They say everything looks better in the Sunshine; London is most defiantly one of those places. Dark alleyways suddenly don’t seem so dark, and bursts of colour appear where only grey tarmac seemed to lay before.
One enormous burst of colourful sunshine can be found at Central Saint Giles; a previously unloved quarter of central London has been destroyed and has emerged larger and brighter than life.
Renzo Piano (Architect for the Shard of Glass) wanted to design a building that “brought heart and soul into a forgotten part of Central London” and soul it defiantly has. An unusual choice of high quality ceramic cladding in Orange, Yellow, Red and Green give this building impact and create a sense of destination.
Shocking tones are a shock to our eyes that are so used to the dusty grey streetscape with only vulgar asphalt road markings and signage to bring any sense of vibrancy. At first I thought what a brave decision Piano had made in brining such an expressive palette together into such a tight space of Covent Garden. That was until I looked around a little closer; Covent Garden is an artist’s palette of colours, tones and textures, from Shop facades that face the seven dials in an array of colours to the trays of fruit and vegetables that sprawl across the pavement.
It is then obviously clear that Pianos design is converting the best of Covent Garden design into 21st century architecture. Peering down Monmouth street you are greeted at the end with a wall of glowing orange tiles that draw you straight down to explore more and in this respect the scheme is a triumph.
Friends of mine who have seen the development have obviously noted its use of bright colour and questioned its longevity. Such daring pieces of architecture will always split and divide, but with the right choice of retail outlets at ground level I believe this could firmly make its mark on London and eventually into the hearts of Londoners as a vibrant shopping destination.
The ground level is still currently being fitted out; however you can already see how the building plays with its surroundings. Piano has created new alleyways somewhat reminiscent of 19th century design whilst including a central piazza that can view and be viewed from the high street.
Covent Garden and the West End is somewhere I would personally defer from building ground scrapers, the rich history of its streets means any development would have to excel in its design not to damage that special atmosphere unique to the West End. For me Central Saint Giles is that scheme. Its proportions are somewhat bulky and oppressive yet Pianos clever use of facade treatment breaks up any monotonous design, whilst new alleyways and public space break up any long sheer blank walls. Retail can too only be a positive addition connecting Covent Garden, St Giles High Street and Charing Cross Road into one continuous shopping experience.
To build such a daring scheme is never easy and it would have been all too familiar to see this design including white render, standard shop frontages, sheer glass curtain walling or a tasteful palette. Actually I am referring directly to the hideous grey prison like block that imposes itself over this colourful district, the Covent Garden Travelodge.
If there were one project that summed up all the bad ideas of “blending in” and not attracting attention with design, this is it. Powder grey plastic cladding whilst trying to be simple only does more to attract attention by creating a stark sheer wall of blandness.
Central Saint Giles will be loved by some and hated by others, but it’s encouraging to see Architects being allowed the freedom in such a central location to try something daring and not conform to the dumbing down designs we have all become so used to. Containing shops, restaurants, apartments and a rooftop park offering sweeping views across London this colourful development is set to be the new face of Covent Garden.
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