Tate Modern Switch House by Herzog & de Meuron / May 25, 2016 by Alex Upton

Development: Tate Modern Switch House - Gallery Extension
Architects: Herzog and de Meuron
Location: Southbank, London
Height: 72m

Tate Modern Switch House - Photography: Copyright © Alex Upton

Architects Herzog & de Meuron's extension to the Tate Modern gallery is now nearing completion and is due to open to the public on 17th June 2016. Named the Switch House, since it is situated of the site of the former electrical substation, the new building will house galleries across 10 floors expanding the Tate Modern's exhibition space to accommodate their ever increasing collection of international art acquisitions.

Having followed the buildings construction progress over the past several years I have long been anticipating the day when the brick-clad structure would finally be revealed, for it has lain hidden beneath the incredibly complex and somewhat beautiful lattice of scaffolding for a considerable amount of time. With that now removed and the crane no longer on site I optimistically ventured down to South Bank on a somewhat cloudy and rainy day, just as I arrived the heavens parted and I was fortunate enough to get some photographs of the external structure in its afternoon glory.

The building is clad in 336,000 perforated lattice bricks which are not only beautiful to admire for the complexity of their combined structure, but also because they allow light and shadows to permeate through the buildings external skin, this is especially noticeable once the internal lights are switched on in the evening.

Its almost hard to know when to stop photographing this building for it formal and surface qualities offer endless opportunities for different compositions, with each revealing something new about the structure. Hopefully next time I return to the site I will take a zoom lens to focus in on the architectural details and brick work. I also look forward to experiencing the artworks on display inside, but i fear they will be dominated by the beauty of their container.

Currently there is still landscaping ongoing at the base of the building which will no doubt open up the area adjacent to Richard Roger's NEO Bankside apartments. I will update more images once the building finally reveals itself later next month. You can find more of my Tate Modern Switch House Photographs under the projects section of my portfolio.

Construction Update: Riverwalk / May 20, 2016 by Alex Upton

Development: Riverwalk Residencies
Architect: Stanton Williams
Location: Pimlico, Westminster, London
Height: (17fl)

These architectural photographs show the current progress at the Riverwalk development situated on the Thames River Bank near Vauxhall Bridge. The exterior is almost complete with the stone cladding looking to be of a very high quality. There is still ongoing landscaping at the base of the tower with the extension of the river walk way being continued up to the bridge. A sculpture - obligatory to all new luxury developments - by Peter Randall-Page is still concealed in protective wrapping somewhere near the base of the building which will join Henry Moore's sculpture 'Locking Piece' later this year. Here is a description of the artwork curtsy of the developers website.

'Peter Randall-Page’s ‘Shapes in the Clouds’ will be installed in the landscaped area around Riverwalk and explores how the sensual and organic can emerge from the formal and geometric. In this version of a dodecahedron carved out of Rosso Luana marble, in which the heavy figuring is reminiscent of solidifying cloud, the Dartmoor-based artist has combined geometric order with geological chaos to produce something both visceral and sensual. Peter often describes it as breathing life into dumb matter.'

Project Update: Durham Factory Visit / May 16, 2016 by Alex Upton

Durham Factory - Photography: Copyright © Alex Upton

I was recently invited by Taylor Maxwell to photograph and document the various stages and processes employed in manufacturing large sections of pre-cast brick cladding. The visit to the factory in Durham was an enlightening one, having always been fascinated with manufacturing getting to see this often under-exposed part of the construction process revealed in me a new appreciation for all the hard work that goes into creating something that is often experience by an architectural photographer as the finished building. A number of photos from the visit have been added to my portfolio where you can see just a small selection of the stages involved.

Construction Update: Baltimore Tower / May 10, 2016 by Alex Upton

Development: Baltimore Wharf Tower
Architect: Skidmore Owings & Merrill (SOM)
Location: Isle of Dogs, Canary Wharf
Height: 150m (44fl)

This set of architectural photographs document the construction progress at Baltimore Tower in Canary Wharf. With just a few more floors of glazing to go the building is nearing external completion. The curvature of the elliptical façade makes for some really nice formal compositions especially on a sunny day. Designed by SOM architects this residential complex is just one of many new skyscrapers to join the growing Canary Wharf skyline.

Baltimore Tower - London - Photography: Copyright © Alex Upton — Baltimore Tower - London - Photography: Copyright © Alex Upton

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE: Novotel Canary Wharf / May 8, 2016 by Alex Upton

Development: Novotel Canary Wharf
Architect: Leach Rhodes Walker Architects
Location: Marsh Wall, Canary Wharf
Height: 124m (39fl)

Photographs from the 4th May documenting the construction of the UK's tallest hotel situated in Canary Wharf. The Novotel building designed by Leach Rhodes Walker Architects is nearing external completion with just the internal fit out left to complete, the opening date is set for Autumn 2016.

This building is just one of many new towers to rise in the Canary Wharf area over the next couple of years, with many others just starting to break ground. With so much activity its becoming hard to keep track of all the developments, but with all this activity it it makes for some great photographic opportunities, the land reclamation taking place around Wood Wharf is particularly interesting to observe if you have chance to make it down there.

Project Update: Seven Kings Primary School / May 7, 2016 by Alex Upton

Seven Kings Primary School - Photography: Copyright © Alex Upton

Architectural photographs I took detailing the external cladding installation above the entrance to Seven Kings Primary School in east London have been recently added to my portfolio. The project commissioned by Taylor Maxwell was to detail the metal cladding strips that run vertically down the buildings facade. Although only covering a small area of the building they make for some really interesting compositions.

Photo Update: St. George Wharf Tower / May 5, 2016 by Alex Upton

Development: St. George Wharf Tower
Architect: Broadway Malyan
Location: Vauxhall, London
Height: 181m (50fl)

St. George Wharf Tower in Vauxhall was looking particularity nice in the sun the other day with the clouds reflecting of its façade, here are a few photographs i managed to capture before it was engulfed by them. Further images of the tower can be found on my Flickr page.

Construction Update: The Corniche / May 4, 2016 by Alex Upton

Development: The Corniche
Architect: Foster & Partners
Location: Lambeth , London
Height: 89m/80m/44m (27fl/24fl/13fl)

This residential development by Fosters & Partners is situated adjacent to The Merano Residences on the Thames River Bank - doucumented in the previous post. There are a number of future developments in the pipeline along this stretch of the river, with one currently at the demolition stage and the other awaiting planning approval.