Wagamama Interior
Wagamama Interior
Wagamama restaurant pavilion was constructed as part of our renovation work on Tower 42 in the City of London. The base of what is still the City's tallest building had an unsatisfactory relationship with the street. It was an uncomfortable place to walk or sit, as the tower generated strong gusts of wind that were drawn down the face of the building into the plaza.
The new restaurant pavilion brought much-needed animation to the plaza and helped to resolve the hostile micro-climate. Wind tunnel tests indicated an optimum shape and strong points in the subterranean structure were identified to provide support. The resulting restaurant has an idiosyncratic shape, retaining a pedestrian route through the site between Old Broad Street and Bishopsgate. Eating areas are visible through full-height glazing on cantilevered floor plates that are supported on a long spine wall. As the pavilion roof is highly visible from within the tower and from surrounding buildings, it is treated as a fifth façade, with a carefully maintained lawn on its top surface.
The new restaurant pavilion brought much-needed animation to the plaza and helped to resolve the hostile micro-climate. Wind tunnel tests indicated an optimum shape and strong points in the subterranean structure were identified to provide support. The resulting restaurant has an idiosyncratic shape, retaining a pedestrian route through the site between Old Broad Street and Bishopsgate. Eating areas are visible through full-height glazing on cantilevered floor plates that are supported on a long spine wall. As the pavilion roof is highly visible from within the tower and from surrounding buildings, it is treated as a fifth façade, with a carefully maintained lawn on its top surface.
This small but powerful intervention has been recognised for the effect it has had on the streetscape of the City and led to its selection by a distinguished panel of world architects in the exhibition "New City Architecture", alongside more obvious large-scale candidates.
press:
The Economist January 2006; Estates Gazette November 2005; Evening Standard May 2005; Property Week April 2001; FX Design January 2001; Evening Standard January 2001; Building Design September 2000; The Facilities Business September 2000; FX Design July 2000; AIT June 2000; more » Estates Gazette May 2000; Roche Communications January 2000; The Guardian January 2000; Estates Gazette January 2000; FX Design January 2000; The Wharf December 1999; The Guardian December 1999; The High Life December 1999; Theme December 1999; Eat London December 1999; Time Out November 1999; Metro November 1999; Eating Design September 1999; Theme December 1998;
press:
The Economist January 2006; Estates Gazette November 2005; Evening Standard May 2005; Property Week April 2001; FX Design January 2001; Evening Standard January 2001; Building Design September 2000; The Facilities Business September 2000; FX Design July 2000; AIT June 2000; more » Estates Gazette May 2000; Roche Communications January 2000; The Guardian January 2000; Estates Gazette January 2000; FX Design January 2000; The Wharf December 1999; The Guardian December 1999; The High Life December 1999; Theme December 1999; Eat London December 1999; Time Out November 1999; Metro November 1999; Eating Design September 1999; Theme December 1998;