Futurecity is proud to announce that the design conscious developer, St James, and the internationally renowned, Royal College of Art, have announced the winner of the design competition for the new public realm at Albert Embankment.

The Multi-Use Public Space Competition, which launched in October 2015, is part of the RCA’s series of live projects where students work with industry sponsors to deliver architectural designs and install completed projects. The decision was reached after eight schemes were presented to a panel of judges, including representatives from the RCA, St James, Futurecity, Foster and Partners, Townshend Landscape Architecture, Lambeth Council and the GLA.

The winning entry, entitled ‘Pipe Up’, celebrates the heritage of the area, drawing on Lambeth’s historical potteries industry and the capital’s revolutionary approach to sanitation during the 19th century. It demonstrates outstanding creative thinking and an imaginative approach to public space as well as a particular focus on materiality which the judges applauded.

The concept, designed by a team of nine students undertaking the MA Architecture Programme, will take the form of a fragmented ceramic pipe, providing a variety of uses throughout the public realm, including places to read, sit and lie.

“Through our design we aim to celebrate ceramics’ role in the progression of London’s sanitary systems, whilst utilising the techniques of intricate decorative ornamentation for which Lambeth potteries commonly became known.

Working in the field of ceramics we have established an on-going collaboration with leading manufacturers Darwen Terracotta and Faïence, with whom we developed our 1:1 prototype. Our project aims to engage with the public in both familiar and unusual ways, using collaborations to establish a wider dialogue around the past, present and future of ceramics on the Albert Embankment.” – The winning students *

Located opposite Tate Britain, St James’ Albert Embankment represents the gateway to the Nine Elms on the South Bank regeneration area and plays an important role in extending and continuing the South Bank’s thriving cultural scene. From the outset Futurecity promoted the idea of a new creative district for London, working with the two London Boroughs of Wandsworth and Lambeth and the Programme Delivery Team to explore a culture-led placemaking approach for the developers and landowners of Nine Elms.

Futurecity are delighted to have brokered the partnership between St James and RCA, building on our extensive work across the Nine Elms area and the Albert Embankment Cultural Strategy, commissioned by St James in 2014.

“The commission represents the first design collaboration for the regeneration area and will play a pivotal role in shaping the exciting new riverside destination. It is a scheme which seemingly taps into the ‘maker movement’, which has seen notable disruptions to the silos of art, architecture and design, with the Turner Prize recently awarded to architect collective Assemble.

In a world where the interchange of disciplines is becoming the norm, the ‘New Makers’ use the tools of other disciplines, working alongside – or instead of – traditional urban practitioners. In this context of a ‘gallery without walls’, a creative dialogue between the curator, the client, the artist, technologist, poet, engineer and fabricator will define a new collaborative approach to making public art. We are looking forward to supporting the development and installation of the winning proposal at this landmark development on the South Bank.” - Mark Davy, Founder of Futurecity

St James is committed to introducing art and design through its creation of vibrant new places and this is the first element in creating a new identity for Albert Embankment.

“We take great pride in creating meaningful and engaging open spaces at our developments and the winning design for Albert Embankment is a prime example of this. Its strong identity resonates with the area and its history, as well as clearly demonstrates how it will be used by everyone who spends time in this new destination. We look forward to seeing the design progress and installed on site over the next few years.” Sean Ellis, Chairman of St James

St James first established a partnership with the RCA in 2013, creating the dedicated StudioRCA exhibition and performance space at its 813-home Riverlight development, which was the first riverside scheme to be completed in the Nine Elms opportunity area. The partnership between St James and the RCA has been developed and managed by Futurecity.

St James started work on the Albert Embankment regeneration in 2013 and all three developments are due for completion in 2019.

ADS6

Tutors: Guan Lee, Satoshi Isono, Clara Kraft

Students: Ellie Connelly, Aidan Hermans, Niels Werner Hersmann, Amir Afshar, Elliot Rogosin, Magdalena Stadler, Andres Souto Vilaros, Edward Crooks, Sophie Grabiner