25/05/2017
The Peak Tower turns 20
Hong Kong’s Peak Tower turns 20 this Sunday. Serving as both a tourist attraction and the terminus of Hong Kong’s venerable Peak Tram, the complex was officially opened on 28 May 1997.
Farrells’ distinctive postmodern design for the Peak Tower won an international competition to replace a smaller building of the same name. Two decades after opening, the Peak Tower remains one of Hong Kong’s most-visited tourist destinations. It appeared on the $20 banknote of the Hong Kong dollar and has become a leading symbol of the city.
Farrells director Stefan Krummeck commented, “This was the commission that first brought us to Hong Kong. The scheme was very complex, as we had to accommodate a cultural and leisure complex atop a tram station, on a very tight site.”
25/05/2017
Farrells win Night Time Is The Right Time competition
We are delighted to win the Built Environment Trust’s #NightTimeRightTime competition with our #MyKanaal proposals to activate canals, transforming London’s waterways into a network of mobile retail boats operating throughout the night. Coordinated by an app, #MyKanaal invigorates the traditional concept of the London market, and bring new life to the city’s well-loved canals.
Internally the competition was initiated by a design charrette. Bringing together young and experienced designers in an exciting new forum to test fresh ideas, our design charrettes explore the creativity hidden in every corner of our studios and we are thrilled with the result!
09/03/2017
Max Farrell, Guest Editor – London Architecture Diary
The New London Neighbourhood tour of the City on the 11 March looks set to be a great event, looking at the ever-changing nature of this dynamic urban setting. From the 8 March, the RIBA also turn their attention to the Square Mile with an exhibition comparing the design methods of Mies van der Rohe and James Stirling. At Farrells we had our own scheme commissioned by SAVE to provide a more contextual alternative to the Mies scheme for Mansion House. We found the poster above in the archives which shows the two very different approaches of modern vs postmodern planning, a debate which is much less polarised today (and in many ways postmodern planning is the norm now).
23/02/2017
Hong Kong’s British Consulate-General turns 20
The British Consulate-General complex in Admiralty, Hong Kong turns 20 years old this year. Designed by architecture and planning firm Farrells, the consulate was officially opened by Princess Anne on 30 January 1997.
This HK$290 million complex houses the British Council and the British Consulate-General in Hong Kong, the largest British consulate in the world. Opened just ahead of Hong Kong’s return to China, the complex drew international attention as an expression of Britain’s continuing interest in the territory following the handover. It serves as a regional base for cultural exchange, trade, and commerce.
Farrells director Stefan Krummeck commented: “The British-Consulate General and British Council complex holds great significance to us. It was the first building that Farrells completed in Hong Kong.”
20/02/2017
Farrells complete last piece of planning process on historic Chelsea Waterfront
The culmination of over a decade of positive work saw Farrells complete the planning process at Chelsea Waterfront with section 73 consent granted for new architecture in relation to the original 2005 planning consent.
Designed by Farrells for Hutchison Property Group, the redevelopment of the landmark Lots Road Power Station and eight acre site at Chelsea Waterfront combines well-loved heritage elements with first class modern design. Successfully delivering 420 further units through the planning process, this consent unlocks 165 affordable units and 255 private on the Kensington and Chelsea side of the site.
15/02/2017
Kennedy Town Swimming Pool to appear in Hong Kong exhibition
The new Kennedy Town Swimming Pool will be featured at the 10 X 100 Exhibition Hong Kong Edition, opening this Friday, 17 February at PMQ in Central, Hong Kong.
The second and final phase of the Farrells-designed swimming complex opened to the public on 7 February. This phase comprises the indoor pools, including a 50-metre main pool, a 25-metre training pool, and a jacuzzi. The first phase, comprising a 50-metre outdoor pool and a children’s leisure pool, opened in 2011.
The 10 X 100 Exhibition will showcase notable architecture and urban design from Hong Kong and Mainland China from the past decade. It will include 50 works from Hong Kong architects alongside 50 works from Mainland designers.
14/02/2017
Farrells to design Singapore high-speed rail terminus
Architects and urban designers Farrells, in collaboration with AECOM, have won a Land Transport Authority competitive tender to design the Singapore terminus of the new Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail. The terminus will form an integral part of the Jurong Lake District, earmarked as Singapore’s futuristic second Central Business District.
Farrells have designed some of the world’s largest high-speed termini, including the Beijing South and Guangzhou South railway stations in China. In order to cope with incredibly high patronage, these stations pioneered airport-style segregation of arriving and departing passengers. In Singapore, Farrells designed Punggol MRT Station, the core of the Punggol New Town.
