Focus Week Day 2

Focus on Architecture:

On Tuesday I went to visit the Greenwich peninsula to see how the area has changed since I have last been there back in 2000 when it first opened. Going with the knowledgeable guide that is Spencer we walked around the O2 complex. At the moment they were constructing a giant pyramid to advertise the new Tutankhamen exhibition alongside a giant Tutankhamen.

Inside the O2 it still feels as large as last time even with the majority of the dome being taken up by the new arena. All the shops are in an Art Deco style with tree lined "streets" to make you feel like your more outside. However, about 3 quarters of the O2 is still a building site and when there are no major events on it feels like a ghost town. Considering how large the structure is you would think there would be a great deal of opportunity to put many other developments inside it that would be beneficial to the surrounding communities.
From visiting the dome in 2000 the best thing I thought about it was the outside space facing the Thames and how nice it was to walk around the outside of the structure. However, since the re-development it doesn't feel as connected to the river with footpaths being restricted by fencing, as your made to avoid large areas of land still unsure on development. It also feels that no money has been put in by the council to maintain the Thames footpath since 2000 leaving it very under maintained and cold (although that could just be the sea breeze). Although it is early days and the areas owned by the O2 have been landscaped nicely. Considering it's not that long off till the Olympics and the O2 is holding a great deal of events I hope they will make better use of this large peninsula of land by then.

Focus Week Day 1

FOCUS on Architecture:

This focus week I have decided to look at events, exhibitions, new building projects and current projects within London.
On Monday I went to look at the progress of the new Eurostar terminal in St. Pancras Station. The old St. Pancras chambers are being converted into a top class hotel, numerous apartments and a "unique" TEN MILLION POUND penthouse! The Barlow shed where Eurostar shall arrive has been carefully restored and there is a large semi open extension on the end of the shed, which is where Midland Mainline trains have been located and later South Eastern trains shall be operating high speed services into Kent. The main entrance currently has been moved to the side of the station, which is quite a long and confusing walk from the refurbished underground station. However, this may change once the station is completely finished in two or so weeks time.
To support this huge project an exhibition has been opened in a building opposite called the Gymnasium, which was where gymnastics was first introduced into this country by German Immigrants. Inside are models showing St. Pancras and it's surroundings, how the huge tunnels were constructed, the general history of the station and plans on the surrounding Kings Cross development. Upstairs was a photographic exhibition showing the some of the people and the skills they used in the construction of St. Pancras International, which was okay in places if a bit too corporate.
After seeing the Gymnasium I had a wander round the Kings Cross area looking at all the old disused railways buildings, warehouses and gasworks and seeing how in a few years time it shall all be gone and replaced with shiny glass offices, which is nice but they won't have any heart or character like the existing ones do, but this is how London works.