The Ropemaker building sits on the edge of the city of London, neighbouring the Barbican. This massive development, with over 80,000sqm of office space was completed a couple of years ago for British Land and achieved the title of most sustainable development in the City.
The angled windows in the facade were designed to help reduce solar gain and help to break up the bulk of the building. They provide a fantastic oppurtunity for abstract facade shots and one of these I have posted here.
I was part of a team of architects working on the building and was heavily involved with the design of the terraces that offer fantastic views over London. Unfortunately I didn’t take as many high-quality photos as I would have liked when I was on site and there are only a few images I’m happy to publish. However, I had to post one of these pictures to show the beauty of the facade.
It doesn’t even look real — more like a graphic. Very cool…
Well indeed it’s beautiful
Wow! That’s stunning!
Thankyou for your comments. I love the facade and the building – so different from every angle but not over-complicated.
You were part of the team? Crazy! I can’t imagine what feeling it is to design something and then see it in real life. Must be mind-blowing!
Yes it is really. Sometimes I take it for granted how great that feeling is! Thankyou.
awesome!
Have you seen Q Park on Charles Street in Sheffield? Different material but this reminds me of it.
No, I haven’t seen it in the flesh. But looks pretty incredible to get some abstract photos. Must take a trip up that way sometime soon.
Already animated:)
Wonderful photo and blog.
Love the symmetry! Fab!
What a gorgeous image. What developments are you focused on currently?
Design-wise, not much on at the moment – focusing on a consultation exercise for the time being. Last big project was a football stadium in Khalifa (to be completed 2013). As far as photography is concerned, quite a lot of exciting stuff lined up.
Will look forward to future updates. Thanks for the info.
Real or graphic? I think it be ok because i like this. Thanks and congrats on being Freshly Pressed!
gorgeous!
eco-friendly and visually stunning! Really cool!
Thankyou all for your messages. Yes, it does look a lot like a graphic but it’s real! The facade architect worked hard with Schneider to reduce the size of the visible non-glass components and that’s what gives it the neat, clipped detailing.
Great stuff, Gareth. As you say, the site offers a fantastic outlook over the City of London. Here’s a view from the top, taken in July 2009.
Meanwhile, just across the River Thames, the Shard of Glass is taking shape. What do you think of that one?
It’s a very privileged view indeed.
The Shard is certainly impressive. I’m not too keen on the architecture myself but the view must be incredible. I may have to dig out some old contacts to get on site for that before it’s too late!
wow. i need to see the whole building!
This has just reminded me why I miss London, even the modern structures are beautiful!
Great picture! I love the optical illusion it creates on my screen (or at least in my head) that the top right hand corner has been pulled outwards.
Must make you really proud of being involved – have been there myself on rather more mundane projects, albeit not as a designer. Feel quite jealous really!
It’s gorgeous…but I wonder what it’s like to live with. Have you seen the new New York Times headquarters? It’s covered, beautifully enough, with narrow white metal bars in a grid pattern. But…how do you clean the windows?
I wonder if this is a consideration when designing (however wonderfully) some of these new features.
Yes, that is a lovely building and I love the subtley-louvred facade. It’s a tough balance between architectural show-boating and day-to-day maintenance. It is quite an important consideration and one that my colleague spent a lot of time resolving (poor guy). Possibly the duller side of architecture but just as important to allow the building to function properly.
One thing that I forgot to mention about these protruding windows, is that they double up as window seats for the occupants. Informal break-out spaces. Pretty cool.
Didn’t Ove Arup have something to do with our opera house? Now THERS a facade. Love your pic!
Nice!
catch the symmetry in a beautiful manner
Congratulations, it’s amazing!
beautiful piece of art. nice one! ;p
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Nice one!It can be used as the cover of a coffee book.
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So cool!
superb angle…!
Thankyou very much
nice pics!
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