The British Council for Offices (BCO) has announced the three finalists in its NextGen ideas competition. The competition asked multidisciplinary teams of young architects, designers, engineers, developers, agents and other professionals and consultants to consider 'the office of 2035: what it will look like, and how it will support the way we will work.'
A total of 34 teams entered, submitting their proposals in the form of an illustrated report, with additional media including a video permitted.
Finalist Teams
88mph
Jennifer Barnes - Curator and Project Manager, Futurecity
Laura Hannigan - Engineer, Associate, AKTII
Annabel Koeck - Project Architect, Grimshaw
Amelia Maxwell - Finance and Commercial Manager, Lendlease
88mph propose 'The Dynamo,' an adaptive reuse of an existing terrace of Victorian housing in London as the headquarters for a major energy company. The concept retains the existing façades and incorporates reconfigurable interior space, service cores plugged into the back of the building as an 'energy backpack,' and facilities including a rooftop garden with staff allotments, a performance space and a meditation garden. The design responds to a future with increased transport connectivity across the UK: the company's facilities are accordingly dispersed more widely throughout the country, but they retain a physical presence in the capital that is flexible and open to future changes.
Four Future
Chris Campbell - Mechanical Engineer, Norman Disney & Young
Nicola Matthews - Interior Designer, Associate Director, tp bennett
Michael Stanton - Brand Consultant, The Honest Brand
Michelle Wilkie - Interior Designer, Director, tp bennett
Four Future propose 'The Nest,' set on the Greenwich peninsula surrounding the O2 arena. A public meadow is placed over the top of the existing arena and surrounded by 'nest' buildings. The form of these is based on the triple helix, with three occupiers (government, business and university) each occupying a third of the space, stacked in sequence around a central atrium. 'Garden pods' at the building's edge incorporate biophilic design principles and offer access to nature, and a ramp wraps around the exterior of the building, allowing access via a variety of means to all levels.
GTASC
Craig Chatley - Senior Associate, Gardiner & Theobald
Maxwell Ikin - Engineer, Cundall
Borja Marcaida - Associate Architect, Sheppard Robson
Tom Place - Structural Engineer, Arup
GTASC propose 'Network Space 2035,' a flexible network of working environments. Their central London site, close to the Barbican, the square mile and Farringdon Crossrail, incorporates a 'Central Hub' building which will be inhabited by multiple tenants alongside education, public, health and hospitality facilities. Community incubators, remotely connected to the hub, provide alternative working environments and platforms for start-up companies. The building form is adaptable, allowing the creation or reduction of space depending on future needs and uses.