The Calls
Citu in partnership with AJ held an international competition to design “an inspirational landmark” building on the north bank of the River Aire in Leeds. The competition attracted around 95 anonymous submissions, including 20 from overseas
The P+HS design contained four simple elements: * Yellow skin * Glass box * Floor plates * Core
The skin acts as the superficial ‘iconic’ wrapping and contextualises the building with its form; manipulated to reference the surrounding industrial roof-scape, and dipping down to connect the site with the water. The glass box creates a flexible space that the developer can inhabit as required. It encloses the floor plates without detracting from the strong form of the skin. The building could simply be office space, but there is potential to create a ground floor restaurant with a stunning terrace over the water and above there could be unique, luxurious apartments with balconies. The core is a key element of the scheme: whilst it physically links the building together, the services housed within it connect the building with the river. Pipes submerged in the water rise up through the building core and, using heat exchangers and pumps, provide a sustainable heating and cooling system.
The judges described the overall quality of entries as ‘superb’ and the P+HS design, which was shortlisted in the final six, as ‘eye-catching, iconic, innovative and ground breaking.’
Read more on:
Client
Citu/AJ
Completion
