The Wood Wharf Master-Plan in London
By Lucas on Dec 17, 2013
By Penny Munoz
Swiss architecture firm Herzog & de Meuron is planning to change the skyline of one of London’s major business districts with their 56-storey “Wood Wharf” cylindrical skyscraper. Canary Wharf, located in Tower Hamlets is known for its outstanding architecture, encompassing some of the tallest buildings in Europe, like One Canada Square.
Allies and Morrison, a London-based urban planning practice, has already submitted applications for the 22-acre development that will feature three residential buildings. The mixed-use development will include over 3,000 homes, 240,000 square meters of commercial space, and 100 retail outlets and restaurants that will all be connected by an eight-acre network of public space.
Via woodwharf.com
“With an extensive new network of public spaces and water’s edge boardwalks, the Wood Wharf masterplan places high quality public space at the heart of the design process,” said the Project Director, Robert Maguire. “The principle achievement of the masterplan – the ‘glue’ which holds the neighborhood together – will always be its well-considered network of streetscapes, squares, parks and water spaces. We are building a community that will both support, and be supported by, the success of Canary Wharf and the 110,000 people that work and visit Canary Wharf each day.”
In the later phases of the master-plan, the developers intend on establishing a functional bike share program with the London Cycle Hire bicycles, a new bus route and two car clubs. Surrounding buildings will accommodate education and healthcare, and spaces for creative media, technology and telecommunications companies.
After nearly 30 years of redevelopment in the works at Canary Wharf, George Iacobescu, Property Developer of Canary Wharf Group said that the project will integrate a complementary mix of uses that are “designed to support the social life of new residents, employees and the surrounding community."
If the planning proposal is approved, construction is expected to begin at the end of 2014, with the first building estimated to be completed by 2017.
Images via ArchDaily.com
