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Southwark shines in London Architecture Biennale
Piano also featured in one of the festival’s highlights, delivering a “sermon” on his past and present work to a sell-out crowd at Southwark Cathedral. “I love Southwark,” he began, as he described architecture as a struggle between practicality and spirituality. He also talked about his proposed 310-metre tower the Shard of Glass at London Bridge. Acknowledging the poor reputation of skyscrapers, Piano said his creation was not a “selfish” or “mysterious affair” but rather a mixed-use building “with life 24 hours a day”.
“The Southwark Effect”, an exhibition held at the Ragged School on Union Street, highlighted the groundbreaking nature of Southwark’s architecture by featuring buildings both from the last 100 years and those that will appear over the next ten years. “This has always been a borough of change, with its pioneering reputation beginning in the 1930s with the Modern Movement buildings, and war damage making Southwark a major focus for redevelopment,” says John East, Southwark Council’s head of planning and transport, who was co-curator of the exhibition.
Two lively debates, both held at Tate Modern, were also extremely popular. “What are the successful ingredients of regeneration?” focused on how schemes, particularly those in Southwark, can create a lasting, positive impact. Panellists included Elephant and Castle development director Chris Horn, Tate Modern project director Vivienne Bennett and George Nicholson, chairman of Borough Market. Meanwhile, the “1960s architecture: iconic or eyesore” debate – broadcast by BBC Radio 3’s Nightwaves programme – sparked, as one might imagine, some rather differing opinions between its expert panel members.
Southwark Council also ran two very successful competitions as part of the biennale. For the “Gates to the City” competition, the council invited students from all the borough’s secondary schools to submit possible designs for improving the Great Guildford Street Tunnel. The prize for most innovative design as well
Southwark Issue Four
as the second and third prizes were awarded to three groups of pupils from Bermondsey’s City of London Academy. The first prize was awarded to a group of students from Dulwich College. Designs were displayed throughout the festival at the Unicorn Theatre. Southwark Council also received an overwhelming response when it invited architects to redesign two disused public toilets in the borough. Again, the winning entry and the shortlisted designs were exhibited at the Unicorn.