Peninsula Place Greenwich: Santiago Calatrava

Peninsula Place by Santiago Calatrava, Greenwich Architecture, Knight Dragon London Buildings Images

Peninsula Place Greenwich by Santiago Calatrava

Knight Dragon Development in Southeast London, UK design by Santiago Calatrava Architect

19 Sep 2017

Peninsula Place Greenwich by Architect Santiago Calatrava

A NEW CREATIVE DISTRICT FOR LONDON

Invite only – Knight Dragon presents its vision for a new creative destination at the heart of Greenwich Peninsula, designed by an ensemble of eight dynamic architects.

Richard Margree of Knight Dragon will reveal this exciting initiative, and will be joined by John Kampfner of Creative Industries Federation, and Kirsten Dunne of Greater London Authority, to discuss the importance of keeping London creative.

Thursday 28 September 2017
8.30am – 10.00am

Presentation will start promptly
at 9.15am

Address
The Gateway Pavilion,
Peninsula Square,
London SE10 0SQ

Closest underground station: North Greenwich

RSVP essential

4 Feb + 27 Jan 2017

Santiago Calatrava UK Building News

Design: Architect Santiago Calatrava

£1bn Greenwich Project by Architect Santiago Calatrava

Peninsula Place, part of the Greenwich Peninsula redevelopment, is a billion pound landmark building, designed by architect, artist, and engineer, Santiago Calatrava.

Peninsula Place Greenwich by Santiago Calatrava

The ongoing regeneration of south-east London’s Greenwich Peninsula is a £1 billion project. e-architect reported on this at the end of January, but new images have now been revealed.

Peninsula Place is an £1bn investment, 1 million sq ft of shops, bars, theatres, cinemas, performance spaces, apartments and hotels. There are three towers, each rising to 40 storeys, plus an 80ft high canopy.

Peninsula Place buildings in Greenwich by Santiago Calatrava

The Spanish architect revealed the scheme at a special launch event on 2 February, alongside London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Peter Murray of NLA, and Richard Margree and Sammy Lee from developers Knight Dragon.

Peninsula Place in Greenwich by architect Santiago Calatrava

The conference took place in the Now Gallery, which is part of the Gateway Pavilions, reports archinect. The space, which is on the doorstep of North Greenwich tube station, was designed by Marks Barfield, and is (as described by Margree) “a deliberate statement of intent by Knight Dragon as to what we wanted to do here, and the quality that we will bring.” This initial building – the literal and metaphorical gateway – is one which will set the tone for the development.

Peninsula Place building Greenwich by Santiago Calatrava

Knight Dragon’s overarching aim for the 150 acre site is to become an attractive and thriving community of seven neighbourhoods, and is why the team approached Santiago Calatrava almost two years ago to create something iconic for it’s landmark building. The design of Peninsula Place is a manifestation of “form perfectly match[ing] function”, as Calatrava sought to understand and celebrate this “critically important space in London”.

Peninsula Place building by Santiago Calatrava architect

Peninsula Place Greenwich architect : Santiago Calatrava

According to greenwichpeninsula.co.uk, “The spirit of the new Peninsula neighbourhoods encourages artistry and originality whenever possible. That’s why talks about Peninsula Place have been happening for over a year with one of the world’s most original, artistic and challenging architects, Santiago Calatrava. The creation of Peninsula Place will be his first ever piece of architecture in Britain.

The best architects challenge places to live up to their potential. Signature buildings can change everything about a part of a city. The role of an architect demands vision and originality, but also sensitivity to the site’s history and surroundings. Santiago Calatrava makes otherworldly, sculptural buildings. Famed for The Oculus – part the new transport hub in the new World Trade Centre – his international projects include the Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro, the Peace Bridge in Calgary and the Sharq Crossing in Qatar opening for the 2022 World Cup.”

Santiago Calatrava Greenwich Development

A land bridge, which will connect the main Galleria space and the Meridian Square public park, is very much an integral part of Santiago Calatrava’s 1.4 million sq ft design. Connecting the riverfront to the building via a public park creates a journey, and aims to attract the public from a large radius to the cultural hub.

Peninsula Place responds to its natural surroundings, its unique position, the history of Greenwich, the Meridian and to Calatrava’s love of British engineering. He explains ‘we are creating in the minds of people a place, an arrival, not just a traditional space. Everywhere there are elements that can create an identity – parks, the meridian line, an arcade and winter garden.

These all make it the heart of the place.’ He continues ‘The model for us was London itself to catch a bit of the city, the passages, the small discoveries that make London picturesque. I look at London’s details – the richness of its interior spaces articulated in a very human way.’

Standing in a cathedral-sized space savouring a moment under sun-streaming glass needs to be experienced rather than read about. But delving into Calatrava’s influences is fascinating.

A new sculptural bridge crosses through Peninsula Place to Meridian Quays, a future district on the Peninsula:
Bridge from Peninsula Place to Meridian Quays

Emerging from the tube into the winter garden you find an urban forest – real trees beneath a glass canopy that unfolds to let in the air and weather – leading to a galleria of pavement cafes and shops. And in a hymn to the ancient orchards that grew on the Peninsula, slender columns create an ‘avenue of trees’, their branch-like crowns supporting the monumental glass canopy.

Of course Greenwich is famous as the beginning of the Meridian, so Peninsula Place’s bridge to the river has a mast and cable casting a shadow like a giant sundial. It marks time as Greenwich has always marked time.

The architecture, engineering and tradition of London and Britain permeate the design of Peninsula Place. You’ll discover references to iconic stations with vaulted roofs and expressed structural elements. You’ll find echoes of London’s grand gallerias such as Burlington Arcade and Leadenhall Market.

Website: Peninsula Place London

Another London building design by Santiago Calatrava on e-architect:

City Point, Moor Lane
Design: Santiago Calatrava / Sheppard Robson
City Point London building by Santiago Calatrava

Location: Greenwich, Southeast London, England, UK

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Architects: Pilbrow & Partners
The Waterman
photo © Justin Piperger
The Waterman on Greenwich Peninsula

Gateway Pavilion in Greenwich
Design: Marks Barfield Architects
Gateway Pavilion in Greenwich
image from architects
Gateway Pavilion Greenwich Peninsula

Greenwich Peninsula Office Complex
Development: Knight Dragon
Greenwich Peninsula Office Complex
image courtesy of architects
Greenwich Peninsula Office Complex in London

Learning Centre in Greenwich Park
Architects: Architype
Learning Centre in Greenwich Park

Peninsula Place London
Design: Terry Farrell & Partners
Peninsula Place London

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