Commissioned by The Finnish Institute in London and The Architecture Foundation for London Wildlife Trust, Viewpoint is a unique urban island hideaway set to bring nature and architecture together on London??s Regent??s Canal at Camley Street Natural Park.
With the structure due for completion in autumn 2013, this special series of talks at September??s London Design Festival allow emerging Finnish architects Erkko Aarti, Arto Ollila and Mikki Ristola to preview Viewpoint to a wide international audience.
As a small man-made islet on the canal, Viewpoint will act as an additional viewing platform and an invaluable new learning facility for Camley Street Natural Park. The canal and the park form a natural habitat in the centre of King ??s Cross, one of the most rapidly growing metropolitan areas of London. In this unique site Viewpoint beautifully embodies the sensitive relationship between the man-made and natural.
Arto Ollila commented, ?We are very excited to be part of LDF and introduce our forthcoming Viewpoint project. Viewpoint experiments with old and traditional materials and shows they can be used in new and innovative ways. Design and material solutions root Viewpoint to its challenging location, the borderline of the built and unbuilt London. We are proud to be part of a project that brings new uncommercial spaces to Londoners.??
To start off the series of talks on 15 September the architects Erkko Aarti, Arto Ollila and Mikki Ristola will be giving an intimate preview of Viewpoint and the ideas and ethos behind the project as part of The Architecture Foundation??s day long programme of events aboard the newly commissioned Floating Cinema that will be moored at City Road Basin, Islington. The conversation is chaired by the Director of The Finnish Institute in London, Susanna Pettersson.
17 September, Aarti, Ollila and Ristola will head the public talk Materials Moulded by the Environment at the Victoria and Albert Museum. The architects will discuss the material choices of Viewpoint and the synergy between materials, nature and the surrounding community.
The third and final talk, Cities and Water is taking place on the 20 September. Design writer and curator Jane Withers takes part in this discussion about the urban environment and water, a key element in Finnish urban life and design culture.
The Viewpoint commission is the result of the New Architects: Finland_UK Exchange Programme, which brought together new architectural talent from Finland and the UK to explore cities?? ever-changing relationship with water. This programme was delivered by The Architecture Foundation with the Finnish Institute and the Museum of Finnish Architecture in Helsinki.
The Viewpoint project is supported by King??s Cross Central Partnership, Argent, Ministry of Education & Culture, Finland, Alfred Kordelin Foundation, Metsämiesten Säätiö Foundation, Graphic Concrete.
VIEWPOINT TALKS?? SCHEDULE:
In Conversation with the Viewpoint Architects
15 September (2pm-6.30pm), The Architecture Foundation Stowaway on the Floating Cinema, City Road Basin, Free (booking essential: www.architecturefoundation.org.uk)
Viewpoint: Materials Moulded by the Environment
17 September (4pm – 5pm), Victoria & Albert Museum, Free
Viewpoint: Cities and Water
20 September (4pm – 5pm), Victoria & Albert Museum, Free
