Smithfield Market - A New Vision

SAVE Britain’s Heritage are today revealing an alternative plans for the redevelopment of London’s Smithfield Market, designed by Burrell Foley Fischer.  The scheme proposes the restoration of the existing 19th Century Buildings to form a new cultural and retail hub, to complement the already burgeoning “Smithfield Quarter’.  It will also complement the new travel hub, which will provide rail access to six airports.   

The impressive roofs of Smithfield General Market would be retained as a fantastic canopy and creating a beautiful light-filled interior.  The scheme makes available large areas, at multiple levels, without the addition of intrusive blocks.  The very extensive basement areas are brought into use as spaces for exhibition galleries, fashion shows and lecture halls. 

Marcus Binney, the President of Save Britain’s Heritage, says “The Smithfield quarter, like Covent Garden before it, has come to life thanks to natural regeneration as small businesses have colonised every vacated premise in the streets around the market buildings.  This is creating one of central London’s liveliest districts, full of both traditional character and new life.  Wake up City planners and Alderman!  Smithfield Market ranks as one of London’s chief public spaces that could be serving the city and its visitors, as the capital’s newest hub.”

See the full details of the SAVE/BFF scheme here
 

10 x 10 Drawing the City London

A John Burrell drawing is featured in a new exhibition that is currently running at the Somerset House.  ‘10x10 Drawing the City London’ brings together 100 of the world’s best artists, architects and designers in the most famous city in the world, London.

The project focuses on a different area of the city each year, with a grid of 100 squares laid over the chosen area. The resulting squares are then allocated to the participants who create an original artwork based on the buildings and public space within it. These pieces of artwork form a collective snapshot of London from one-hundred personal view points, forming a unique showcase of British architectural heritage.

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The resulting works highlight some of the most beautiful aspects of the city as well as the hidden and forgotten details that are regularly overlooked. This project is a unique concept, with the designers of the City collaborating during the summer, turning their gaze back to the built environment they helped to create as well as providing a commentary and critique on the constantly changing landscape of central London. The drawing project is followed by the public exhibition of the pieces of work which is currently runing at Somerset House until 13 November.  They will then be auctioned by Sotheby’s at an exclusive closing event, with all proceeds of the sale going to Article 25, the charity that builds solutions to global problems.

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The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson has endorsed the event, saying: “Article 25′s work to design and build shelter for people affected by natural disasters is a very welcome initiative. This latest project is a fascinating idea with some of the biggest names in architecture creating a unique snapshot of London’s landscape. I hope its focus on … London will encourage those working there to dig deep to raise as much money as possible in support of hard hit communities around the world.”

Visit the 10 x 10 Website  
 

‘Hinterland’ Telecom tower is glimpsed at every turn of street, mews, and alleyway. Reminiscent of the way ancient Duomos’ oversee all proceedings. …. The north south routes between Soho and Fitzrovia are working streets with businesses, pristine white galleries, muscular Edwardian facades, corner pubs, and a once manic 'rag trade'  with ‘Gown Vans’ belching smoke jamming the roads. But nowadays on sunny muted weekends there is a sense of ‘hinterland’. Only voices and shadows animate the deserted streets, as they gorge on the midday sun. Contrasting razor sharp shadows reveal dark ancient passages that cut their way like fissures through buildings, scarred with the patina of the ad-hoc, the wear and tear of here and now, and centuries past. A reminder of the everyday soiled places of Dickens and the legendary White Woman of Berners Street whose ghost will readily tap you on the shoulder if you linger here long enough………

The Crucible nominated for People's Choice Design Award

The Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, refurbished by Burrell Foley Fischer, has been nominated in the Sheffield Civic Trust and RIBA Yorkshire 2012 Sheffield Design Awards for the People's Choice Award.  The people of Sheffield are invited to vote for their choice of the best new building in the city.  The results will be announced at a ceremony on 27 November.

Visit the Sheffield Design Awards Website here

SAVE Britain's Heritage Campaigns to save Smithfield General Market

SAVE Britain's Heritage have spoken out against a scheme that they say will destroy Smithfield General Market, part of what SAVE president Marcus Binney describes as "the grandest parade of market buildings in Europe".  Burrell Foley Fischer are currently working with SAVE to develop an alternative proposal.

Learn more about the SAVE campaign here

Read the Guardian's view on the proposals here

Prince Philip opens the new Forum for the Royal Academy of Engineering

Stefanie Fischer and Martyn Clark were amongst the guests for a "Celebration of Engineering" and the naming of Prince Philip House on Tuesday.  Prince Philip, the Senior Fellow of the Academy, performed the ceremony and unveiled a new triptych portrait of himself, painted by Paul Brason, which will hang in the refurbished building.  

The Duke was then invited to survey the rooms containing displays of great engineering feats including a Rolls-Royce fan blade, spray-on clothing and robotic sea creatures.

Read the report on the event in Conference News

Prince Philip House

The Royal Academy of Engineering has announced that its newly renovated 'Forum for Engineering' is to be named Prince Philip House, in honour of its Senior Fellow HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who will formally open the building today.

Sir John Parker GBE FREng, President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, says: "As our Senior Fellow, The Duke of Edinburgh has worked tirelessly to support the Academy right from its inception as the Fellowship of Engineering, which he was instrumental in creating in 1976. We are now a fully-fledged national Academy of some 1,500 Fellows, working in partnership with government, business, the engineering profession and our universities to promote the engineering and technological welfare of the UK

Prince Philip House will be a great asset for our country, providing a national platform for engineering - where we can all come together and address the issues that matter. Global issues including sustainability, skills, equality and diversity, health, water and energy supplies and, crucially, economic growth."

The refurbishment of Nos 3 and 4 Carlton house Terrace by Burrell Foley Fischer LLP, has removed unsympathetic 20th Century alterations and reinstated the scale and integrity of the principal rooms at the ground and first floors.  The approach to detailing has not been of restoration but of developing a design palette that is appropriate to the scale of the interior spaces, the historic significance of the terrace and its occupation by the Royal Academy of Engineering. 

John Burrell takes part in Article 25's 10x10 2012 Drawing event in London

John Burrell will be participating in the charity, ‘Article 25’s’ ‘10 x10’ drawing weekend in the streets of London in the West End of London on Saturday and Sunday, 15^th and 16^th September. He will be drawing the area around Berners Street which amongst many other associations is known for sightings of the ghost of the 'White Woman of Berners Street'.

A 100 invited architects and designers will be drawing and painting their response and impressions of a piece of the city defined by a 100m x 100m ‘square’ allocated to each participant.  Framed artwork will be auctioned on 14^th November at Somerset House and all proceeds will go to the Article 25 Charity who are the built environment’s charity for disaster relief and international development.

John's work entitled ‘Something in the City’ sold in last year’s first 10 x 10 event was successfully auctioned as part of the total of £70,000 raised by the Charity for their work.

Visit the 10x10 Website for more details of this year's event

John is now a member of the Society of Architectural Illustration and he will continue to undertake bespoke commissions for illustration ranging from major projects through to concept sketches diagrams and fine art work.

Visit the Society of Architectural Illustration Website

Visit BFF Projects as part of Open House London 2012

Once again it will be possible to visit a number of BFF's projects in London as part of Open House London.  There is a chance to visit the magnificent Grade I listed headquarters of the Royal Society in Carlton House Terrace, two of our cinemas Stratford Picturehouse and the Cine Lumiere in Kensington, and the Almeida Theatre in Islington. Open House takes place on 22 and 23 September.  Please visit their website for further details using the links below.

Stratford Picturehouse

BFF designed this purpose built four-screen cinema with exhibition, cafe bar and restaurant facilities.

Details of Open House - Stratford Picturehouse

The Royal Society

BFF were responsible for the refurbishment and remodeling of the Grade I Listed Nash building in Carlton House Terrace. 

Details of Open House - The Royal Society

The Almeida

BFF have been the theatre's architects since 1982, shortly after its inception, and have been responsible for the refurbishment and remodeling of the building, Listed Grade II, including a new extension.

Details of Open House - The Almeida

Cine Lumiere

BFF were responsible for the refurbishment of the Listed Grade II Art Deco cinema at the Institut Francais in South Kensington.

Details of Open House - Cine Lumiere

BFF 30th Anniversary - New Theatre Royal Portsmouth

The New Theatre Royal, Portsmouth is a Listed Grade II* Theatre, originally designed by Charles Phipps as a Variety Theatre and subsequently remodelled by Frank Matcham as an Opera House.

Burrell Foley Fischer’s restoration comprised the refurbishment of the historic, predominately cast iron, front elevation and remodelling of the auditorium, to include a thrust stage, stalls seating and bringing into use the grand circle and upper circle levels. It received the  “Best Restoration Award – 2005” by the Portsmouth Society.

BFF 30th Anniversary - Academy of Medical Sciences

Burrell Foley Fischer’s refurbishment and remodelling of 41 Portland Place created new headquarters for the Academy of Medical Sciences.  The building is a significant example of a townhouse designed by John Adams and forms part of a Nash’s proposal to create a processional route linking Regent’s Park to former Carlton House, now Carlton House Terrace. 

The building provides a platform for Academy activities.  This includes Academy workspace, meeting rooms, a dedicated room for Fellows, space for small public exhibitions and function rooms with the capacity to host outreach events, receptions, dinners and public engagement activities, and a room suitable for holding press conferences.

In addition to housing the activities of the Academy, the building is used to provide a forum for scientific exchange and networking for medical scientists, clinicians and health professionals from across the world, a centre for lively interaction with press and media, and a welcoming space for members of the public.