Spotlight on...one park place, canary wharf

By John Hill on March 7, 2008 6:33 PM |

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AN "ICONIC" high-rise addition to the Canary Wharf estate could be unveiled by 2012.

Grattan Property's 45-storey One Park Place development would feature 920,000 square feet of net internal office space, as well as an additional 11,000 square feet of restaurants and retail.

The light-catching building has also been designed to allow easy access to the western end of the West India Dock.

Architect Horden Cherry Lee was selected to design the building last summer. An application is expected by the end of the month, and the three-year construction schedule could begin by early 2009.

One Park Place would be a flagship building just under 200 metres high, joined to a smaller 20-floor structure rising to 80 metres.

Director Billie Lee said: "The existing building is an under-utilisation of the site in two ways. It builds into the dock and doesn't allow any public access to the perimeter of the dock area.
"The commercial aspect of the site is relatively low density, and the building is dated.
"We're looking to improve the pedestrian realm at the base of the building and build links to West India walkway so people can easily gain access to West India Dock."

Views through to West India Dock will be available through the open-plan reception area, and steps and a walkway to the side of the building will provide dock access.

Many features of the building's design are dependent on sunlight, from the kinked poles running down the building to the number of windows on each side. The poles, known as vertical fenestration, partly provide essential support for the tower, but also feature angles which catch the sun in different ways at certain parts of the day.

Mr Lee said: "We want the building to always look like it's in the sun. It will catch the light at one angle in the morning, and another later in the day."

The amount of sunlight seeping into the building is controlled by vertical poles of varying lengths on the tower, while long vertical windows allow full use of natural light. Less windows have been placed on the western facade, which sees the most sunlight during the day.

Offices would be located in the upper levels, with individual floors of 26,000 and 20,000 square feet (net internal). The lower ground level would feature shops and restaurants, while the ground level would boast a gallery, office entrances and conference space.

Horden Cherry Lee has proposed on-site power generation to cut down on power lost from transportation along the grid. The building would be supported by an environmentally-friendly bio-diesel tri-generation system, which aims to reduce carbon emissions by 20 per cent less than regulations. Low LED lights will give the building an eye-catching glow in the evening, while the roof terrace on the lower building will feature bird boxes and plants.

Mr Lee said: "We're keen to provide good, high quality office accommodation that's commercially attractive, as well as a forward-looking environmental strategy. One Park Place will be an iconic design both in terms of its aesthetic and its environmental qualities."

Designs are available to view at the Marriott Hotel on West India Quay from 9am to 1pm tomorrow (Saturday March 8) and at the Four Seasons Hotel at Westferry Circus from 7am to 9pm on Monday (March 10).