(FROM LEFT TO RIGHT) ANCHORING THE CORNER OF MARINER’S QUARTER IN ROYAL WHARF, THE BUILDINGS WILL BE A BOLD STATEMENT ALONG THE THAMES WATERFRONT. INSPIRED BY THE PATTERNS OF LONDON’S WEATHER, THE FAÇADE WAS DESIGNED TO MODIFY WITH THE SEASONS, WITH ITS MOVABLE LOUVRED SCREENS. THE SLIDING LOUVRED SCREENS GIVE THE BUILDING FAÇADE AN ORGANIC AND LIVELY FEEL SIMILAR TO THE FLUCTUATING SEASONS IN NATURE. THE BUILDINGS ARE PART OF A RESIDENTIAL, BUSINESS AND LEISURE DESTINATION, THE ROYAL WHARF, WITH A PANORAMIC VIEW ACROSS THE RIVER.
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The James Cook and Marco Polo Buildings within the Mariner’s Quarter in London are high-rise residential examples that support the vision of a proposed transformation. Designed as two apartment towers developed by Oxley Holdings Limited and Ballymore on the last phase of their vibrant Royal Wharf master plan in London, the towers are DP Architects’ first projects in London and support the homegrown firm’s expansion strategy overseas. Situated at the heart of the Royal Docks, the Royal Wharf is positioned east of the major business district Canary Wharf. The 15-hectares Royal Wharf is conceptualised to be a spectacular and vibrant residential, business and leisure destination with a panoramic view across the River Thames. The master plan, conceived by Glenn Howells Architects, will provide over 3,000 homes, a new school, shops, offices and riverside restaurants to an estimated 10,000 residents.
The proposed 40.25 metres and 58.25 metres tall apartment towers are located on Plots 17 and 18 within Phase Three of the Royal Wharf. The Marco Polo Building on Plot 18 is the final and tallest waterfront building anchoring the entire development’s corner, consisting of three vertically stacked building boxes. Its striking silhouette along the Thames waterfront is created by the subtle tectonic shift of these three boxes, unifying the housing block into a single twisting urban entity. To maintain the strong master planning relationship with the adjacent Marco Polo Building, the James Cook Building on Plot 17 utilises a similar façade treatment while reversing its colour palette for subtle differentiation. Inspired by the varying patterns of London’s weather, the building’s façade and character is designed to modify with the seasons, as the façade louvred screens are movable. Each unit has the ability to adjust the