and is being run in association with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Competitions Office with John McAslan + Partners as Network Rail’s technical adviser.
Kings Cross Central building by Stanton Williams
Kings Cross Central Office Building by Allies and Morrison
A briefing pack will be sent to the short-listed teams inviting response by late Spring 2009, and these will be assessed by a Technical Panel and Jury prior to the announcement of a winner in late Summer 2009. The square will be 7,000m2 in size.
King’s Cross Station redevelopment
The majority of the station redevelopment will be completed by 2012 in time for the Olympics with the transformation of the square complete in 2013. Once completed, 50million passengers will use the new station each year – 10million more than today. An additional platform, increasing reliability and capacity at the station will be built The new station will include integrated transport links
King's Cross Gasholder Competition, UK
2009
image : John Sturrock
King's Cross Central Competition
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Comments / photos for the King’s Cross Square London Architecture page welcome: info@e-architect.co.uk
King’s Cross Square Building : page - adrian welch / isabelle lomholt
Buildings in the area:
Barbican Centre
Battersea Power Station
British Library
Canary Wharf
Commonwealth Institute
Darwin Centre
Emirates Stadium
Lloyds Building
London Olympic Stadium
Natural History Museum
One Hyde Park
Swiss Re
Tate Modern
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