CAPITAL WATCH

15 SPOTLIGHT ON 14 SPOTLIGHT ON Undoubtedly, we will see more schemes in the pipeline that aim to match or even surpass Bloomberg London’s sustainability credentials Stirling prize winner W ith previous winners of the Stirling Prize including public spaces such as dRMM’s Hastings Pier, AHMM’s Burntwood School and Witherton Watson Mann’s Astley Castle, it was a surprise to some in the architectural community that the 1 million sq ft Bloomberg office building by Foster + Partners scooped this year’s award with a unanimous decision from the Prize judges. In fact, this year is the first time a private office has won the Prize since 30 St Mary Axe in 2004 – which, coincidentally, was also a Foster + Partners scheme. Perhaps less surprising, when one looks at the scale of the scheme, is the cost – a reported £1.3 billion. The building is thought to be the largest stone building in London since St Paul’s Cathedral was constructed. There are two separate buildings, linked by bridges and divided by an arcade that houses a selection of ten restaurants hand-picked by Bloomberg’s restaurant curator Richard Vines. Style The style of the building could not be more different to Foster + Partners’ previous winner, The Gherkin (30 St Mary Axe). Michael Bloomberg wanted the scheme to sit naturally in the City – on a site which houses a third- century Roman temple but which will also be home to one of the most high-tech financial software companies in the world. To achieve this, the building is arranged over just ten floors, with a sandstone façade that allows it to blend in with surrounding structures; the large bronze ventilation fins that cover the glazing contribute to form and function in equal measure. High praise The scheme’s sustainable design has also received high praise, and has been driven by Michael Bloomberg’s personal environmental views. The building achieved a 98.5% score against the BREEAM assessment method – the highest design-stage score achieved by any major office development. A number of innovative strategies were introduced to achieve this level of sustainability, which resulted in a 73% saving in water consumption and a 35% reduction in energy consumption compared to a typical office building. Technologies utilised include integrated LED ceiling panels, natural ventilation, smart airflow and vacuum flush toilets. The interior of the building delivers a best-in-class experience for employees and visitors alike. The cavernous “Vortex” lies beyond the reception lobby, a double-height space with three curved timber shells. Artist Olafur Eliasson has installed a striking art piece within the Vortex, called No future is possible without a past. This liquid-like metallic pool is made of stainless steel and is designed to capture the reflection of the bustling office around it. The artwork is one of many installations throughout the scheme, reflecting Michael Bloomberg’s belief that “art helps cities thrive”. Guest in the city High-speed, fully glazed lifts carry visitors and employees to the sixth floor, where they enter the “pantry”, another double-height space aimed at fostering innovation and collaboration. Seemingly at odds with its name, the area is a “no-cafeteria zone” that encourages employees to go outside at lunchtime – a contrast with Google’s “all-under- one-roof” approach. Michael Bloomberg feels that his firm is a “guest” in the City, and does not want to draw custom away from local businesses. A full-height stepped ramp flows throughout the entirety of the building, but this is more than just a way of getting around. Instead, the structure is proportioned in such a way as to encourage informal meetings and connections between employees, whilst not impeding the traffic. This collaborative ethos continues on the layout of each floor, with radial desks positioned in clusters that provide a customisable workspace focused on wellbeing and teamwork. Enjoyable office environment Aside from all this forward-thinking design, architecture and technology, Bloomberg London possesses many more traditional property characteristics that help create an enviable office environment. The scheme will soon have direct access to Bank Underground station, which will help employees access the Waterloo & City line, Central line, Northern line and DLR. Located in the heart of the City, Bloomberg London is close to world-leading financial institutions, professional services firms and (increasingly) creative companies. Whilst the building winning the Stirling Prize is positive news for London in its own right, it could also have further positive impacts on the capital’s future architecture. If Bloomberg London has indeed “smashed the ceiling” of building design, might we see future office developers employ similar levels of detail – with just as much cutting- edge technology – to deliver buildings that also attain recognition for “contributing to the evolution of architecture”? What is next? Whilst it is unlikely that we will see many central London office schemes built on such a grand scale and with such deep pockets, there are certainly lessons to be learned from the Bloomberg/Foster partnership. Undoubtedly, we will see more schemes in the pipeline that aim to match or even surpass Bloomberg London’s sustainability credentials. But perhaps the most important lesson will concern the collaborative and flexible working environment. Will we see more office buildings with the same strong focus on creating chance encounters with other employees? Or building design that is similarly linked to employee wellbeing? Only the future can tell – but the signs are hopeful. Whilst the building winning the Stirling Prize is positive news for London in its own right, it could also have further positive impacts on the capital’s future architecture CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD