Plans have been revealed for the construction of a new opening bridge across the River Thames. The bridge would enable pedestrians and cyclists to travel between the major business centre Canary Wharf and the residential area of Rotherhithe, located on a peninsula on the south bank of the Thames. London based architects reForm have designed the 184 metre bascule bridge to open in the centre. This would permit boats to pass through, similar to Tower Bridge which is located upstream. Continue reading →

The Millennium Mills stands as one of London’s most widely loved buildings, used as a setting in various films and TV shows and enjoyed by urban explorers and architectural enthusiasts from all over the world. Constructed in 1905 on London’s Docklands, the imposing former flour mill has stood derelict since 1992. However, it is set to be given a new lease of life as it is currently being redeveloped into housing and offices by the Silvertown Partnership. Continue reading →

The 2012 Olympic Games in London saw over 10,000 athletes from 204 countries compete. The event was a huge success and saw a number of monumental moments, including the introduction of female boxing and Michael Phelps becoming the most decorated Olympian in history. The Paralympics Games followed and was equally successful, seeing the largest number of athletes ever (4,302) compete in 503 events. Continue reading →

The Royal Institute of British Architects is offering a fantastic opportunity to access the incredible architectural heritage of London via a website displaying thousands of images. Earlier this year, there was an exhibition titled Unlock London: A City in Pictures displayed at the Terrace Grill & Bar at Le Meridien Piccadilly. The images on display came from the RIBA collection, which is one of the world’s most extensive and diverse visual archives devoted to architecture. Continue reading →

2015 marks the 150th anniversary of the first exploration of the last major peaks in the Alps including the Matterhorn. This winter there will be various events throughout the Alps to commemorate the feats, the region and the culture of the area. The anniversary is also commemorating the impact that the Alps has had on modern architecture. There is evidence to suggest that modern attitudes to design originated in the region when German architect Bruno Taut sketched “Alpine Architecture” in 1917. His idea of castles and palaces made of glass nestled on snow covered mountains was inspirational in terms of looking at how buildings can blend with nature. Continue reading →

Chicago holds a major place in architectural history as it was the home of the world’s first skyscraper. The Home Insurance Building was the idea of architect William Le Baron Jenney, and construction was completed in 1885. It was the first tall building to feature structural steel in its framework and proved that the skeletal design could work. It was originally ten storeys tall, but had two additional floors added in 1890. It was demolished in 1931, but a plaque in the lobby of the Bank of America property now on the site commemorates this important example of commercial architecture. Continue reading →